Claim: Cyndi Lauper made "Girls Just Want to Have Fun."

`` Girls Just Want to Have Fun '' is a song written by and first recorded in 1979 by American musician Robert Hazard . However , it is better known as a single by American singer Cyndi Lauper , whose version was released in 1983 . It was the first major single released by Lauper as a solo artist and the lead-off single from her debut studio album She 's So Unusual -LRB- 1983 -RRB- . Lauper 's version gained recognition as a feminist anthem and was promoted by a Grammy-winning music video . It has been covered on either an album or in live concert by over 30 other artists .   The single was Lauper 's breakthrough hit , reaching number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and becoming a worldwide hit throughout late 1983 and early 1984 . It remains one of Lauper 's signature songs and was a widely popular song during the era of its release , the 1980s . The `` Rolling Stone & MTV : ' 100 Greatest Pop Songs ' : 1-50 '' , `` Rolling Stone : `` The 100 Top Music Videos '' '' and the `` VH1 : 100 Greatest Videos '' lists ranked the song at No. 22 , No. 39 and No. 45 , respectively . The song received Grammy Award nominations for Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance . In 2013 , the song was remixed by Yolanda Be Cool , taken from the 30th anniversary reissue of the album She 's So Unusual .   The song is featured in the 2012 video game Sleeping Dogs , as part of the karaoke tracks .