Editing She's So Unusual

{{short description|1983 studio album by Cyndi Lauper}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2022}} {{Use American English|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox album
| name         = She's So Unusual
| type         = studio
| artist       = [[Cyndi Lauper]]
| cover        = ShesSoUnusual1984.PNG
| alt          = Cyndi Lauper - She's So Unusual
| released     = October 14, 1983
| recorded     = May – August 1983
| studio       = [[Record Plant]] (New York City)
| genre        = * [[Pop music|Pop rock]]<ref name="Cinquemani" />
* [[art pop]]<ref name= "Pitchfork Staff 2018">{{cite web|last= Pitchfork Staff |title= The 200 Best Albums of the 1980s |website= [[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date= September 10, 2018 |url= https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-200-best-albums-of-the-1980s/|quote= Her solo debut, ''She’s So Unusual'', stands as an all-time great art-pop collage.|accessdate= April 24, 2023}}</ref>
* [[New wave music|new wave]]<ref name="Erlewine" />
| length       = {{duration|m=38|s=42}}
| label        = [[Portrait Records|Portrait]]
| producer     = [[Rick Chertoff]]
| prev_title   = 
| prev_year    = 
| next_title   = [[True Colors (Cyndi Lauper album)|True Colors]]
| next_year    = 1986
| misc         = {{Singles
 | name        = She's So Unusual
 | type        = Studio
 | single1     = [[Girls Just Want to Have Fun]]
 | single1date = October 17, 1983<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Cyndi+Lauper&ti=Girls+Just+Want+to+Have+Fun&format=Single&type=#search_section|title=RIAA|website=[[Recording Industry Association of America]] }}</ref>
 | single2     = [[Time After Time (Cyndi Lauper song)|Time After Time]]
 | single2date = March 12, 1984
 | single3     = [[Money Changes Everything#Cyndi Lauper version|Money Changes Everything]]
 | single3date = May 21, 1984 (UK)
 | single4     = [[She Bop]]
 | single4date = July 2, 1984
 | single5     = [[All Through the Night (Jules Shear song)#Cyndi Lauper version|All Through the Night]]
 | single5date = September 3, 1984
 | single6     = [[When You Were Mine (Prince song)#Cyndi Lauper version|When You Were Mine]]
 | single6date = January 31, 1985 (Can/Jpn)
}}}}
'''''She's So Unusual''''' is the first solo album by American pop singer [[Cyndi Lauper]], released on October 14, 1983, by [[Portrait Records]]. It stands out for its commercial success, achieving four top-five singles—a pioneering achievement for a female artist's first album.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.classicrockreview.com/2013/05/1983-cyndi-lauper-unusual/ |title=She's So Unusual by Cyndi Lauper |website=Classic Rock Review |date=May 11, 2013 |access-date=May 23, 2024}}</ref> The album was re-released in 2014 to commemorate its 30th anniversary, and was called ''She's So Unusual: A 30th Anniversary Celebration''. The re-release contains [[Demo (music)|demos]] and remixes of previously released material, as well as new artwork.<ref name="SSU Sales">{{cite news|last=Duerden|first=Nick|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/cyndi-lauper-interview-she-s-still-having-fun-9235643.html|title=Cyndi Lauper interview: She's still having fun|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|location=London|date=April 4, 2014|access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref>

In 1978, Lauper formed the band [[Blue Angel (band)|Blue Angel]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Green|first1=Carl R.|last2=Sanford|first2=William R.|title=Cyndi Lauper|publisher=Crestwood House|year=1986|isbn=978-0-89686-300-2}}</ref> The band soon signed a recording contract with [[Polydor Records]]; however, their debut album, ''[[Blue Angel (Blue Angel album)|Blue Angel]]'', was a commercial failure. The band parted ways after firing their manager, who sued Lauper for $80,000 and forced her into bankruptcy.<ref name="Cyndi Lauper">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/lauper_cyndi/artist.jhtml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629094913/http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/lauper_cyndi/artist.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 29, 2012|title=Cyndi Lauper|publisher=MTV|access-date=March 1, 2010}}</ref> Lauper went on to sing in many New York night clubs, and caught the eye of David Wolff, who became her manager and subsequently got her signed to [[Portrait Records]].

Six singles were released from the album, with "[[Girls Just Want to Have Fun]]" becoming a worldwide hit and her first song to chart on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]. "[[Time After Time (Cyndi Lauper song)|Time After Time]]" became her first number-one hit on the chart and experienced similar success worldwide. Lauper found success with the next two singles as well, with both "[[She Bop]]" and "[[All Through the Night (Jules Shear song)#Cyndi Lauper version|All Through the Night]]" peaking in the top five. This makes Lauper the first female singer to have four top five singles on the Hot 100 from one album.<ref>{{cite news|last=DeKnock|first=Jan|title=Hall & Oates' smash hit 'Out of Touch' is their fifth No. 1 pop single in four years|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=December 7, 1984}}</ref> ''She's So Unusual'' was promoted by the [[Fun Tour]] throughout 1983 and 1984.

The album is primarily [[New wave music|new wave]]–based, with many of the songs being influenced by [[synth-pop]] and [[pop rock]]. Upon its release, the album received positive reviews from music critics, who noted Lauper's unique vocals. Lauper earned several awards and accolades for the album, including two [[Grammy Awards]] at the [[27th Annual Grammy Awards]], one of which was for [[Grammy Award for Best New Artist|Best New Artist]]. ''She's So Unusual'' peaked at number four on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart and stayed in the chart's top forty for 65 weeks. It has sold over 7 million copies in the United States and 16 million copies worldwide. This makes it Lauper's best-selling album to date and one of the best-selling albums of the [[1980s in music|1980s]].<ref name="SSH Sales">{{cite news|last=Burston|first=Paul|author-link=Paul Burston|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article4429585.ece|title=Cyndi Lauper is back, and the girl still wants to have fun|newspaper=[[The Times]]|location=London|date=August 2, 2008|access-date=September 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205025752/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article4429585.ece|archive-date=December 5, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Samora|first=Guilherme|url=https://oglobo.globo.com/cultura/a-linha-do-tempo-na-musica-de-cyndi-lauper-3612383|title=A linha do tempo na música de Cyndi Lauper|trans-title=Cyndi Lauper music timeline|newspaper=[[O Globo]]|location=Rio de Janeiro|date=June 24, 2008|access-date=October 9, 2011|language=pt}}</ref> In 2003, ''She's So Unusual'' was ranked at number 494 on ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|list of the 500 greatest albums of all time]],<ref name="RS2003"/> and it subsequently placed at number 184 in a 2020 reboot of the list.<ref name="RS2020"/> In 2019, the album was selected by the [[Library of Congress]] for preservation in the United States [[National Recording Registry]] for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".<ref name="Andrews"/>

== Background ==
In 1978, Lauper met saxophonist John Turi and formed the band [[Blue Angel (band)|Blue Angel]]. They recorded a demo tape of original music. [[Steven Massarsky|Steve Massarsky]] heard the tape and liked Lauper's voice. He bought out Blue Angel's contract for $5,000 and became their manager.

