User:JoeGould123/You Don't Own Me
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"You Don't Own Me" is a pop song written by Philadelphia songwriters John Madara and David White, and was recorded by Lesley Gore in 1963, when she was 17 years old.
The song was prominent at the time of its release in 1963 as it symbolized women's empowerment, showing the strength of a woman to stand up for herself against a man.[1]
- Ulaby, Neda (June 26th, 2019). "'You Don't Own Me,' A Feminist Anthem With Civil Rights Roots, Is All About Empathy". npr music.
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In 2015, singer SayGrace took Gore's song to No. 1 in Australia
The song expresses emancipation, as the singer tells a lover that he cannot objectify her. She doesn't want to be held to his hypocritical gender standards, such as not being able to see other men, when he sees other women.
American music magazine CashBox described it as "a throbbing, multi-track, ballad-with-a-beat on which [Gore] emotionally declares her independence."
- Patrick, Natalie (2024-03-29). "Lesley Gore shares a classic remix "You Don't Own Me" by electronic duo The Heroic Enthusiasts". EARMILK. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
After the success of "You Don't Own Me", many of Gore's other recordings (generally written by others), including "That's the Way Boys Are", were eventually comparatively criticized for not meeting 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". 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". 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." Music critic Greil Marcus also mentioned how "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!"
added Spotify album of Lesley Gore Sings of Mixed Up Hearts: https://open.spotify.com/album/5eluBwSJ7uwDBizWCiazSJ?si=sDldeQj5RAauy1LDp7D4sA
Lesley Gore re-recorded "You Don't Own Me" for her album Ever Since in 2005, later using it during the 2012 presidential campaign for women's reproductive rights. The recording has since been used in many different feminist rights campaigns, marches and TV shows, highlighting the significance of the powerful message the song still delivers. Gore even said “After some 40 years, I still close my show with that song because I can’t find anything stronger, to be honest with you."[1]
- Daly, Rhian (2024-03-20). "'You Don't Own Me': The Story Behind Lesley Gore's Empowering Hit". uDiscover Music. Retrieved 2024-04-15.