Katy Perry Brings Out Cyndi Lauper for ‘Time After Time’ Duet at Rock in Rio
Katy Perry lit up the second weekend of Brazil’s Rock in Rio 2024 by officially unveiling her highly anticipated album 143 during a high-octane performance Sept. 20 on the festival’s iconic Palco Mundo (Main Stage).
It marked the third time the pop star has performed at Rock in Rio—twice for the Brazil edition and once in Lisbon. Her most recent main stage performance featured an entirely new setlist and custom-designed visuals, where she performed new tunes and beloved classics in front of over 100,000 festivalgoers.
As if the album launch wasn’t enough excitement for one night, the “Woman’s World” singer surprised fans by bringing out pop legend Cyndi Lauper for a powerful duet of the icon’s Billboard chart-topping 1984 hit, “Time After Time.”
“I want to sing one of my fave songs, it means so much to me, especially in Brazil,” Perry told the crowd as she brought Lauper to the stage.
“I want to be exactly like you when I grow up, exactly like you,” Perry told the “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” singer. “You are so incredible, so connective, so full of life, so full of energy.”
Rock in Rio’s CEO, Luis Justo, spoke of the significance of Perry choosing the festival for the album launch: “A global launch by an artist like Katy Perry is a rare opportunity. We not only have the trust of the audience, who show up in large numbers but also of the artists who find Rock in Rio to be the best place to be close to their fans and give them the pinnacle moment of their careers—an exclusive and entirely premium experience.”
The celebration began earlier in the week, with Perry hosting an exclusive listening session of her new album backstage at Cidade do Rock on Sept. 18. A select group of Brazilian fans was invited to hear 143 in its entirety before the album’s official release, with the singer personally interacting guests.
With headliners including Ed Sheeran, Travis Scott, Mariah Carey, and many others on the bill, Rock in Rio 2024 is one of the most popular festivals on the global music calendar, and Perry’s high-energy performance – along with her surprise duet with Lauper – undoubtedly stands out as one of its defining moments.
Lauper’s legendary track “Time After Time,” co-written by Lauper and Rob Hyman, was released as the second single from her debut album, She’s So Unusual. In June of this year, “Time After Time” celebrated the 40th anniversary of its milestone, when it reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1984.
Prior to that, Lauper came close to the top spot with her debut single, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” which peaked at No. 2 in March 1984, blocked by Van Halen’s hit “Jump.” However, “Time After Time” succeeded in dethroning Deniece Williams’ “Let’s Hear It for the Boy,” spending two weeks at No. 1 before being replaced by Duran Duran’s “The Reflex.”
Stream Katy Perry’s album 143 below.
Jessica Lynch
Billboard