Lauper received many offers to go solo, but rebuffed any offer that did not include the rest of the band. Blue Angel was eventually signed by [[Polydor Records]] through which they released the album [[Blue Angel (Blue Angel album)|''Blue Angel'']] in 1980. Despite some positive critical attention, the album was a commercial failure. The members of Blue Angel also had a falling-out with Massarsky and fired him as their manager. He later filed an $80,000 suit against them, which forced Lauper into bankruptcy.<ref name="Cyndi Lauper" />

After Blue Angel broke up, Lauper spent time working in retail stores and singing in local clubs. In 1981, while singing in a local New York bar, Lauper met David Wolff, who took over as her manager. With his help, Lauper signed with [[Portrait Records]], a subsidiary of [[Epic Records]], in the spring of 1983 and soon began recording her first solo album.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Chiu|first=David|url=https://time.com/65952/cyndi-lauper-shes-so-unusual/|title=Cyndi Lauper Looks Back at the Unusual Record That Made Her a Star|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=April 18, 2014|access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref>

== Artwork ==
The front cover of ''She's So Unusual'' was photographed on Henderson Walk in [[Coney Island]], [[New York (state)|New York]] in the summer of 1983 by [[Annie Leibovitz]]. Lauper is depicted wearing a vintage red prom-style dress that she purchased at the vintage clothing shop where she used to work, Screaming Mimi's. She is also seen holding a bouquet of flowers which were purchased from a vendor on the boardwalk at the time of the shoot. Lauper has heavy costume jewelry on her ears, arms, neck and her right ankle. She is barefoot, with the exception of the [[fishnet]] stockings, and her red high-heels appear to have been taken off in front of her as they lay on their sides at the bottom of the photo. The cover shot was captured in front of the [[wax museum]], The World in Wax Musee. It can be seen behind Lauper that the museum had been closed for some time and at the time of closure was featuring a wax statue of Puerto Rican professional baseball player [[Roberto Clemente]]. The wooden [[awning]] above the doorway with the two blue panels read the name of the museum. The first panel read "The World" and second panel read "In Wax". This was airbrushed out of the photograph.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Classic Album covers : She's So Unusual – Cyndi Lauper |url=https://www.nevermindthebuspass.co.uk/classic-album-covers-shes-so-unusual-cyndi-lauper/ |access-date=2023-02-26 |website=Never Mind the Bus Pass |language=en-US}}</ref>

The cover won [[Janet Perr]] the [[Grammy Award for Best Recording Package]] in 1985.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=&field_nominee_work_value=%22She%27s+so+unusual%22&year=All&genre=Alll|title=Grammy.com Lauper|publisher=Grammy.com|access-date=April 15, 2014}}</ref>

== Singles ==
The [[lead single]] from the album was "[[Girls Just Want to Have Fun]]", released on September 6, 1983. This single achieved massive success in the United States with its [[music video]] playing in heavy rotation on several stations, and eventually peaking at number two on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]. It received Platinum certification from the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA) for sales of 2,000,000 copies.<ref name="RIAA">{{Cite web |url=http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22Lauper,%20Cyndi%22 |title=Archived copy |website=[[Recording Industry Association of America]] |access-date=April 18, 2014 |archive-date=August 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818122824/http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22Lauper,%20Cyndi%22 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The single was a success internationally, reaching the top ten in 19 countries and number one in 10 countries, including; Australia, Canada, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Brazil and Norway. "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" received nominations at the [[27th Annual Grammy Awards|1985 Grammy Awards]] for [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]] and [[Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance|Best Female Pop Vocal Performance]], and won Best Female Video at the [[1984 MTV Video Music Awards]], among several nominations. In the year end Top 100 of 1984 in New Zealand, the single was included on the top spots.

"[[Time After Time (Cyndi Lauper song)|Time After Time]]" was the second single released from the album, and was released in April 1984. It repeated the success of the previous single and spent two consecutive weeks at number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, becoming Lauper's first number one hit on the Hot 100 and eventually spending a total of 20 weeks on the chart and receiving Gold certification from the RIAA for 1,000,000 copies sold.<ref name="RIAA" /> Like the previous single, "Time After Time" was an international success and reached the top ten in 15 countries. The song received a Grammy nomination for [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]]. In the year end Top 100 of 1984 in New Zealand, the single was included on the top spots.

The third single from the album was "[[She Bop]]", released on July 2, 1984. This single reached number three on the Hot 100, becoming her third consecutive top five hit, and spent a total of 18 weeks on the chart. With sales of over 1,000,000 copies, the song was certified Gold by the RIAA. The single proved to be another international success for Lauper, reaching the top ten in 8 countries. "She Bop" was controversial upon release and placed at number 15 on the [[Parents Music Resource Center|PMRC's]] "[[Filthy Fifteen]]".<ref>{{cite web|title=The PMRC Filthy Fifteen|url=http://www.nndb.com/lists/405/000093126/|publisher=[[Parents Music Resource Center|PMRC]]|access-date=April 18, 2014}}</ref>

"[[All Through the Night (Jules Shear song)#Cyndi Lauper version|All Through the Night]]" was single number four, released in September 1984. Like Lauper's previous three singles, "All Through the Night" reached the top five of the Hot 100 with a peak of number five. It was written by, and originally recorded by [[Jules Shear]], who provided backing vocals as well. The song was a moderate international success, reaching the top ten in 6 countries, and received Gold certification in Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musiccanada.com/GPSearchResult.aspx?st=All%20Through%20the%20Night&ica=False&sa=Cyndi%20Lauper&sl=&smt=0&sat=-1&ssb=Artist|publisher=MusicCanada|access-date=April 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419013600/http://www.musiccanada.com/GPSearchResult.aspx?st=All%20Through%20the%20Night&ica=False&sa=Cyndi%20Lauper&sl=&smt=0&sat=-1&ssb=Artist|archive-date=April 19, 2014|title=Gold and Platinum Search }}</ref> In the year end Top 100 of 1985 in New Zealand, the single was included on the list.

