42 Years Ago Today: One of the 'Best Pop Songs of All Time' Hits No. 1
On this day 42 years ago, Cyndi Lauper found her first No. 1 hit with Time After Time.
Lauper and Rob Hyman, a founding member of the Hooters, were both have difficulties in their respective relationships when they were introduced in 1983 by producer Rick Chertoff.
"It was the first time we met her," Hyman said. "We talked and right from the jump she was so unusual. She was definitely different and striking and creative. One thing led to another-she saw our band, we got a chance to hear one of her demos."
The title of the song was stripped from 1979 TV guide listing for a sci-fi movie called Time After Time, starring Malcolm McDowell and Mary Steenburgen.
'Time After Time' Named Among Best Pop Songs of All Time
On its list of the best pop songs of all time, Billboard listed Time After Time at No. 116.
"A devastating new wave ballad, loaded with lyrical wonders such as 'suitcase of memories' and 'the drum beats out of time,' about always being there for someone you've drifted apart from," Billboard wrote.
"Suitcase of memories" was one of the first lines of the song written by Hyman before Lauper's own experiences started finding their way onto the page, according to American Songwriter.
"I kept fighting to write a song for this record with one of these guys," Lauper said. "What I thought was great is that we were able to take real-life things, real things that were really happening-things that people said, things that people did-and put them right in the song."
The song was nominated for Grammy Award Song of the Year.
Time After Time also sat at No. 5 in Nerve's list of "The 50 Greatest Love Songs of All Time.'
"Lauper's most enduring masterpiece hits at the very essence of commitment," with the article pointing out that "she captures real romance in the most simple and straightforward of lines: 'If you're lost, you can look and you will find me, time after time'."
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This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published June 9, 2026 at 3:59 AM.