Time After Time (Cyndi Lauper song)

File:Rob Hyman.jpg co-wrote and sings backing vocals on the track.]]

Although "Time After Time" would eventually become one of Lauper's signature songs, it was one of the last songs on her debut studio album to be recorded. While Lauper was still writing material for She's So Unusual in the spring of 1983, her producer, Rick Chertoff introduced her to American musician Rob Hyman, a founding member of the Hooters. Lauper had by then already recorded the majority of the album, including the songs "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" and "She Bop," but Chertoff insisted that she and Hyman needed to record just "one more song". Therefore, she and Hyman sat at a piano and started working on "Time After Time".{{cite book|last1=Lauper|first1=Cindy|title=Cyndi Lauper: A Memoir|date=2012|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=9781439147856|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rkU8DhNi86YC&q=time+after+time|access-date=July 10, 2014}}

File:Cyndi Lauper 1985 (cropped B).jpg

The inspiration for the song came from the fact that both songwriters were going through similar challenges in their respective romantic relationships; Hyman was coming out of a relationship, and Lauper was having difficulties with her boyfriend and manager, David Wolff. One of the early lines Rob Hyman wrote was "suitcase of memories", which according to Lauper, "struck her", claiming it was a "wonderful line", and other lines came from Lauper's life experiences. The song's title was borrowed from a TV Guide listing for the science fiction film Time After Time (1979), which Lauper had intended to use only as a temporary placeholder during the writing process. Although she later tried to change the song's name, she said that she felt at some point that "Time After Time" had become so fundamental to the song that it would fall apart with a different title.

Initially, Epic Records wanted "Time After Time" as the album's lead single. However, Lauper felt that releasing a ballad as her debut solo single would have pigeonholed her stylistically as a balladeer, limiting her future work and thus potentially killing her career. Wolff felt that "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" could become a successful pop anthem and was a better choice; ultimately the label agreed and released it as the lead single. "Time After Time" became the album's second single, released on March 27, 1984.{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=cyndi+lauper&col=format&ord=desc#search_section|title=RIAA|website=Recording Industry Association of America }}

Written by Cyndi Lauper and Rob Hyman and produced by Rick Chertoff, "Time After Time" is built over simple keyboard-synth chords, bright, jangly guitars, clock ticking percussion, and elastic bassline.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/cyndi-lauper-shes-so-unusual/335 |title=Cyndi Lauper: She's So Unusual |first=Sal |last=Cinquemani |date=29 September 2003 |magazine=Slant Magazine |access-date=15 September 2011}} Lyrically, the track is a love song of devotion. Pam Avoledo of Blogcritics speculates that, "In 'Time After Time,' the speaker believes she is a difficult person, unworthy of love. She runs away and shuts people out. However, her devoted boyfriend who loves her unconditionally is willing to help her through anything. The relationship is given depth. The couple's intimacy and history is apparent. They've been together for a long time. They love and have seen each other through every tough part of their life."{{cite news|last1=Avoledo|first1=Pam|title=Single Review: Cyndi Lauper "Time After Time"|url=http://blogcritics.org/single-review-cyndi-lauper-time-after/|access-date=July 10, 2014|work=Blogcritics|date=January 15, 2006}}

"Time After Time" is written in the key of C major with a tempo of 130 beats per minute{{Cite web|url=https://songbpm.com/cyndi-lauper/time-after-time|title=BPM for 'time-after-time' by cyndi-lauper {{!}} songbpm.com|website=songbpm.com|access-date=2016-06-17}} in common time. Lauper's vocals span from G₃ to C₅ in the song.{{Cite web|url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0053843|title=Cyndi Lauper "Time After Time" Sheet Music in C Major (transposable) – Download & Print|last=Lauper|first=Cyndi|website=Musicnotes.com|date=17 July 2006|access-date=2016-06-17}}

The song received critical acclaim:

• Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine praised the track, calling it "the album's finest moment, if not Lauper's greatest moment period."
• Susan Glen of PopMatters also called it a standout track, naming it "gorgeous".{{cite news|last1=Glen|first1=Susan|title=Cyndi Lauper: She's So Unusual | PopMatters|url=https://www.popmatters.com/review/laupercyndi-shes/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306153905/http://www.popmatters.com:80/review/laupercyndi-shes|archive-date=March 6, 2017|access-date=July 10, 2014|work=PopMatters|url-status=dead}}
• Bryan Lee Madden of Sputnikmusic simply called it "a masterpiece" and "the best and most significant song she ever wrote or recorded."{{cite news|last1=Madden|first1=Bryan Lee|title=Cyndi Lauper: She's So Unusual (album review)|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/35076/Cyndi-Lauper-Shes-So-Unusual/|access-date=July 10, 2014|work=Sputnikmusic|date=February 17, 2010}}
• Brenon Veevers of Renowned for Sound labeled it "sentimental" and "gorgeous".{{cite news|last1=Veevers|first1=Brendon|title=Album Review: Cyndi Lauper – She's So Unusual (A 30th Anniversary Celebration)|url=http://renownedforsound.com/index.php/album-review-cyndi-lauper-shes-so-unusual-a-30th-anniversary-celebration/|access-date=July 10, 2014|work=Renowned for Sound|date=April 14, 2014}}
• Scott Floman, music critic for Goldmine magazine, described the song as "gorgeously heartfelt" and "one of the decade's finest ballads".{{cite web |url=http://sfloman.com/cyndilauper.html |title=Cyndi Lauper Album Reviews |publisher=Sfloman.com |access-date=2012-11-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111093229/http://sfloman.com/cyndilauper.html |archive-date=2014-01-11 }}
• Chris Gerard of Metro Weekly summarized the song as a "beautiful and bittersweet ballad."{{cite news|last1=Gerard|first1=Chris|title=Cyndi Lauper's "She's So Unusual" 30 Years Later|url=http://www.metroweekly.com/2014/04/cyndi-laupers-shes-so-unusual-30-years-later/|access-date=July 10, 2014|work=Metro Weekly|date=April 3, 2014}}
• Cashbox said that the song "is a gentle, reflective tune that displays the deep resonance of Lauper's vocal talents."{{cite magazine|title=Reviews|magazine=Cash Box|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1984/CB-1984-04-24.pdf|date=April 14, 1984|accessdate=2022-07-23|page=14}}

"Time After Time" has entered many lists of "Best Love Songs of All Time", "Best Ballads from the 80s" and others. Bill Lamb, also from About.com, placed the song at number 21 on his "Top 100 Best Love Songs of All Time" list.{{cite web|last1=Lamb|first1=Bill|title=Top 100 Best Love Songs Of All Time|url=http://top40.about.com/od/top10lists/tp/top100lovesongs.07.htm|website=About.com|access-date=July 10, 2014|archive-date=September 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906130702/http://top40.about.com/od/top10lists/tp/top100lovesongs.07.htm|url-status=dead}} On Nerve's list of "The 50 Greatest Love Songs of All Time", "Time After Time" was placed at number 5, being called "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'."{{cite news|title=The 50 Greatest Love Songs of All Time|url=http://www.nerve.com/music/best-love-songs-of-all-time|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223104158/https://www.nerve.com/music/best-love-songs-of-all-time|archive-date=December 23, 2017|access-date=July 10, 2014|work=Nerve|date=February 10, 2012|url-status=dead}}

The song also appeared on Rolling Stone and MTV's "100 Greatest Pop Songs" at number 66. The song also entered VH1's "100 Best Songs of the Past 25 Years and "100 Greatest Songs of the 80s" lists, at numbers 22 and 19 respectively. The song was also on NME's 100 Best Songs of the 1980s, ranked number 79. The website declared that "'Time After Time' was a change in tack for Lauper, whose musical persona had previously been unstoppably light and frothy. 'Time After Time' was demoed quickly in time for inclusion on her debut 'She's So Unusual', and ended up being a key song for both Lauper's career and the decade itself."{{cite news|title=100 Best Songs of the 1980s | NME|url=https://www.nme.com/list/100-best-songs-of-the-1980s/266358/page/3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140823102151/https://www.nme.com/list/100-best-songs-of-the-1980s/266358/page/3|archive-date=August 23, 2014|access-date=July 10, 2014|work=NME|url-status=dead}}