Single number five was "[[Money Changes Everything#Cyndi Lauper version|Money Changes Everything]]", released in December 1984. It was a moderate success and reached number #27 on the Hot 100, Lauper's first single to not reach the top ten. It also did moderately well in Australia, reaching #19 on its chart.

The sixth and final single from the album was a cover of the [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] song, "[[When You Were Mine (Prince song)|When You Were Mine]]", released on January 31, 1985, in Canada and Japan only. It achieved little success, reaching number #62 on the [[Canadian music charts|Canadian Singles Chart]].

== Critical reception ==
{{Music ratings
| rev1       = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score  = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="Erlewine">{{cite web|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/shes-so-unusual-mw0000194590|title=''She's So Unusual'' – Cyndi Lauper|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=September 15, 2011}}</ref>
| rev2       = ''[[Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s|Christgau's Record Guide]]''
| rev2score  = A<ref name="Christgau">{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|chapter=Cyndi Lauper: ''She's So Unusual''|chapter-url=https://robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=913|access-date=August 11, 2013|title=Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s|title-link=Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s|publisher=[[Pantheon Books]]|year=1990|isbn=0-679-73015-X|page=242}}</ref>
| rev3       = ''[[Classic Pop (magazine)|Classic Pop]]''
| rev3score  = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="Earls">{{cite magazine|last=Earls|first=John|author-link=John Earls|title=Cyndi Lauper: ''She's So Unusual'' / ''True Colors''|magazine=[[Classic Pop (magazine)|Classic Pop]]|location=Bath|issue=66|date=November–December 2020|page=92}}</ref>
| rev4       = ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''
| rev4score  = {{Rating|4|4}}<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hilburn|first1=Robert|author1-link=Robert Hilburn|last2=Hunt|first2=Dennis|last3=Cromelin|first3=Richard|last4=Feather|first4=Leonard|author4-link=Leonard Feather|last5=Atkinson|first5=Terry|last6=Johnson|first6=Connie|last7=Pond|first7=Steve|last8=Damsker|first8=Matt|last9=Grein|first9=Paul|last10=Waller|first10=Don|author10-link=Don Waller|last11=Willman|first11=Chris|last12=Gurza|first12=Agustin|last13=Matsumoto|first13=Jon|last14=Baker|first14=Chris|last15=Shapiro|first15=Marc|last16=Reeves|first16=Jim|url=https://latimes.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/43037314/|title=Guiding the Uninitiated Through the Top 40|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=December 16, 1984|access-date=November 12, 2024}}</ref>
| rev5       = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev5score  = 8.0/10<ref name="Gordon">{{cite web|last=Gordon|first=Arielle|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/cyndi-lauper-shes-so-unusual/|title=Cyndi Lauper: ''She's So Unusual'' Album Review|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|date=June 2, 2024|access-date=June 2, 2024}}</ref>
| rev6       = ''[[Record Collector]]''
| rev6score  = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Staunton">{{cite magazine|last=Staunton|first=Terry|url=https://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/album/shes-so-unusual|title=''She's So Unusual'' {{!}} Cyndi Lauper|magazine=[[Record Collector]]|location=London|issue=426|date=April 2014|access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref>
| rev7       = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev7score  = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="Loder">{{cite magazine|last=Loder|first=Kurt|author-link=Kurt Loder|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/shes-so-unusual-101432/|title=''She's So Unusual''|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|location=New York|date=January 19, 1984|access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref>
| rev8       = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev8score  = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Evans|first=Paul|editor1-last=Brackett|editor1-first=Nathan|editor1-link=Nathan Brackett|editor2-last=Hoard|editor2-first=Christian|editor2-link=Christian Hoard|chapter=Cyndi Lauper|title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide|title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]|edition=4th|year=2004|isbn=0-7432-0169-8|page=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/476 476]}}</ref>
| rev9       = ''[[Slant Magazine]]''
| rev9score  = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="Cinquemani">{{cite web|last=Cinquemani|first=Sal|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/cyndi-lauper-shes-so-unusual/|title=Review: Cyndi Lauper, ''She's So Unusual''|website=[[Slant Magazine]]|date=September 29, 2003|access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref>
| rev10      = ''[[Spin Alternative Record Guide]]''
| rev10score = 9/10<ref>{{cite book|last=Bernstein|first=Jonathan|editor1-last=Weisbard|editor1-first=Eric|editor1-link=Eric Weisbard|editor2-last=Marks|editor2-first=Craig|chapter=Cyndi Lauper|title=Spin Alternative Record Guide|title-link=Spin Alternative Record Guide|publisher=[[Vintage Books]]|year=1995|isbn=0-679-75574-8|pages=223–224}}</ref>
}}
In a contemporary review for ''[[Rolling Stone]]'', [[Kurt Loder]] highlighted Lauper's "wild and wonderful skyrocket of a voice", which he felt recalled the "long-gone golden age" of "pre-[[The Beatles|Beatles]] [[girl group|girl-group]] pop", and lauded ''She's So Unusual'' as a progression from her work in Blue Angel: "Here, boosted by a powerful, synth-based band, Lauper turns away from nouveau trash and trains her talent on some really first-rate material."<ref name="Loder"/> [[Robert Christgau]] gave qualified praise in ''[[The Village Voice]]'', complimenting Lauper for covering "two of the sharpest pop songs of the past five years" in "Money Changes Everything" and "When You Were Mine", while finding her "[[Betty Boop]] voice" less effective over a full album;<ref>{{cite news|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|url=https://robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv11-83.php|title=Christgau's Consumer Guide|newspaper=[[The Village Voice]]|location=New York|date=November 29, 1983|access-date=November 12, 2024}}</ref> however, he would later pen a glowing reappraisal of the record, conceding that "if a kook who's loved, respected, and taken seriously by her sisters fools boys into believing she can be fooled with, more power to her."<ref name="Christgau"/> ''She's So Unusual'' was voted the eleventh-best album of the year in ''The Village Voice''{{'}}s annual [[Pazz & Jop]] critics' poll for 1984.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres84.php|title=The 1984 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll|newspaper=[[The Village Voice]]|location=New York|date=February 18, 1985|access-date=August 11, 2013}}</ref>

