[3] Released in mid-1986, the song spent two weeks at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, being Lauper's second and last single to occupy the top of the chart.

Tom Kelly altered the first verse and the duo originally submitted the song to Anne Murray, who passed on recording it, and then to Cyndi Lauper.

The accompanying music video for the song, which received heavy rotation on MTV, was directed by American choreographer Patricia Birch.

Jerry Smith of the Music Week magazine deemed that "Lauper's fragile little girl voice" perfectly matches with this "effective ballad with its sympathetic, sparse accompaniment", but also added that this "downbeat style" was unlikely to make the song memorable.

[5] Di Cross of Record Mirror was strongly critical of "True Colors", stating that Lauper "does nothing to restore her flagging credibility rating with a dire, slushy attempt at an emotional ballad, the mixture curdled further by some appalling little girl vocals, complete with whispering asides and chest beating passion play".

[8] Years later, Lauper co-founded the True Colors Fund,[9] a non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating LGBT youth homelessness.

On December 13, 2022, Lauper performed the song at the ceremony where U.S. President Joe Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law.

The song peaked at number four, was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), and went on to be the 76th best-selling single in Australia that year.

[85] The project was inspired by the increase in teen bullying and cyberbullying, especially the Amanda Todd case,[86] with proceeds being donated to Kids Help Phone, a Canadian counseling service for children and youth.

[86] The artists involved in the recording were Lights, Pierre Bouvier (from Simple Plan), Jacob Hoggard (from Hedley), Fefe Dobson, Kardinal Offishall, Alyssa Reid and Walk Off the Earth.

The choirs sang from: Elstree at Elstree Studios the studio just outside of London where the main telethon was held,[91] Hartlepool at The Town Hall Theatre,[91] Belfast at W5,[91] Maidstone at Allington Castle,[91] The Wirral at the Lady Lever Art Gallery,[91] Cardiff at The Broadcasting House,[91] Mountsorrel at The Mountsorrel Memorial Centre,[91] Larkhill at St Michael's CE Primary School,[91] Glasgow at BBC Pacific Quay[91][92][93]