;Won

• 1984 – American Video Awards for Best Female Performance
• 1984 – American Video Awards for Best Pop Video
• 1984 – BMI Awards for Pop Award
• 1984 – Billboard Awards for Best Female Performance
• 1985 – Pro Canada Awards for Most Performed Foreign Song
• 2008 – BMI Millionaire Award for 5 Million Spins on US Radio
• 2009 – BMI Awards for Pop Award

;Nominations

• 1984 – MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist
• 1984 – MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video
• 1984 – MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction
• 1985 – Grammy Award for Song of the Year

"Time After Time" became Lauper's first number-one single on the Billboard charts, reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart in June 1984.{{cite book|last1=Lauper|first1=Cyndi|title=Cyndi Lauper: A Memoir|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rkU8DhNi86YC&q=chart|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=9781439147856|access-date=July 11, 2014|chapter=7|date=18 September 2012}} It also reached the top of the Adult Contemporary and Canadian RPM Top Singles charts. In Europe, the single peaked at number 2, on July 9, 1984. In the United Kingdom, "Time After Time" debuted at number 54 on March 24, 1984, while peaking later at number 3, on July 14, 1984. In New Zealand, the song reached number 3, in Austria it reached number 5, in Switzerland it reached number 7, in France it peaked at number 9 and in Sweden it reached a peak of number 10. In Mexico's Notitas Musicales or Hit Parade the song was number 2 for four weeks, beginning on June 15, 1984.

A version from Lauper's ninth studio album, The Body Acoustic (2005), featuring Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan, reached No. 14 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

File:Morristown, NJ, train station interior.jpg, train station, seen at the end of the video.]]

The video for "Time After Time" was directed by Edd Griles,{{Cite web |title=The Story of... 'Time After Time' by Cyndi Lauper |url=https://www.smoothradio.com/features/the-story-of/time-after-time-cyndi-lauper-lyrics-facts-video/ |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=Smooth |language=en}} who had previously directed the music video for "Girls Just Want to Have Fun".{{Cite magazine |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |date=2022-01-24 |title=Cyndi Lauper's 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun' Joins YouTube's One Billion Views Club |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/cyndi-lauper-girls-just-want-to-have-fun-youtube-one-billion-views-1235022003/ |access-date=2024-06-25 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} The video follows a young woman leaving her lover behind. Lauper's mother, brother, and then-boyfriend, Dave Wolff, appear in the video, and Lou Albano, who played her father in the "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" video, can be seen as a cook. Portions of the video were filmed at the now-demolished Tom's Diner{{Cite web|url=https://www.tapinto.net/towns/roxbury/sections/roxbury-roots-and-history/articles/tom-s-diner-in-roxbury-is-demolished|title = Tom's Diner in Roxbury is Demolished}} in Roxbury, New Jersey, the intersection of Route 46 and Route 10, and at the Morristown train station.

Portions of the video were also shot in front of Betty's Department Store at the intersection of South Main Street and East Central Avenue{{Cite web |title=Chris Bungo Studios Filming Locations Then and Now |url=https://ChrisBungoStudios.com |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Chris Bungo Studios Filming Locations Then and Now |language=en-US}} in Wharton, New Jersey, which was a staple of the community in the 1970s. In addition, Lauper's "home" where she says goodbye to her mother still stands today on Hurd Street in Wharton, New Jersey.{{Cite web |last=Now |first=Chris Bungo Studios Filming Locations Then and |title=Chris Bungo Studios Filming Locations Then and Now |url=https://ChrisBungoStudios.com |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Chris Bungo Studios Filming Locations Then and Now |language=en-US}} According to Lauper, "It was important to me that we were natural and human in the video. I wanted to convey somebody who walked her own path and did not always get along with everyone and did not always marry the guy." The video opens with Lauper watching the adventure drama romance film The Garden of Allah (1936), and the final scene, where she gets on the train and waves goodbye to David, Lauper is crying.{{cite book|title=Cyndi Lauper: A Memoir|publisher=Simon and Schuste|isbn=9781471114274|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rkU8DhNi86YC&q=waving+goodbye|chapter=7|date=18 September 2012}}

European 12" single

1. "Time After Time" – 4:01 (Cyndi Lauper, Rob Hyman)
2. "I'll Kiss You" – 4:12 (Cyndi Lauper, Jules Shear)
3. "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" (extended version) – 6:08 (Robert Hazard)
4. "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" (instrumental) – 7:10 (Robert Hazard)

