It 's My Party ( Lesley Gore song ) - wikipedia It 's My Party ( Lesley Gore song ) `` It 's My Party '' Original US single cover Single by Lesley Gore from the album I 'll Cry If I Want To B - side `` Danny '' Released April 1963 Format 7 '' vinyl Recorded March 30, 1963 Genre Pop rock blue - eyed soul Length 2 : 19 Label Mercury Songwriter ( s ) Walter Gold John Gluck Jr. Herb Weiner Seymour Gottlieb Producer ( s ) Quincy Jones Lesley Gore singles chronology `` It 's My Party '' ( 1963 ) `` Judy 's Turn to Cry '' ( 1963 ) `` It 's My Party '' ( 1963 ) `` Judy 's Turn to Cry '' ( 1963 ) EP cover `` It 's My Party '' is a pop song recorded by multiple artists since the 1960s. In 1963, American singer Lesley Gore 's version hit # 1 on the pop and rhythm and blues charts in the United States. It was the first hit single for producer Quincy Jones. Contents 1 Theme 2 Background 3 Charts 3.1 Weekly charts 3.2 Year - end charts 4 Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin version 5 Other cover versions, sampling, and references 6 The sequel : `` Judy 's Turn to Cry '' 7 Charts 7.1 Weekly charts 7.2 Year - end charts 8 Notes 9 References Theme The song lyrically portrays the discomfiture of a teenage girl at her birthday party when her boyfriend Johnny disappears, only to surface in the company of Judy, another girl, who is `` wearing his ring, '' to indicate she 's replaced the birthday girl as his love interest. The song 's chorus, `` It 's my party, and I 'll cry if I want to... You would cry too if it happened to you ! '' became a part of American pop cultural language as a phrase used to describe being utterly humiliated and miserable during an event that is supposed to be a happy occasion. `` It 's My Party '' is in the key of A major. The song 's effectiveness is enhanced by several musical touches producer Quincy Jones incorporated, including Latin - sounding rhythms, double tracked vocals and effective horn parts. Allmusic critic Jason Ankeny wrote of the song, `` ' It 's My Party ' remains one of the most vivid evocations of adolescent heartbreak ever waxed -- Quincy Jones produced the record, although you 'd swear it was Aaron Spelling instead. '' Background `` It 's My Party '' was credited to John Gluck, Wally Gold and Herb Weiner, staff writers at the Aaron Schroeder Music firm in 1962. The lyrics were actually written by Seymour Gottlieb, a freelance songwriter. He gave the lyrics to Herb Weiner, with whom he partnered in writing songs, to peddle. It was based on actual events relating to Gottlieb 's daughter Judy 's ' Sweet 16 ' party, before which she cried over the prospect of her grandparents being invited. The demo for the song was cut by Barbara Jean English, a girl group veteran ( the Clickettes, the Fashions ), who was then working as a receptionist at the firm. She also worked with Jimmy Radcliffe, serving as the firm 's in - house demo singer. Radcliffe produced the demo, and, according to English, `` tried to persuade Musicor ( the label owned by Aaron Schroeder ) to release it as a record, or to take me into a master studio and redo it, but they were n't interested. '' The first recording of the song was in 1962 by The Chiffons for their One Fine Day album. It was also recorded by Helen Shapiro for her Helen in Nashville album in February 1963 with Shapiro 's regular producer, Norrie Paramor, and also Al Kasha. Shapiro would recall : `` Right from the first time we heard the song on the rough demo back in London, we thought we were going to sock them between the eyes with that one '' ; however, Shapiro 's version was not one of the cuts chosen as an advance single from the album and by the time of the album 's release that October the `` It 's My Party '' track was perceived as a cover of Lesley Gore 's hit. Lesley Gore recalls that `` It 's My Party '' was among some two hundred demos producer Quincy Jones brought to review with her in the den of her family home in February 1963. On hearing `` It 's My Party, '' Gore told Jones : `` That 's not half bad. I like it. Good melody. Let 's put it on the maybe pile. '' The song proved to be the only demo Gore and Jones found agreeable. With Jones producing and Claus Ogerman handling arranging and conducting duties, Gore recorded ' It 's My Party ' at Bell Sound Studios in Manhattan on 30 March 1963. In March 1963 Phil Spector heard the demo of `` It 's My Party '' while visiting Aaron Schroeder 's office. Wally Gold would recall : `` He ( Spector ) said, ' Great, I love it. I 'm gon na do it with the Crystals. ' We ( the song 's writers ) were really excited, because that would ensure that the record was # 1 ! '' Schroeder apparently only learned of the Lesley Gore recording of `` It 's My Party '' when Quincy Jones invited him to hear the completed track, which Schroeder found formulaic ; believing that Spector would be able to cut a much stronger version of the song with the Crystals and not wanting to lose Spector 's good will, Schroeder attempted to convince Jones to suppress the track. Schroeder did n't mention Spector 's version to Jones but Jones and Spector both happened to attend