Retrospectively, [[AllMusic]] critic [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] deemed ''She's So Unusual'' "one of the great [[new wave music|new wave]]/early [[MTV]] records" and "a giddy mix of self-confidence, effervescent popcraft, unabashed sentimentality, subversiveness, and clever humor", concluding that "if Lauper couldn't maintain this level of consistency, it's because this captured her persona better than anyone could imagine".<ref name="Erlewine"/> ''[[Slant Magazine]]''{{'}}s Sal Cinquemani called it "a pop classic" with a "rare balance of camp and candor that set Lauper apart from her contemporaries and continues to retain her place in the pop pantheon."<ref name="Cinquemani"/> In ''[[Classic Pop (magazine)|Classic Pop]]'', [[John Earls]] praised the album as a testament to Lauper's "will, exuberance and vocal control" and versatility "across [[synth-pop]], [[rock music|rock]] and [[Sentimental ballad#Power ballads|power ballads]]",<ref name="Earls"/> while Terry Staunton wrote in ''[[Record Collector]]'' that Lauper's "cartoon-like kooky personality was underpinned by a formidable songwriting talent."<ref name="Staunton"/> Arielle Gordon of ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' said that with ''She's So Unusual'', "Lauper shoehorned rebellion into the familiar, both musically and visually", helping to "usher in an [[electronic music|electronic]] era for popular rock" and envisioning "a world where women danced through New York in [[ruffle (sewing)|ruffle]] skirts and [[combat boot]]s, partied with a sense of purpose, and were just as powerful at their most vulnerable as their most ferocious."<ref name="Gordon"/>

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Select rankings of ''She's So Unusual''
|-
! scope="col" | Publication
! scope="col" | List (1984)
! scope="col" | Rank
! scope="col"  class="unsortable"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[The Village Voice]]''
| [[Pazz & Jop|Pazz & Jop 1984: Dean's List]]
| {{center|11}}
| {{center|<ref name="PazzJop">{{cite web|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/deans84.php|title=Pazz & Jop 1984: Dean's List|publisher=Robert Christgau|date=1984|access-date=April 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020826043406/http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/deans84.php|archive-date=August 26, 2002}}</ref>}}
|}

== Commercial performance ==
The album has sold over 16 million copies worldwide.<ref name="SSU SalesII">{{cite news|last=Varga|first=George|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/music/sdut-cyndi-lauper-still-proudly-unusual-2013jun07-story.html|title=Cyndi Lauper still proudly 'unusual'|newspaper=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]|date=June 7, 2013|access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref>

=== North America ===
==== United States ====
''She's So Unusual'' debuted on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart in the week dated December 24, 1983 at no. 193.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=December 24, 1983|title=Top LPs & Tape|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1983/BB-1983-12-24.pdf|page=92}}</ref> The album reached the Top 10 by the end of March 1984 in its 15th week on the chart.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=March 31, 1984|title=Top LPs & Tape|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1984/BB-1984-03-31.pdf|page=59}}</ref> It achieved a peak position of no. 4 on the chart dated June 2, 1984, after having stayed on the ''Billboard'' 200 for 24 weeks up to that point.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=June 2, 1984|title=Top LPs & Tape|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1984/BB-1984-06-02.pdf|page=63}}</ref> Overall, the album stayed 77 weeks on the ''Billboard'' 200. It became one of the best-selling albums of 1984. ''She's So Unusual'' has since sold over seven million copies in the United States, where it was certified seven times platinum by the RIAA.<ref name="RIAA2"/>

==== Canada ====
At least until 1986, the album was the second best-selling album in Canada by a female artist during the decade, behind [[Whitney Houston]]'s [[Whitney Houston (album)|self-titled debut studio album]], selling more than 900,000 copies.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=LaPointe|first=Kirk|author-link=Kirk LaPointe|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tiQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA78|title=Houston Likely to Outsell Lauper|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|location=New York|volume=98|issue=52|date=December 27, 1986|access-date=November 5, 2010|page=78}}</ref>

=== Asia ===
In Japan, the album debuted at no. 14 on the albums chart in the week dated March 26, 1984.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=March 31, 1984|title=Hits of the World|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1984/BB-1984-03-31.pdf|page=53}}</ref> It reached its peak position of no. 5 just over a month later in the week dated April 30, 1984.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=March 31, 1984|title=Hits of the World|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1984/BB-1984-05-05.pdf|page=64}}</ref>

=== Oceania ===
''She's So Unusual'' entered the Australian albums chart in the week dated May 28, 1984 at no. 12.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=June 2, 1984|title=Hits of the World|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1984/BB-1984-06-02.pdf|page=55}}</ref> It went to peak in the top three of the albums chart.

== Accolades ==
''She's So Unusual'' and its singles earned Lauper six [[Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]] nominations, including [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]] and ultimately winning the awards for [[Grammy Award for Best Recording Package|Best Recording Package]] and [[Grammy Award for Best New Artist|Best New Artist]]. "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" was nominated for [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]] and [[Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance|Best Female Pop Vocal Performance]], and "Time After Time" was nominated for [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]]. Lauper earned ten [[MTV Video Music Awards|MTV Video Music Award]] nominations. "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" received six nominations including [[MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year|Video of the Year]], and won for [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video|Best Female Video]]. "Time After Time" received three nominations and "She Bop" received one nomination.