US vinyl, 7" single{{cite web|title=Cyndi Lauper – Time After Time (US Single) at Discogs|url=http://www.discogs.com/Cyndi-Lauper-Time-After-Time/release/774396|website=Discogs|access-date=July 11, 2014}}{{better source needed|date=February 2025}}

1. "Time After Time" – 3:52
2. "I'll Kiss You" – 4:05

• Written by Cyndi Lauper, Rob Hyman
• Produced by Rick Chertoff
• Executive producer: Lennie Petze
• Associate producer: William Wittman
• Engineered by William Wittman
• Arranged by Cyndi Lauper, Rick Chertoff, Rob Hyman, Eric Bazilian

• Cyndi Lauper – lead vocals; backing vocals
• Rob Hyman – keyboards; backing vocals
• Peter Wood – synthesizers
• Eric Bazilian – electric guitar
• Anton Fig – drums

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{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1984|certyear=1984|note=physical|artist=Cyndi Lauper|title=Time After Time|access-date=February 24, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1984|certyear=2020|id=8980|artist=Cyndi Lauper|title=Time After Time|access-date=February 20, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1984|certyear=2024|artist=Cyndi Lauper|title=Time After Time|access-date=May 3, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1984|certyear=2019|note=sales since 2009|artist=Cyndi Lauper|title=Time After Time|access-date=February 24, 2020|id=6833}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2004|certyear=2014|certmonth=1|digital=true|note=digital|artist=Cyndi Lauper|title=Time After Time|access-date=February 28, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1984|certyear=2022|artist=Cyndi Lauper|title=Time After Time|id=file_2022-05-13-15-04-29.pdf|access-date=23 May 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|award=Platinum|certyear=2024|artist=Cyndi Lauper|title=Time After Time|accessdate=May 7, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2005|certyear=2024|id=7605-49-1|note=digital sales since 2005|artist=Cyndi Lauper|title=Time After Time|access-date=April 12, 2024|refname=BPI}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|award=Silver|relyear=1984|certyear=1984|id=7605-2540-1|note=physical sales – 1984|artist=Cyndi Lauper|title=Time After Time|access-date=July 10, 2020|refname=BPI1}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|relyear=1984|certyear=2023|title=Time After Time|artist=Cyndi Lauper|type=single|award=Platinum|number=5|digital=true|access-date=October 13, 2023|refname=RIAA_2005}}

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American R&B singer INOJ recorded her Miami bass version{{Cite web|url=https://theboxhouston.com/8614832/whatever-happened-to-12/|title=Whatever Happened To....|author=KBXX|date=September 21, 2011|website=97.9 The Box}} of the song in 1998. It peaked at number six on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. The music video of this version first aired on BET and The Box.{{cite magazine |first=Carly |last=Hay |date=March 20, 1999 |title=Popular Uprisings: Billboard's Weekly Coverage of Hot Prospects for the Heatseekers Chart |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nw4EAAAAMBAJ&q=inoj+%22time+after+time%22&pg=PA22 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=October 29, 2014 }}

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{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1998|certyear=1998|artist=Inoj|title=Time After Time|access-date=March 10, 2015}}

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Novaspace, a German Eurodance project, covered the song on their debut studio album Supernova (2003). It reached number six in Germany, number seven in Austria, and number 15 in Australia.

Australia / Europe / Spain / U.S. CD single

1. "Time After Time" (radio edit) – 3:43
2. "Time After Time" (Time mix) – 5:36
3. "Time After Time" (After Time mix) – 6:29
4. "Time After Time" (Novaspace mix) – 6:06
5. "Time After Time" (instrumental) – 6:06

Sweden CD single

1. "Time After Time" (UK radio edit) – 3:18
2. "Time After Time" (Time mix) – 5:36
3. "Time After Time" (After Time mix) – 6:32
4. "Time After Time" (Novaspace mix) – 6:06
5. "Time After Time" (Sol Productions remix) – 6:14
6. "Time After Time" (Pascal remix) – 6:30

UK CD single

1. "Time After Time" (radio edit) – 3:18
2. "Time After Time" (Pascal remix) – 6:32
3. "Time After Time" (Time mix) – 5:36

UK 12" vinyl

1. "Time After Time" (Time mix)
2. "Time After Time" (I Nation remix)
3. "Time After Time" (Nick Skitz remix)

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American alternative rock band Quietdrive covered the song for their debut studio album When All That's Left Is You (2006). The cover version was featured in the romantic comedy film John Tucker Must Die (2006), starring Jesse Metcalfe and Brittany Snow. The cover is their only charting song, hitting number 25 on the Mainstream Top 40 Countdown. The cover was certified gold by the RIAA.

