"It's My Party" was released on
April 5, 1963, as the lead single from Lesley Gore's debut album
I'll Cry If I Want To (1963). Lyrically it portrays the
discomfort of a teenage girl at her birthday party when her
boyfriend Johnny disappears, only to return in the company of
Judy, another girl, who is "wearing his ring", to indicate he
has replaced the birthday girl as his love interest. The song's
effectiveness is enhanced by several musical touches that
producer Quincy Jones incorporated, including Latin-sounding
rhythms, double tracked vocals, and effective horn parts. "It's
My Party" reached the number one position in the United States,
Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. |