''She's So Unusual'' was ranked at number 494 on ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|list of the 500 greatest albums of all time]] in 2003,<ref name="RS2003">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/shes-so-unusual-cyndi-lauper-19691231|title=500 Greatest Albums of All Time: She's So Unusual – Cyndi Lauper|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=December 11, 2003|access-date=January 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101219094120/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/shes-so-unusual-cyndi-lauper-19691231|archive-date=December 19, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> rising to number 487 in a 2012 update of the list,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-156826/cyndi-lauper-shes-so-unusual-47052/|title=500 Greatest Albums of All Time|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=May 31, 2012|access-date=August 23, 2019}}</ref> then to number 184 in a 2020 update.<ref name="RS2020">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/cyndi-lauper-shes-so-unusual-4-1063049/|title=The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=September 22, 2020|access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref> ''Rolling Stone'' also placed ''She's So Unusual'' at number 41 on its 2002 list of 50 essential albums by women in rock,<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Women in Rock: The 50 Essential Albums|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|location=New York|issue=908|date=October 31, 2002}}</ref> and the record retained the placement on a similar list published by the magazine a decade later.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Sheffield|first=Rob|author-link=Rob Sheffield|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/women-who-rock-the-50-greatest-albums-of-all-time-160558/cyndi-lauper-shes-so-unusual-3-229576/|title=Women Who Rock: The 50 Greatest Albums of All Time|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=June 22, 2012|access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref> In 2012, ''[[Slant Magazine]]'' listed it as the 22nd best album of the 1980s, calling it an "absolutely peerless collection of profound pop jewels".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/best-albums-of-the-1980s/|title=The 100 Best Albums of the 1980s|website=[[Slant Magazine]]|date=March 5, 2012|access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref> In 2019, the [[Library of Congress]] selected ''She's So Unusual'' for preservation in the [[National Recording Registry]] for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".<ref name="Andrews">{{cite news|last=Andrews|first=Travis M.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/jay-z-a-speech-by-sen-robert-f-kennedy-and-schoolhouse-rock-among-recordings-deemed-classics-by-library-of-congress/2019/03/19/f7eb08ea-4a58-11e9-9663-00ac73f49662_story.html|title=Jay-Z, a speech by Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and 'Schoolhouse Rock!' among recordings deemed classics by Library of Congress|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=March 20, 2019|access-date=March 25, 2019}}</ref>

{{awards table}}
|-
| rowspan="9" | [[1984 MTV Video Music Awards|1984]]
| rowspan="6" | "[[Girls Just Want to Have Fun]]"
| [[MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Concept Video]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[MTV Video Music Award – Viewer's Choice]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Overall Performance]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3" | "[[Time After Time (Cyndi Lauper song)|Time After Time]]"
| MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist
| {{nom}}
|-
| MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="7" | 1985 || Cyndi Lauper || [[Grammy Award for Best New Artist]] || {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | ''She's So Unusual'' || [[Grammy Award for Best Recording Package|Grammy Award for Best Album Package]] || {{won}}
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year]] || {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" || [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year]] || {{nom}}
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance]] || {{nom}}
|-
| "Time After Time" || [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year]]|| {{nom}}
|-
| "[[She Bop]]"
| MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video
| {{nom}}
{{end}}

== 30th Anniversary Tour ==
The 30th Anniversary of ''She's So Unusual'' occurred in 2013. To honor it and to thank her fans for its success, Lauper embarked on a World Tour called the "[[She's So Unusual: 30th Anniversary Tour]]".

As part of the show, Lauper sang the entire track listing of the record in the order it appears on the CD while telling stories about the production of the record and her life at the time she recorded it.

== Track listing ==
=== Original release ===
{{Track listing
| headline     = Side one
| extra_column = Publisher
| title1       = [[Money Changes Everything#Cyndi Lauper version|Money Changes Everything]]
| writer1      = [[The Brains|Tom Gray]]
| extra1       = Gray Matter Music/ATV Music Corp.
| length1      = 5:06
| title2       = [[Girls Just Want to Have Fun]]
| writer2      = [[Robert Hazard]]
| extra2       = Heroic Music
| length2      = 3:58
| title3       = [[When You Were Mine (Prince song)#Cyndi Lauper version|When You Were Mine]]
| writer3      = [[Prince (musician)|Prince]]
| extra3       = Ecnirp Music
| length3      = 5:06
| title4       = [[Time After Time (Cyndi Lauper song)|Time After Time]]
| writer4      = {{hlist|Cyndi Lauper|[[Rob Hyman]]}}
| extra4       = Dub Notes, Rella Music
| length4      = 4:01
| total_length = 18:11
}}
{{Track listing
| headline     = Side two
| extra_column = Publisher
| title1       = [[She Bop]]
| writer1      = {{hlist|Lauper|[[Rick Chertoff]]|[[Gary Corbett]]|Stephen Broughton Lunt}}
| extra1       = Rellla Music Co., Noyb Music Co., Wall to Wall Music Co. & Hobbler Music
| length1      = 3:47
| title2       = [[All Through the Night (Jules Shear song)#Cyndi Lauper version|All Through the Night]]
| writer2      = [[Jules Shear]]
| extra2       = Funzalo Music/Juters Music Co.
| length2      = 4:33
| title3       = Witness
| writer3      = {{hlist|Lauper|[[John Turi]]}}
| extra3       = Turalaura Music and Turi Music
| length3      = 3:40
| title4       = I'll Kiss You
| writer4      = {{hlist|Lauper|Shear}}
| extra4       = Rellla Music Co., Funzalo Music / Juters Music Co.
| length4      = 4:12
| title5       = [[He's So Unusual#Cyndi Lauper version|He's So Unusual]]
| writer5      = {{hlist|[[Al Sherman]]|[[Al Lewis (lyricist)|Al Lewis]]|[[Abner Silver]]}}
| extra5       = Shapiro, Bernstein & Co. Inc
| length5      = 0:45
| title6       = Yeah Yeah
| writer6      = {{hlist|Hasse Huss|[[Mikael Rickfors]]}}
| extra6       = Stainless Music Corp.
| length6      = 3:18
| total_length = 20:15
}}
{{Track listing
| headline     = 2000 reissue
| extra_column = Notes
| title11      = Money Changes Everything
| note11       = Live
| extra11      = Recorded 1984, [[Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre]], [[Irvine, California]]; previously unreleased edit (original recording from Portrait promotional 12-inch (AS 1961)
| length11     = 4:36
| title12      = She Bop
| note12       = Live
| extra12      = Recorded 1984, Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, Irvine, California; previously unreleased
| length12     = 5:20
| title13      = All Through the Night
| note13       = Live
| extra13      = Recorded 1984, Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, Irvine, California; previously unreleased
| length13     = 4:48
| title14      = Money Changes Everything
| note14       = Live at [[Summer Sonic Festival|Summer Sonic]] 07) (Japan remaster exclusive bonus track
| length14     = 5:10
| total_length = 58:36
}}
'''Notes'''
* "'''Irvine Meadows'''" live tracks recorded on the [[Fun Tour]] at [[Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre]], [[Irvine, California]], U.S. (September 22, 1984).<ref>[[Fun Tour]]</ref>
* "'''Summer Sonic 07'''" live track recorded at Japan [[Summer Sonic Festival#2007|Summer Sonic Festival]], either [[Osaka]] (August 11, 2007) or [[Tokyo]] (August 12, 2007).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.summersonic.com/07/|title=SUMMER SONIC 07|work=summersonic.com|access-date=September 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827215448/http://www.summersonic.com/07/|archive-date=August 27, 2013}}</ref>
* Tracks 11 to 13 are bonus tracks on the 2000 remastered version (and after)
* Tracks 11 to 14 are bonus tracks on the 2008 Japan remastered [[Mini-LP]] version<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sonymusicshop.jp/m/item/itemShw.php?site=S&cd=EICP000000991|title=Sony Music Shop – ｼﾝﾃﾞｨ･ﾛｰﾊﾟｰ･ｼｰｽﾞ･ｿｰ･ｱﾝﾕｰｼﾞｭｱﾙ(紙ｼﾞｬｹｯﾄ)【完全生産限定盤】･CD･DVD･ﾌﾞﾙｰﾚｲ･ｱｰﾃｨｽﾄｸﾞｯｽﾞ･書籍･雑誌の通販|work=Sony Music Shop}}</ref> (and 2013 re-issue of same).
* In 2013, the 2008 Japan remaster was reissued on '''BSCD2''' format with the same 2008 track listing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sonymusicshop.jp/m/item/itemShw.php?site=S&cd=SICP000030179|title=Sony Music Shop – ｼﾝﾃﾞｨ･ﾛｰﾊﾟｰ･ｼｰｽﾞ･ｿｰ･ｱﾝﾕｰｼﾞｭｱﾙ･CD･DVD･ﾌﾞﾙｰﾚｲ･ｱｰﾃｨｽﾄｸﾞｯｽﾞ･書籍･雑誌の通販|work=Sony Music Shop}}</ref>
{{Track listing
| headline     = 30th anniversary reissue (2014)
| title11      = Girls Just Want to Have Fun (2013 Yolanda Be Cool remix)
| length11     = 5:52
| title12      = Time After Time (2013 NERVO Back in Time remix)
| length12     = 4:53
| title13      = Time After Time (2013 Bent Collective remix)
| length13     = 7:15
| total_length = 56:42
}}