a concert with Charles Aznavour at Carnegie Hall on the evening of 30 March 1963 and when they met outside it came up in conversation that Spector had recorded a version of `` It 's My Party '' with the Crystals. Jones skipped the concert instead spending that night -- a Saturday -- at Bell Sound Studios making a test pressing of the track comprising one hundred copies. Over the next two days Jones mailed these out to radio programmers in key markets across the US. Gore heard her record played on the radio for the first time that Friday ; the official release of `` It 's My Party '' came later in the month, with the disc ascending to # 1 nationally in four weeks. Jones was abroad at the time of `` It 's My Party '' 's release. On his return he expressed dismay when Aaron Schroeder advised him that the rush release of `` It 's My Party '' had precluded coining a more pleasant name for the singer than `` Lesley Gore, '' to which Schroeder replied : `` Did n't anybody tell you ?... Quince, the record 's number one. Do you really give a damn what her last name is ? '' In 1980, WCBN - FM, the University of Michigan freeform student radio station, played `` It 's My Party '' for 18 hours straight the day after Ronald Reagan was elected. Charts Weekly charts Chart ( 1963 ) Peak position Australia KMR UK ( OCC ) 9 US Billboard Hot 100 US Billboard R&B US Cash Box Top 100 Year - end charts Chart ( 1963 ) Rank US Billboard Hot 100 29 US Cash Box 30 Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin version `` It 's My Party '' Single by Dave Stewart with Barbara Gaskin B - side `` Waiting in the Wings '' Released August 1981 Format 7 '' vinyl Recorded 1981 Genre Synthpop new wave Art Pop Label Stiff Songwriter ( s ) Wally Gold John Gluck Jr. Herb Weiner Producer ( s ) Dave Stewart Dave Stewart with Barbara Gaskin singles chronology `` It 's My Party '' ( 1981 ) `` Johnny Rocco '' ( 1982 ) `` It 's My Party '' ( 1981 ) `` Johnny Rocco '' ( 1982 ) In 1981, a remake by British artists Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin was a UK number one hit single for four weeks and was also a major hit in Austria ( # 3 ), Germany ( # 3 ), the Netherlands ( # 20 ), New Zealand ( # 1 ), South Africa ( # 3 ) and Switzerland ( # 6 ). The track reached # 72 in the US. This was the first version of the song to reach # 1 in the UK. The video for the Stewart / Gaskin version contained a cameo by Thomas Dolby as Johnny, Judy being played by Gaskin in a blond wig. Other cover versions, sampling, and references The Paris Sisters recorded a version of `` It 's my Party '' which was slower than Gore 's version. In 1963, a Swedish - language version of the song, `` Leva livet '', with lyrics by Stikkan Anderson, reached number five in the Swedish hit parade Svensktoppen and became a signature song for the singer, Lill - Babs. Donna Reed sang a cover version of the song on the series finale of The Donna Reed Show. Bryan Ferry covered the song for his 1973 album These Foolish Things. In 1977, Carroll Baker had a number one country hit in Canada with her version of `` It 's My Party ''. The Chipettes covered the song for the 1983 Alvin and the Chipmunks episode `` May the Best Chipmunk Win '' and the soundtrack Songs from Our TV Shows. In 2004, German pop group Preluders covered the song on their album Prelude to History. Amy Winehouse covered the song on Quincy Jones ' 2010 album Q Soul Bossa Nostra. Icona Pop used the chorus for their version of `` It 's My Party '' while also adding modern day themes. An interpolation of the chorus of `` It 's My Party '' was used in Robin Thicke 's song `` Sex Therapy ''. The chorus of `` It 's My Party '' is sampled in the 2015 single `` Pity Party '' by Melanie Martinez. Also, in `` Pity Party '' 's music video, it is seen that the character `` Cry Baby '' is inviting `` Johnny '' ( from the original song ) to her party. The song `` Necessary Evil '' by Motionless In White contains some elements from `` It 's My Party '' including the chorus except some words are changed to fit the theme of the song. The 1975 references the song `` It 's My Party '' in their song `` You '' with the lyrics `` It 's my party and I 'll cry till the end. '' The sequel : `` Judy 's Turn to cry '' Because of the pop cultural obsession with the song and its tragic nature, Gore recorded a sequel titled `` Judy 's Turn to Cry ''. In this song, the teenage girl narrator gets her revenge on Judy. In the lyrics the narrator explicitly finds `` foolish '' how much she cried when she saw Johnny and Judy together, and seems determined to start anew. But after she kisses another boy at another party, Johnny gets jealous, punches the other boy and returns to her. Following just two months on the heels of `` It 's My Party, '' the sequel reached number five on the charts. Charts Weekly charts Chart ( 1963 ) Peak position US Billboard Hot 100 5 Year - end charts Chart ( 1963 ) Rank US Billboard Hot 100 83 Notes Jump up ^ As with `` He 's a Rebel '', the Crystals ' hit for which it was intended as the follow - up, `` It 's My Party '' was actually recorded not by the Crystals but the Blossoms, who cut the track at Gold Star Studios. Darlene Love says the Spector version was `` kinda slow with me and my sister Edna ( Wright ) singing together on lead. Much more R&B than Lesley Gore 's version. '' References Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2004 ). Top R&B / Hip - Hop Singles : 1942 - 2004. Record Research. p. 803. ^ Jump up to : Ankeny, J. `` It 's My Party ''. Allmusic. Retrieved 2011 - 07 - 20. Jump up ^ McClary, S., Knapp, R., Baur, S. & Warwick, J.C. ( 2008 ). Musicological identities : essays in honor of Susan McClary. Ashgate. p. 71. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7546 - 6302 - 7. CS1 maint : Multiple names : authors list ( link ) Jump up ^ Tumposky, Ellen ( February 18, 2015 ). `` Brooklyn Woman recall origins of Gore 's ' It 's My Party ' ''. Daily News. New York. Retrieved February 18, 2015. ^ Jump up to : `` It 's My Party ''. Cha Cha Charming Magazine. Archived from the original on June 12, 2007. ^ Jump up to : Bronson, F. ( 2003 ). The Billboard book of number 1 hits ( 5 ed. ). Random House. p. 130. ISBN 978 - 0 - 8230 - 7677 - 2. ^ Jump up to : Shannon, Bob. `` Behind The Hits : Stories : It 's My Party ''. Archived from the original on February 6, 2008. Retrieved September 17, 2011. Jump up ^ `` CBN History ''. Retrieved February 16, 2012. ^ Jump up to : Joel Whitburn 's Top Pop Singles 1955 - 1990 - ISBN 0 - 89820 - 089 - X Jump up ^ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, June 8, 1963 ^ Jump up to : Musicoutfitters.com Jump up ^ Cash Box Year - End Charts : Top 100 Pop Singles, December 28, 1963 Jump up ^ `` 45cat - Dave Stewart With Barbara Gaskin - It 's My Party / Waiting In The Wings - Stiff - UK - BROKEN 2 ''. 45cat.com. Retrieved 17 February 2015. Jump up ^ `` RPM Country Tracks for April 2, 1977 ''. RPM. Retrieved November 14, 2013. Preceded by `` If You Wanna Be Happy '' by Jimmy Soul Billboard Hot 100 number - one single ( Lesley Gore version ) June 1, 1963 -- June 8, 1963 Succeeded by `` Sukiyaki '' by Kyu Sakamoto Preceded by `` Another Saturday Night '' by Sam Cooke Billboard Hot R&B Singles number - one single June 15, 1963 -- June 29, 1963 Succeeded by `` Hello Stranger '' by Barbara Lewis Preceded by `` She 's Just an Old Love Turned Memory '' by Charley Pride RPM Country Tracks number - one single ( Carroll Baker version ) April 2, 1977 Succeeded by `` Heart Healer '' by Mel Tillis Preceded by `` Prince Charming '' by Adam and the Ants UK number - one single ( Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin version ) October 17, 1981 - November 7, 1981 Succeeded by `` Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic '' by The Police Lesley Gore Studio albums I 'll Cry If I Want To Lesley Gore Sings of Mixed - Up Hearts Boys, Boys, Boys Girl Talk My Town, My Guy, and Me Lesley Gore Sings All About Love California Nights Someplace Else Now Love Me by Name The Canvas Can Do Miracles Ever Since Compilations Lesley Gore : It 's My Party Singles `` It 's My Party '' `` Judy 's Turn to Cry '' `` She 's a Fool '' `` You Do n't Own Me '' `` That 's the Way Boys Are '' `` I Do n't Wanna Be a Loser '' `` Maybe I Know '' `` Look of Love '' `` Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows '' `` California Nights '' Related articles Discography Michael Gore Carroll Baker Notable singles `` It 's Late ( And I Have to Go ) '' `` I 've Never Been This Far Before '' `` The Hungry Fire of Love '' `` One Night of Cheatin ' '' `` Tonight with Love '' `` Why I Had to Pass This Way '' `` It 's My Party '' `` The Morning After Baby Let Me Down '' `` I Might as Well Believe ( I 'll Live Forever ) '' `` Portrait in the Window '' `` Hooked on a Feeling '' `` I 'm Getting High Remembering '' `` Hollywood Love '' `` Still Falling in Love '' `` I 'm So Excited '' `` You 've Lost That Lovin ' Feelin ' '' `` It 's Only Make Believe '' Related articles Discography Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=It%27s_My_Party_(Lesley_Gore_song)&oldid=805781641 '' Categories : 1962 songs 1963 singles 1981 singles Lesley Gore songs Carroll Baker songs Billboard Hot 100 number - one singles Billboard Hot R&B / Hip - Hop Songs number - one singles Number - one singles in New Zealand UK Singles Chart number - one singles RPM Country Tracks number - one singles Song recordings produced by Quincy Jones Mercury Records singles Songs written by Wally Gold Debut singles Helen Shapiro songs Lill - Babs songs Amy Winehouse songs Hidden categories : CS1 maint : Multiple names : authors list Articles which use infobox templates with no data rows Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters Articles with hAudio microformats All articles with failed verification Articles with failed verification from November 2014 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Español Français Italiano Norsk Norsk nynorsk Português Română Русский Simple English Svenska ไทย Edit links This page was last edited on 17 October 2017, at 16 : 14. 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Question: who sings it's my party and ill cry if i want to
Answer: Lesley Gore