The year was 1985, and a new crop of women artists dominated the contemporary music landscape: Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Sheila E., Joan Jett, Pat Benatar and "perhaps the godmother of them all," Tina Turner, were among the ladies making waves on the charts and the concert trail.
RELATED: January 1984: Cyndi Lauper Releases "Time After Time"
Newsweek magazine chronicled the moment with the March 4, 1985 cover story, "Rock and Roll Woman Power," featuring Cyndi Lauper as the cover star.
"Most of my letters used to be from girls saying how glad they were that we emerged because it helped them with their boyfriends," Pat Benatar would say in the article. "Now when I get letters, the girls aspire for themselves."
"I'm glad to have a girl following," Lauper would explain. "Because I want to encourage them. I try to beget strength and courage and purpose. I want to show them a new woman."
Madonna would also talk to the magazine for the story, defending her right to use sexuality in her art: "When someone like Prince, Elvis, or Jagger does the same thing, they are being honest, sensual human beings. But when I do it: "Oh please, Madonna, you're setting the women's movement back a million years.'"
Madonna would talk about her first major film role, Desperately Seeking Susan, which would come out later in the year: "I'm very career oriented. You are attracted to people who are ambitious that way, too, like in the song 'Material Girl.' You are attracted to men who have material things because that's what pays the rent and buys your furs. That's the security. That lasts longer than emotion."
Check out a great Cyndi Lauper fan interview hosted by Dick Clark below.
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