=== 30th Anniversary Reissue (2014) ===
{{Track listing
| headline     = Bonus disc
| title1       = Girls Just Want to Have Fun
| note1        = 1983 early guitar demo
| length1      = 3:32
| title2       = All Through the Night
| note2        = 1983 rehearsal with studio dialog
| length2      = 5:30
| title3       = Rules and Regulations
| note3        = 1983 rehearsal
| length3      = 2:41
| title4       = Money Changes Everything
| note4        = demo
| length4      = 4:52
| title5       = Girls Just Want to Have Fun
| note5        = demo
| length5      = 3:22
| title6       = Right Track, Wrong Train
| note6        = non LP B-side
| length6      = 4:40
| title7       = Witness
| note7        = live, Boston, 1984
| length7      = 3:12
| title8       = She Bop
| note8        = 1984 Arthur Baker remix
| length8      = 6:27
| title9       = Time After Time
| note9        = work in progress rough mix
| length9      = 4:00
| total_length = 38:16
}}
'''Note'''
* "[[The Goonies 'R' Good Enough]]" is featured as a bonus track on disc one of the deluxe edition in Japan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mostly-retro.com/2014/04/09/cd-review-cyndi-lauper-shes-so-unusual-30th-anniversary-edition/|title=CD Review: Cyndi Lauper – She's So Unusual (30th Anniversary Edition)|work=Mostly Retro|date=April 9, 2014}}</ref>

== Personnel ==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
'''Musicians'''
* [[Cyndi Lauper]] – lead vocals; backing vocals; arrangements
* [[Rob Hyman]] – keyboards; backing vocals; arrangements (1, 2, 4–10)
* [[Richard Termini]] – synthesizers
* Peter Wood – synthesizers
* [[Eric Bazilian]] – arrangements (1, 2, 4–10); [[melodica]]; guitars; bass; saxophone (10); backing vocals
* Rick DiFonzo – guitars
* [[Neil Jason]] – guitars; bass
* William Wittman – guitars; arrangements (3)
* [[Anton Fig]] – drums; drum machines; percussion
* [[Rick Chertoff]] – percussion; arrangements 
* [[Krystal Davis]] – backing vocals
* [[Ellie Greenwich]] – backing vocals
* [[Jules Shear]] – backing vocals
* Maeretha Stewart – backing vocals
* Diane Wilson – backing vocals
{{col-break}}

;Production
* Rick Chertoff – producer 
* William Wittman – associate producer; engineer 
* Lennie Petze – executive producer 
* [[John Jansen (record producer)|John Jansen]] – additional engineer
* Rod O'Brien – additional engineer
* John Agnello – assistant engineer 
* Dan Beck – product manager
* Amy Linden – liner notes
* [[Janet Perr]] – art direction; design; cover art concept
* Cyndi Lauper – cover art concept
* Ralph Scibelli – hair design
* Justin Ware – hair design
* Laura Wells – stylist 
* [[Annie Leibovitz]] – photography
* David Wolff – management 
* Joseph Zynczak – management
{{col-break}}

;Reissue Credits
* Bruce Dickinson – producer 
* Cyndi Lauper – producer (live tracks)
* Lennie Petze – producer (live tracks)
* Steve Berkowitz – A&R direction
* Patti Matheny – A&R coordinator 
* Darren Salmieri – A&R coordinator
* [[George Marino]] – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York, NY).
* [[John Jackson (musician)|John Jackson]] – project director 
* John Christiana – packaging manager 
* Howard Fritzson – art direction 
* Janet Perr – design
{{col-end}}