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{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2005|certyear=2015|artist=Quietdrive|title=Time After Time|access-date=March 10, 2015|refname=QD_RIAA}}

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Dutch electronic music group Dash Berlin, Dutch DJ duo DubVision and Australian singer Emma Hewitt released a cover of the song on 15 December 2022.{{Cite web |last=Orlick |first=Samuel |date=15 December 2022 |title=Dash Berlin & Emma Hewitt - Time After Time (Extended Mix) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZePo_ip5ZLw |access-date=17 September 2023 |website=YouTube}}{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/time-after-time-single/1654879244 |title=Time After Time - Single by Dash Berlin, DubVision and Emma Hewitt on Apple Music |website=Apple Music |access-date=16 December 2022}}

Jazz trumpeter Miles Davis, perhaps the earliest artist to interpret the song, recorded an instrumental version of the song for his studio album You're Under Arrest (1985).{{cite web |url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/r106103 |title=You're Under Arrest – Miles Davis | AllMusic |first=Scott |last=Yarnow |work=allmusic.com |year=2011 |access-date=8 August 2011}} The song became a regular part of Davis's live concerts until the end of his career, such as on Live Around the World (a live compilation recorded 1988 to 1991, released 1996).{{cite web |url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-around-the-world-mw0000645588 |title=Live Around the World – Miles Davis | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic |first=Scott |last=Yanow |work=allmusic.com |access-date=19 May 2014}} Lauper later stated that while the song has been recorded by dozens of musicians, "The most honored I ever felt was when Miles Davis covered it", adding: "the way he played it was pure magic."Cyndi Lauper and Jancee Dunn (2012) Cyndi Lauper: A Memoir, Atria Books, p. 154

In 1993, Mark Williams and Tara Morice recorded a cover for the Strictly Ballroom soundtrack.{{Cite web |date=2018-06-07 |title=Baz Luhrmann |url=https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/the-j-files/baz-luhrmann/10274324 |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=ABC listen |language=en-AU}}

Lauper did a parody of the song on a 1995 episode of Late Show with David Letterman as "Lactose Intolerant".{{cite web |url= https://www.lyricsfreak.com/c/cyndi+lauper/lactose+intolerant_20035235.html |title=Cyndi Lauper – Lactose Intolerant Lyrics |work=LyricsFreak |access-date=4 August 2022}}

American indie rock band Sarge recorded a cover of the song in 1997, which was included on a 7" single that year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/stall-time-after-time-mw0001030461|title = Stall/Time After Time - Sarge | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic|website = AllMusic}} In 2000, it appeared on their compilation album Distant.{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r473168|first=Jason|last=Ankeny}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=3103|title=Robert Christgau: Album: Sarge: Distant|website=www.robertchristgau.com}} AllMusic's Mike DaRonco said that their version "outshines the original."

On her 1999 tribute album to Miles Davis, Traveling Miles, jazz singer Cassandra Wilson included her Miles-infused, jazz vocal version of Lauper's "Time After Time".[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r399172|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic review]

A cover of the song by Eva Cassidy was published in 2000.

Lil' Mo recorded a cover of the song for her debut studio album Based on a True Story (2001).{{Citation |title=Based on a True Story - Lil' Mo {{!}} Album {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0000000147 |access-date=2024-06-25 |language=en}}

Uncle Kracker covered the song for the science fiction action comedy film Clockstoppers (2002).{{Citation |title=Clockstoppers - Original Soundtrack {{!}} Album {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/clockstoppers-mw0000220195 |access-date=2024-06-25 |language=en}}

A UK garage version, released in 2002 by Distant Soundz, was a top 20 hit in the UK, peaking at No. 20 on the UK Singles Chart{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/4533/distant-soundz/|title=DISTANT SOUNDZ | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company|website=Officialcharts.com}} and No. 4 on the UK Dance Singles Chart.{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/dance-singles-chart/20020303/104/|title=Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company|website=Officialcharts.com}}

