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"'''You Don't Own Me'''" is a [[popular song]] written by Philadelphia songwriters [[John Medora|John Madara]] and [[David White (musician)|David White]] and recorded by [[Lesley Gore]] in 1963, when Gore was 17 years old. The song was Gore's second most successful recording and her last top-ten single. |
"'''You Don't Own Me'''" is a [[popular song]] written by Philadelphia songwriters [[John Medora|John Madara]] and [[David White (musician)|David White]] and recorded by [[Lesley Gore]] in 1963, when Gore was 17 years old. The song was Gore's second most successful recording and her last top-ten single. Gore herself considered it to be her [[signature song]] claiming “I just can’t find anything stronger to be honest with you, it’s a song that just grows every time you do it.”<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-02-17 |title=It's My Party Singer Lesley Gore dies |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-31500422 |archive-url=http://archive.today/2023.10.09-035748/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-31500422|archive-date=2023-10-09 |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> |
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The song was shocking in 1963 for its anti-patriarchal stance, showing the power of one woman to deny the wishes of a man. Since then, the song has been hailed as an early [[feminist anthem]].<ref name=Songbook>{{cite web |url=https://indianapublicmedia.org/afterglow/shout,-sister,-shout-the-great-american-songbooks-feminist-anthems.php |title=Shout, Sister, Shout: The Great American Songbook's Feminist Anthems |last=Chilla |first=Mark |date=March 4, 2022 |work=Afterglow |publisher=Indiana Public Media |access-date=April 11, 2022}}</ref> In 2015, singer [[Saygrace|Grace]] took Gore's song to {{abbr|No.|number}} 1 in Australia with a version featuring rapper [[G-Eazy]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/06/26/735819094/lesley-gore-you-dont-own-me-american-anthem |title='You Don't Own Me,' A Feminist Anthem With Civil Rights Roots, Is All About Empathy |date=June 26, 2019 |last=Ulaby |first=Neda |website=[[NPR]] |access-date=April 14, 2022}}</ref>. |
The song was shocking in 1963 for its anti-patriarchal stance, showing the power of one woman to deny the wishes of a man. Since then, the song has been hailed as an early [[feminist anthem]].<ref name=Songbook>{{cite web |url=https://indianapublicmedia.org/afterglow/shout,-sister,-shout-the-great-american-songbooks-feminist-anthems.php |title=Shout, Sister, Shout: The Great American Songbook's Feminist Anthems |last=Chilla |first=Mark |date=March 4, 2022 |work=Afterglow |publisher=Indiana Public Media |access-date=April 11, 2022}}</ref> In 2015, singer [[Saygrace|Grace]] took Gore's song to {{abbr|No.|number}} 1 in Australia with a version featuring rapper [[G-Eazy]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/06/26/735819094/lesley-gore-you-dont-own-me-american-anthem |title='You Don't Own Me,' A Feminist Anthem With Civil Rights Roots, Is All About Empathy |date=June 26, 2019 |last=Ulaby |first=Neda |website=[[NPR]] |access-date=April 14, 2022}}</ref>. The following year, the song was inducted into the [[Grammy Hall of Fame]]. |
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==Background== |
==Background== |
Revision as of 05:27, 17 October 2023
"You Don't Own Me" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Lesley Gore | ||||
from the album Lesley Gore Sings of Mixed-Up Hearts | ||||
B-side | "Run Bobby, Run" | |||
Released | December 11, 1963 | |||
Recorded | September 21, 1963 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 2:31 | |||
Label | Mercury | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Quincy Jones | |||
Lesley Gore singles chronology | ||||
|
"You Don't Own Me" is a popular song written by Philadelphia songwriters John Madara and David White and recorded by Lesley Gore in 1963, when Gore was 17 years old. The song was Gore's second most successful recording and her last top-ten single. Gore herself considered it to be her signature song claiming “I just can’t find anything stronger to be honest with you, it’s a song that just grows every time you do it.”[1]
The song was shocking in 1963 for its anti-patriarchal stance, showing the power of one woman to deny the wishes of a man. Since then, the song has been hailed as an early feminist anthem.[2] In 2015, singer Grace took Gore's song to No. 1 in Australia with a version featuring rapper G-Eazy.[3]. The following year, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Background