== Charts ==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=== Weekly charts ===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for ''She's So Unusual''
! scope="col" | Chart (1984–1985)
! scope="col" | Peak<br />position
|-
! scope="row" | Australian Albums ([[Kent Music Report]]){{sfn|Kent|1993|p=173}}
| 3
|-
{{album chart|Austria|5|artist=Cyndi Lauper|album=She's So Unusual|rowheader=true|access-date=May 10, 2016}}
|-
{{album chart|Canada|1|chartid=6750a|rowheader=true|access-date=July 26, 2022}}
|-
! scope="row" | Canadian Albums (''[[The Record (magazine)|The Record]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1985/1985-02-02-Billboard-Page-0094.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1985/1985-02-02-Billboard-Page-0094.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=Hits of the World|magazine=Billboard|volume=97|issue=5|date=February 2, 1985|page=80|issn=0006-2510|via=World Radio History}}</ref>
| 1
|-
{{album chart|Netherlands|19|artist=Cyndi Lauper|album=She's So Unusual|rowheader=true|access-date=May 10, 2016}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[European Top 100 Albums|European Albums]] (''[[Music & Media|Eurotipsheet]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/80s/84/M&M-1984-08-13-OCR-Page-0004.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/80s/84/M&M-1984-08-13-OCR-Page-0004.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=European Top 100 Albums|magazine=[[Music & Media|Eurotipsheet]]|volume=1|issue=19/20|date=August 13, 1984|page=12|oclc=29800226|via=World Radio History}}</ref>
| 16
|-
! scope="row" | Finnish Albums ([[The Official Finnish Charts|Suomen virallinen lista]])<ref>{{cite book|last=Pennanen|first=Timo|title=Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972|language=fi|edition=1st|location=Helsinki|publisher=[[Otava (publisher)|Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava]]|year=2006|isbn=978-951-1-21053-5}}</ref>
| 22
|-
{{album chart|Germany4|23|id=121|artist=Cyndi Lauper|album=She's So Unusual|rowheader=true|access-date=May 10, 2016}}
|-
! scope="row" | Italian Albums (''[[Musica e dischi]]'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php|title=Classifiche|work=[[Musica e dischi]]|language=it|access-date=July 26, 2022}} ''Select "Album" in the "Tipo" field, type "She's so unusual" in the "Titolo" field and press "cerca".''</ref>
| 14
|-
! scope="row" | Japanese Albums (Music Labo)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1984/1984-05-05-Billboard-Page-0064.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1984/1984-05-05-Billboard-Page-0064.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=Hits of the World|magazine=Billboard|volume=96|issue=18|page=62|issn=0006-2510|via=World Radio History}}</ref>
| 5
|-
{{album chart|New Zealand|3|artist=Cyndi Lauper|album=She's So Unusual|rowheader=true|access-date=May 10, 2016}}
|-
{{album chart|Norway|4|artist=Cyndi Lauper|album=She's So Unusual|rowheader=true|access-date=May 10, 2016}}
|-
! scope="row" | South African Albums ([[Recording Industry of South Africa|RISA]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geocities.ws/sa_divas/albums.html |title=Divas of South Africa & America – Albums |website=South African Divas |access-date=May 19, 2019 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602135952/http://www.geocities.ws/sa_divas/albums.html |archive-date=June 2, 2019 |via=[[GeoCities]]}}</ref>
| 6
|-
{{album chart|Sweden|22|artist=Cyndi Lauper|album=She's So Unusual|rowheader=true|access-date=May 10, 2016}}
|-
{{album chart|Switzerland|8|artist=Cyndi Lauper|album=She's So Unusual|rowheader=true|access-date=May 10, 2016}}
|-
{{album chart|UK2|16|date=19840729|rowheader=true|access-date=July 26, 2022}}
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|4|artist=Cyndi Lauper|rowheader=true|access-date=May 10, 2016}}
|-
! scope="row" | Zimbabwean Albums ([[List of record charts|ZIMA]])<ref>{{cite book |last=Kimberley |first=Christopher |year=2000 |title=Zimbabwe Albums Chart Book: 1973–1998 |location=Harare}}</ref>
| 1
|}
{{col-2}}

