"Ballad of Cleo and Joe" is a song by American singer-songwriter

Cyndi Lauper Cynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper Thornton (born June 22, 1953) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and activist. Her career has spanned over 40 years. Her album ''She's So Unusual'' (1983) was the first debut album by a female artist to achi ...

, released as the third single from her fifth studio album, '' Sisters of Avalon'' (1996). The song was written by Lauper and Jan Pulsford, and produced by Pulsford, Mark Saunders and Lauper. It was released on September 16, 1997 by Epic Records. Lyrically, the song describes the double life of a

drag queen A drag queen is a person, usually male, who uses drag clothing and makeup to imitate and often exaggerate female gender signifiers and gender roles for entertainment purposes. Historically, drag queens have usually been gay men, and part of ...

, the titular 'Joe' (by day) and 'Cleo' (by night). It received positive reviews from music critics. The song did not enter the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100, but debuted at number 24 on the ''Billboard'' Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.

Background

In early 1996, Lauper began working on what would be '' Sisters of Avalon''. Thematically the album expounded on the issue of complacency and ignorance in popular culture and the discrimination of minorities, gays, and women. "Ballad of Cleo and Joe" is a song about the double life of a cross dresser. The song is about the double life of a

, the titular 'Joe' (by day) and 'Cleo' (by night). This song was one of the many songs on the album that was about a

taboo A taboo or tabu is a social group's ban, prohibition, or avoidance of something (usually an utterance or behavior) based on the group's sense that it is excessively repulsive, sacred, or allowed only for certain persons.''Encyclopædia Britannica ...

subject.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from '' Billboard'' wrote, "It is downright criminal that Lauper's current '' Sisters Of Avalon'' set is not a huge hit. It's chock-full of rhythm-smart, lyrically sharp jams like "The Ballad Of Cleo And Joe", which sparks with a credible house beat and an enthralling tale of a couple just trying to get by in the naked city. Lauper's sterling composition is enhanced by the time-sensitive post-production of Ernie Lake and Bobby Guy, who juice up the bassline, tweak the chorus, and mold a few simple refrains into rousing riot chants. Support this record. After years of warbling about goonies and girls just wanting to have fun, Lauper has hit creative pay dirt." Bob Cannon from ''

Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cu ...

'' gave the song an B, adding, "Lauper's a dance diva, this pounding slice of

electro-pop Electropop is a hybrid music genre combining elements of electronic and pop genres. Writer Hollin Jones has described it as a variant of synth-pop with heavy emphasis on its electronic sound. The genre was developed in the 1980s and saw a rev ...

would have us believe. But she has too much personality to disappear into an anonymous dance mix. Having dropped her Betty Boop mannerisms, she sounds earthier than usual, giving "Cleo & Joe"--an homage to a

--the gospelish feel of early Donna Summer."

Music video

music video A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device ...

was released for the song, featuring a pregnant Lauper rotating on a platform with her stomach decorated to look like a disco ball. The video received play primarily in clubs.

Track listing

* US CD single #"Ballad of Cleo and Joe" (

Soul Solution Soul Solution is a house/ electronic dance music production duo from New York City formed by Bobby Guy and Ernie Lake. Biography As artists they made six appearances on the ''Billboard'' Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. Five times under the Sou ...

Radio Edit) – 3:54 #"Ballad of Cleo and Joe" (Soul Solution Vocal Dub) – 8:46 #"Ballad of Cleo and Joe" (Soul Solution Tribal Dub) – 3:35 #"Ballad of Cleo and Joe" (Soul Solution Instrumental) – 8:51 #"Ballad of Cleo and Joe" – 3:59

Charts

References

{{Authority control Cyndi Lauper songs LGBT-related songs 1997 singles Songs written by Cyndi Lauper Songs written by Jan Pulsford 1996 songs Epic Records singles Indietronica songs