The song expresses emancipation, as the singer tells a lover that he does not own her, that he cannot tell her what to do or what to say, and that he is not to put her on display. The song's lyrics became an inspiration for younger women and are sometimes cited as a factor in the second wave feminist movement.[4]
Gore said, "My take on the song was: I'm 17, what a wonderful thing, to stand up on a stage and shake your finger at people and sing you don't own me."[5] In Gore's obituary, The New York Times referred to "You Don't Own Me" as "indelibly defiant".[6]
Cash Box described it as "a throbbing, multi-track, ballad-with-a-beat on which [Gore] emotionally declares her independence."[7]
Chart performance
The song reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. The song remained at number two for three consecutive weeks, beginning on February 1, 1964, unable to overcome the Beatles' hit "I Want to Hold Your Hand". It became Gore's second most successful hit after "It's My Party". The song was Gore's last top-ten single.[8][9]
Weekly charts
Chart (1964) | Peak
position |
---|---|
US (Billboard Hot 100)[10] | 2 |
US (Cashbox Top 100)[11] | 2 |
Australia (Kent Music Report) | 4 |
Canada (CHUM Hit Parade)[12] | 5 |
New Zealand (Listener)[13] | 2 |
Sweden[14] | 9 |
Year-end charts
Chart (1964) | Peak
position |
---|---|
US (Billboard Year-End Hot 100)[15] | 36 |
US (Cashbox Year-End Top 100)[16] | 42 |
Brazil[17] | 47 |
Later comparative criticism
After the success of "You Don't Own Me", many of Gore's other recordings (also generally written by others), including "That's the Way Boys Are", were eventually compared to it and criticized for not coming up to feminist expectations. Of "That's the Way Boys Are", author Richard Aquila noted that the lyrics "voice the era's acceptance of sexual double standards," in contrast with the theme of Gore's previous single, "You Don't Own Me".[18] Aquila regards "That's the Way Boys Are" as one of several examples of Lesley Gore recordings that regard women as dependents or passive objects, along with her earlier singles "It's My Party" and "Judy's Turn to Cry".[18] Musicologist Walter Everett described "That's the Way Boys Are" as one of the many 1960s sexist songs that "perpetuated a boys-will-be-boys tolerance for male but not female infidelity."[19] Music critic Greil Marcus also remarked on the way "That's the Way Boys Are" backs off from the "proto-feminist manifesto" of "You Don't Own Me" to a message of "he may treat you like garbage, but they're all like that, and we love 'em for it!"[20]
On 14–21 August 1965, Patty Duke peaked at No. 8 on the Hot 100 with "Don't Just Stand There", which sounds very similar to "You Don't Own Me".[21]
Grace version
"You Don't Own Me" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Grace featuring G-Eazy | ||||
from the EP Memo and the album FMA | ||||
Released | March 17, 2015 | |||
Recorded | 2015 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:19 | |||
Label | RCA | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | ||||
Saygrace singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
G-Eazy singles chronology | ||||
|
The song was covered by Australian singer and songwriter Grace and was released as her debut single. It features American rapper G-Eazy. Grace's version was produced by Quincy Jones, who also produced the original recording by Lesley Gore, and Parker Ighile. It was released on March 17, 2015, one month after Lesley Gore's death, and peaked at number one on the ARIA Charts, later being certified 3× Platinum by the ARIA.[22] The song was also a success in New Zealand, peaking at number five for two consecutive weeks, and in the United Kingdom, peaking at number four.
In an interview with House of Fraser, Grace said, "[Quincy Jones] told me how the song came out during the feminist movement and how it was such a strong statement. I loved the song, started researching Lesley Gore and fell in love with her as an artist. [You Don't Own Me] really inspired me."[23]
The song was released worldwide on August 17, 2015. It grew to prominence in the UK when it was used in the 2015 House of Fraser Christmas advert.[23] It was also performed by The X Factor contestant Lauren Murray in 2015 and Matt Terry in 2016. The increased exposure for the song helped it rise to a peak of number four on the UK Singles Chart. The song was featured in the third trailer for the 2016 film Suicide Squad [24] and appeared on the film's soundtrack album.[25]
The song was featured in the opening of Riverdale's eighth episode in March 2017, as well as the background music for the 2018 Ford Mustang GT commercial, with Helen Hunt and Evan Rachel Wood.