=== Year-end charts ===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ 1984 year-end chart performance for ''She's So Unusual''
! scope="col" | Chart (1984)
! scope="col" | Position
|-
! scope="row" | Australian Albums (Kent Music Report){{sfn|Kent|1993|p=436}}
| 24
|-
! scope="row" | Canada Top Albums/CDs (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9642&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9642.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9642|title=Top 100 Albums of 1984|magazine=RPM|volume=41|issue=17|date=January 5, 1985|page=8|issn=0033-7064|via=Library and Archives Canada}}</ref>
| 5
|-
! scope="row" | Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1984&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 1984|publisher=[[Dutch Charts]]|language=nl|access-date=May 10, 2016}}</ref>
| 68
|-
! scope="row" | German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-jahr/for-date-1984|title=Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 1984|language=de|publisher=GfK Entertainment|access-date=May 10, 2016}}</ref>
| 75
|-
! scope="row" | [[1984 in Japanese music|Japanese Albums]] ([[Oricon Albums Chart|Oricon]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geocities.jp/entamedata/music/music_a1984.html |title=1984年 アルバム年間TOP100 |publisher=[[Oricon]] |language=ja |access-date=May 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080604200628/http://www.geocities.jp/entamedata/music/music_a1984.html |archive-date=June 4, 2008}}</ref>
| 25
|-
! scope="row" | New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-albums/1984-12-31|title=Top Selling Albums of 1984|publisher=[[Recorded Music NZ]]|access-date=May 10, 2016}}</ref>
| 33
|-
! scope="row" | Norwegian ''Russefeiring'' Period Albums (VG-lista)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lista.vg.no/liste/topp-40-album/2/dato/1984/periode/russetid|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610171345/http://lista.vg.no/liste/topp-40-album/2/dato/1984/periode/russetid|archive-date=June 10, 2016|title=Topp 40 Album Russetid 1984|publisher=[[VG-lista]]|access-date=May 10, 2016|language=no}}</ref>
| 11
|-
! scope="row" | Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/1984/alben|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1984|website=hitparade.ch|language=de|access-date=July 26, 2022}}</ref>
| 16
|-
! scope="row" | UK Albums ([[Gallup (company)|Gallup]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Week-IDX/IDX/1985/Music-Week-1985-01-26-I-IDX-62.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Week-IDX/IDX/1985/Music-Week-1985-01-26-I-IDX-62.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=Top 100 Albums (January 3–December 29, 1984)|magazine=[[Music Week]]|date=January 26, 1985|page=42|issn=0265-1548|via=World Radio History}}</ref>
| 70
|-
! scope="row" | US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/archivesearch/article_display/855368?imw=Y|title=Top Pop Albums of 1984|website=Billboard.biz|date=December 31, 1984|access-date=July 26, 2022|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121231160407/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/archivesearch/article_display/855368?imw=Y|archive-date=December 31, 2012}}</ref>
| 11
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ 1985 year-end chart performance for ''She's So Unusual''
! scope="col" | Chart (1985)
! scope="col" | Position
|-
! scope="row" | Australian Albums (Kent Music Report){{sfn|Kent|1993|p=437}}
| 8
|-
! scope="row" | Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://austriancharts.at/year.asp?id=1985&cat=a|title=Jahreshitparade Alben 1985|website=austriancharts.at|language=de|access-date=May 10, 2016}}</ref>
| 19
|-
! scope="row" | Canada Top Albums/CDs (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0618&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.0618.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0618|title=RPM's Top 100 Albums of 1985|magazine=RPM|volume=43|issue=16|date=December 28, 1985|page=14|issn=0033-7064|via=Library and Archives Canada}}</ref>
| 24
|-
! scope="row" | New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-albums/1985-12-31|title=Top Selling Albums of 1985|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=May 10, 2016}}</ref>
| 17
|-
! scope="row" | US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uyQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT68|title=1985 The Year in Music & Video – Top Pop Albums|magazine=Billboard|volume=97|issue=52|date=December 28, 1985|page=T-19|issn=0006-2510|via=Google Books}}</ref>
| 28
|}

=== Decade-end charts ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Decade-end chart performance for ''She's So Unusual''
! scope="col" | Chart (1980–1989)
! scope="col" | Position
|-
! scope="row" | [[List of top 40 albums for 1980–1989 in Australia|Australian Albums]] (Kent Music Report)
| 27
|}
{{col-end}}

== Certifications and sales ==
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for ''She's So Unusual''}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|award=Platinum|artist=Cyndi Lauper|type=album|title=She's So Unusual|relyear=1983|certyear=1986|certref=<ref name="aus86">{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1986/CB-1986-12-06.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1986/CB-1986-12-06.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=Lauper|magazine=[[Cash Box (magazine)|Cash Box]]|via=World Radio History|page=13|date= December 6, 1986|access-date= December 9, 2021}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|award=Platinum|number=2|artist=Cyndi Lauper|type=album|title=She's So Unusual|relyear=1983|certyear=2024|access-date=September 5, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|title=She's So Unusual|artist=Cyndi Lauper|award=Platinum|number=8|relyear=1983|certyear=1985|salesamount=900,000|salesref=<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tiQEAAAAMBAJ&q=shes+so+unusual+900000+canada+cindy+lauper&pg=RA1-PA78|title=Houston Likely to Outsell Lauper|last=LaPOINTE|first=Kirk|magazine=Billboard|date=December 26, 1986|access-date=December 26, 2012}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|type=album|title=She's So Unusual|artist=Lauper C.|award=Gold|relyear=1983|certyear=1995|source=infodisc}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=album|title=She's So Unusual|artist=Cyndi Lauper|award=Gold|relyear=1983}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Hong Kong|type=album|title=She's So Unusual|artist=Cyndi Lauper|award=Gold|relyear=1983|certyear=1985}}
{{Certification Table Entry|title=''シーズ・ソー・アンユージュアル''|artist=シンディ・ローパー|type=album|region=Japan|award=Gold|relyear=1983|certyear=1995|certmonth=2|salesamount=372,000|salesref=<ref name="JPCB">{{cite book |title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 |publisher=Oricon Entertainment |location=[[Roppongi]], [[Tokyo]] |year=2006 |isbn=4-87131-077-9 }}</ref>|access-date=July 21, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|title=She's So Unusual|artist=Cyndi Lauper|certyear=1985|type=album|id=1985-02-01|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|award=Platinum}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|type=album|title=She's So Unusual|artist=Cyndi Lauper|award=Platinum|relyear=1983}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|title=She's So Unusual|artist=Cyndi Lauper|award=Gold|id=5825-2540-2}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|title=She's So Unusual|artist=Cyndi Lauper|award=Platinum|number=7|relyear=1983|certyear=2023|access-date=October 13, 2023|refname="RIAA2"}}
{{Certification Table Summary}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|nocert=yes|salesamount=16,000,000|salesref=<ref name="SSH Sales" /><ref name="SSU SalesII" />}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Kent |first=David |author-link=David Kent (historian) |title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 |edition=illustrated |location=[[St Ives, New South Wales]] |publisher=Australian Chart Book |year=1993 |isbn=0-646-11917-6}}
{{Refend}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book|title=A Brief History of Album Covers|first=Jason|last=Draper|publisher=[[Flame Tree Publishing]]|location=[[London]]|year=2008|pages=252–253|isbn=9781847862112|oclc=227198538}}

== External links ==
<!-- This is a licensed stream for the album, which is allowed under Wikipedia polices -->
* [https://archive.today/20130504041421/http://www.radio3net.ro/dbartists/supersearch/U2hlJ3MgU28gVW51c3VhbA==/She's%20So%20Unusual ''She's So Unusual''] ([[Adobe Flash]]) at [[Radio3Net]] (streamed copy where licensed)
* {{discogs master|28859}}

{{Cyndi Lauper}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:She's So Unusual}}
[[Category:Cyndi Lauper albums]]
[[Category:Portrait Records albums]]
[[Category:Epic Records albums]]
[[Category:1983 debut albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Rick Chertoff]]
[[Category:Albums recorded at Record Plant (New York City)]]
[[Category:United States National Recording Registry recordings]]
[[Category:United States National Recording Registry albums]]