On Billboard charts for the week ending May 14, 2011, Javier Colon's version peaked at number 65 on Hot 100,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/javier-colon/chart-history/hsi/ |title=Javier Colon (chart history, Hot 100) |magazine=Billboard |access-date=December 18, 2020 }} number 41 on Digital Song Sales{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/javier-colon/chart-history/hds/ |title=Javier Colon (chart history, Digital Song Sales) |magazine=Billboard |access-date=December 18, 2020 }} number four on Top Heatseekers{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/javier-colon/chart-history/hts/ |title=Javier Colon – Chart history (Heatseekers Songs) |magazine=Billboard |access-date=December 18, 2020 }} and number sixteen on R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs Sales.{{cite magazine|title=Javier Colon – Chart history (R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs Sales) |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/javier-colon/chart-history/rbt/|magazine=Billboard |access-date=December 18, 2020 }}

Swedish duo Undressd released a cover of the song on March 12, 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/time-after-time-single/1555078732|title = Time After Time - Single - Album by UNDRESSD & Ellie May|website = Apple Music|access-date = July 22, 2024}}

A cover version by British-Swedish-Spanish singer Mabel featured in the McDonald's Christmas commercial in the UK in 2021, and peaked at No. 71 on the UK Singles Chart.{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/52386/mabel/|title = Mabel | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company|website = OfficialCharts.com}}

The song was featured in the comedy film Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997). Director David Mirkin explained that he felt it "was the only song that had the proper emotion" to fit the scene.{{Cite web |date=25 April 2017 |title=The Truth Behind 'Romy And Michele's High School Reunion's Iconic Dance Scene |url=https://www.bustle.com/p/the-truth-behind-romy-micheles-high-school-reunions-iconic-dance-scene-53344 |access-date=2020-09-16 |website=Bustle |language=en}}

The song is featured in the independent coming-of-age comedy film Napoleon Dynamite (2004).{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

The song was featured in the Snow Ball dance scene in Netflix series Stranger Things season 2 as Nancy Wheeler dances with her brother's (Mike) best friend Dustin Henderson after he was rejected by another girl. The song also made a comeback to Generation Z.{{cite web |last1=Giles |first1=Jeff |title=Cyndi Lauper and the Police Added Meaning to 'Stranger Things 2' |url=https://diffuser.fm/stranger-things-2-cyndi-lauper-police/ |website=Diffuser |access-date=November 6, 2017}}

The cover by Eva Cassidy was used in the popular series Smallville.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZOv28HB_Og

• List of number-one singles of 1984 (Canada)
• List of Billboard Hot 100 number ones of 1984
• List of Hot Adult Contemporary number ones of 1984
• List of Cash Box Top 100 number-one singles of 1984

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Cite book

| last = Lauper

| first = Cyndi

| title = Cyndi Lauper: A Memoir

| year = 2012

| publisher = Simon & Schuster

| isbn = 9781439147856

| ref = cyndi

}}

• {{Cite book

| last = Myers

| first = Marc

| title = Anatomy of a Song: The Oral History of 45 Iconic Hits That Changed Rock, R&B and Pop

| year = 2016

| publisher = Atlantic Books

| isbn = 978-1-61185-959-1

}}

• {{discogs master|type=single|121736}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20131014172814/http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=672 "Time After Time"] at Songfacts

{{Cyndi Lauper singles}}

{{The Hooters}}

{{Mark Williams}}

{{Ronan Keating}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Time After Time (Cyndi Lauper Song)}}

Category:1983 songs

Category:1984 singles

Category:1980s ballads

Category:Rock ballads

Category:New wave ballads

Category:Cyndi Lauper songs

Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles

Category:Cashbox number-one singles

Category:1998 singles

Category:INOJ songs

Category:2002 singles

Category:Ronan Keating songs

Category:Mark Williams (singer) songs

Category:Number-one singles in Zimbabwe

Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles

Category:Songs written by Cyndi Lauper

Category:Songs written by Rob Hyman

Category:The Hooters songs

Category:Nana Mouskouri songs

Category:Epic Records singles

Category:Portrait Records singles

Category:Song recordings produced by Rick Chertoff

Category:Pop ballads

Category:Music videos shot in the United States