A music video directed by Taylor Cohen was released on June 1, 2015.[26]
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
Chart (2015–2016) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[27] | 1 |
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[28] | 55 |
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[29] | 42 |
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[30] | 45 |
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[31] | 52 |
France (SNEP)[32] | 182 |
Hungary (Single Top 40)[33] | 32 |
Ireland (IRMA)[34] | 13 |
Italy (FIMI)[35] | 89 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[36] | 5 |
Portugal (AFP)[37] | 62 |
Scotland (OCC)[38] | 3 |
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[39] | 50 |
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[40] | 38 |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[41] | 19 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[42] | 60 |
UK Singles (OCC)[43] | 4 |
US Billboard Hot 100[44] | 57 |
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[45] | 22 |
Year-end charts
Chart (2015) | Position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[46] | 26 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[47] | 43 |
Chart (2016) | Position |
Iceland (Plötutíóindi)[48] | 49 |
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[49] | 87 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[50] | 4× Platinum | 280,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada)[51] | 2× Platinum | 160,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[52] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
Italy (FIMI)[53] | Gold | 25,000‡ |
Mexico (AMPROFON)[54] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[55] | Platinum | 15,000* |
Poland (ZPAV)[56] | 2× Platinum | 40,000‡ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[57] | Gold | 15,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[58] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[59] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Other notable covers
- Dusty Springfield released an early cover on her 1964 album A Girl Called Dusty.[60]
- The Ormsby Brothers released the first male version of this song in 1973. The New Zealand group's version peaked at number 5 in Australia in that year.[61]
- Joan Jett recorded a cover of this song for her 1980 debut album Bad Reputation.
- André Hazes recorded a Dutch-language version of the song in 1981 for his album Gewoon André; "Zeg Maar Niets Meer" was popular in Europe, and reached number 2 in the Dutch charts in early 1982.
- The song was featured in the 1996 film The First Wives Club as sung by Diane Keaton, Bette Midler and Goldie Hawn.[62][63] It also attracted a fan following.[64]
- Kristin Chenoweth recorded a cover of this song alongside Ariana Grande, for her 2019 album For the Girls.[65]
- The 2022 Netflix series Stay Close used "You Don't Own Me" as the theme song, sung by Nikki Williams.[66]
- The Blow Monkeys covered the song for the soundtrack to the 1987 film Dirty Dancing. [67]
- Lani Misalucha recorded a cover for the soundtrack in the 2015 Star Cinema movie Etiquette for the Mistresses.
- Klaus Nomi recorded a cover on his 1981 self-titled album; it was also released as a single.
See also
References
- ^ "It's My Party Singer Lesley Gore dies". BBC News. 2015-02-17. Archived from the original on 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
- ^ Chilla, Mark (March 4, 2022). "Shout, Sister, Shout: The Great American Songbook's Feminist Anthems". Afterglow. Indiana Public Media. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
- ^ Ulaby, Neda (June 26, 2019). "'You Don't Own Me,' A Feminist Anthem With Civil Rights Roots, Is All About Empathy". NPR. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
- ^ Stos, Will (2012). "Bouffants, Beehives, and Breaking Gender Norms: Rethinking 'Girl Group' Music of the 1950s and 1960s". Journal of Popular Music Studies. 24 (2): 117–154. doi:10.1111/j.1533-1598.2012.01322.x.
- ^ "Biography - Lesley Gore". Biography.com. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
- ^ "Lesley Gore, Teenage Voice of Heartbreak, Dies at 68". The New York Times. February 16, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
- ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. December 21, 1963. p. 8. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
- ^ Richie Unterberger. "You Don't Own Me - Lesley Gore | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-09-27.
- ^ "You Don't Own Me Song Facts". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 2016-09-27.
- ^ "The Hot 100". Billboard. 2013-01-02. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
- ^ "Cash Box" (PDF).
- ^ "Chum Hit Parade". February 3, 1964.
- ^ "flavour of new zealand - search lever". www.flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
- ^ "Lesley Gore - Se alla låtar och listplaceringar". NostalgiListan (in Swedish). Retrieved 2021-12-14.
- ^ "Top Records of 1964" (PDF). Billboard. January 2, 1965.
- ^ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1964". tropicalglen.com. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
- ^ "Top 100 Brazil Song Chart for 1964". Playback.fm. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
- ^ a b Aquila, R. (2000). That old-time rock & roll: a chronicle of an era, 1954-1963. University of Illinois Press. pp. 114–116, 234. ISBN 978-0-252-06919-2.
