“Time After Time”
Writers: Cyndi Lauper, Rob Hyman
Original Release Date: January 27, 1984
I’m a day late for Valentine’s Day, but the next time you’re looking to woo someone, here’s a song you can use.
One of the best love songs to exist, Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” describes a couple who stays together through the hard times, loving each other unconditionally even when their relationship hits a rough patch. The lyrics are the most important part of the song, with the simple instrumentation almost an afterthought. The use of ticking clocks is clever but it’s hard to pay attention to the instruments with Lauper’s plaintive voice soaring straight through your ears and into your heart (that’s how anatomy works, right?). The supporting vocals by The Hooters’ Rob Hyman provide an extra layer of emotion, but we can all agree that Lauper is the star of this song.
Quietdrive’s cover of “Time After Time” is a version that I constantly listen to. I actually couldn’t remember what the original song even sounded like because I’m so used to this rendition. The heavier guitars and percussion bring the instrumentation to the forefront, nicely complimented by Kevin Truckenmiller’s mellow vocals. While it’s a little more aggressive than the original, it’s still propelled by emotion, and comes across as even more dramatic because of how angsty it is.
When it comes to choosing which song is most likely to make your crush swoon, you have two very different options: classic eighties jam or a rock version that may result in some extra brooding. I’m more inclined to the cover because it’s just so well done…and is definitely more mixed-tape material than the original.
