The Essential is a compilation by an American pop icon Cyndi Lauper. It was released as part of Sony BMG's The Essential series in 2003. 　　Five year after its initial release, Sony Music Entertainment Japan reissued the album accompanied with bonus DVD which features four music videos. The expanded edition debuted at the number 29 on the Japan's Oricon, and became her eighth top-40 charting albums in the country.