- ^ Everett, W. (2008). The foundations of rock: from "Blue suede shoes" to "Suite : Judy blue eyes". Oxford University Press. p. 366. ISBN 978-0-19-531023-8.
- ^ Marcus, G. (1999). In the fascist bathroom: punk in pop music, 1977-1992. Harvard University Press. pp. 217–218. ISBN 978-0-674-44577-2.
- ^ Sir Rockwell (2016-03-29). "Patty Duke's Billboard Chart History, 'Don't Just Stand There' & Beyond". Rockdabox, 'The Future of Caribbean Radio'. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
- ^ "iTunes Store (AU) - Music - Grace - You Don't Own Me (feat. G-Eazy) - Single". iTunes Store (AU). 15 August 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
- ^ a b "Grace - The Voice Behind our Christmas Avert". House of Fraser. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
- ^ "This is who covers Lesley Gore's You Don't Own Me in the Suicide Squad trailer". Metro. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil (June 17, 2016). "'Suicide Squad' Soundtrack: Skrillex & Rick Ross, Panic! at the Disco Cover 'Bohemian Rhapsody' & More". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
- ^ "Grace - You Don't Own Me ft. G-Eazy". YouTube. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
- ^ "Grace feat. G-Eazy – You Don't Own Me". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
- ^ "Grace feat. G-Eazy – You Don't Own Me" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
- ^ "Grace feat. G-Eazy – You Don't Own Me" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
- ^ "Grace Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 34. týden 2016 in the date selector. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
- ^ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés - SNEP (Week 32, 2016)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
- ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
- ^ "Chart Track: Week 2, 2016". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
- ^ "Classifica settimanale WK 34" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
- ^ "Grace feat. G-Eazy – You Don't Own Me". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
- ^ "Grace feat. G-Eazy – You Don't Own Me". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201539 into search.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201633 into search. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ^ "Grace feat. G-Eazy – You Don't Own Me" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
- ^ "Grace feat. G-Eazy – You Don't Own Me". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
- ^ "Grace Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
- ^ "Grace Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
- ^ "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2015". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
- ^ "Top Selling Singles of 2015". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- ^ "TÓNLISTINN – LÖG – 2016". Plötutíóindi (in Icelandic). Retrieved March 31, 2022.
- ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2016". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2019 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – Grace – You Don't Own Me (Feat. G-Eazy)". Music Canada. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
- ^ "Danish single certifications – Grace – You Don't Own Me". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
- ^ "Italian single certifications – Grace – You Don't Own Me (Feat. G-Eazy)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 29 September 2016. Select "2016" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "You Don't Own Me (Feat. G-Eazy)" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
- ^ "Certificados Musicales Amprofon (in Spanish)". Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved 5 October 2021 – via facebook.
- ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Grace feat. G-Eazy – You Don't Own Me". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved September 4, 2015.[dead link ]
- ^ "Wyróżnienia – Platynowe płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2017 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
- ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('You Don't Own Me')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- ^ "British single certifications – Grace feat. G-Eazy – You Don't Own Me". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ "American single certifications – Grace – You Don't Own Me". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
- ^ Nissim, Mayer (2022-05-04). "'You Don't Own Me' by Lesley Gore: The making of the '60s feminist anthem". Gold. Retrieved 2022-11-23.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 226. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Without Lesley Gore This Famous 'First Wives Club' Scene Would Never Have Happened". The Hollywood Reporter. 16 February 2015.
- ^ "The Real Meaning Behind the First Wives Club's Best Scene".
- ^ "Diane Keaton wowed by fan's 'First Wives Club' impersonation video". 28 January 2021.
- ^ "Ariana Grande, Kristin Chenoweth Cover 'First Wives Club' Theme 'You Don't Own Me'". Rolling Stone. 27 September 2019.
- ^ Rafter, Darcy (Jan 30, 2022). "Stay Close theme song explored: Who sings the opening tune?".
- ^ Nissim, Mayer (14 July 2022). "Dirty Dancing's classic soundtrack gets special watermelon-shaped vinyl ahead of sequel". Retrieved 2 January 2023.
- 1960s ballads
- 1963 singles
- 1963 songs
- 1964 singles
- 1981 singles
- André Hazes songs
- Bette Midler songs
- Lesley Gore songs
- Mercury Records singles
- 2015 debut singles
- G-Eazy songs
- RCA Records singles
- Song recordings produced by Quincy Jones
- Songs with feminist themes
- Songs written by David White (musician)
- Songs written by John Medora