This live version is so powerful, and it was the early 60's when women did not have a voice or a choice. You could be a teacher, nurse or secretary but never the principal, Doctor or Business owner. This song is a turning point for women - at the time of it's release the largest segment of the American population was women aged 14-20, so it resonated.
OMG! You said EXACTLY what my grandmother used to ask me! “So, what are you gonna be when you grow up? A nurse, a secretary or a teacher?” I would respond “well I don’t think I want to be any of those maw-maw.” She would look so confused. This was the early 70s.
I was a teenager when this song was released. All the girls loved it. It wasn’t until a few years later, and in college, that the women’s movement really took off. You Don’t Own Me and I Am Woman were our unofficial anthems. I still proudly wave the “feminist banner.”
This incredible song is from 1963. Consider this: In 1965, the Beatles released “Run for Your Life,” an entire song that is basically a murder threat if the girlfriend cheats. It quotes & expands on a line from the 1955 Elvis hit “Baby, Let’s Play House,” which was itself a cover of an Arthur Gunter song from 1954. The line is “I'd rather see you dead, little girl, than to be with another man.” Men routinely referred to grown women as “little girl” back then, and it seems no one batted an eye at the an upbeat song about murdering women if they got out of line. The Beatles song continued “You better run for your life if you can, little girl, hide your head in the sand, little girl, catch you with another man and that’s the end, little girl...” This is the atmosphere into which Lesley Gore released her song. Dion’s hits “The Wanderer” & “Runaround Sue” which alternately celebrate a man who sleeps around, and then warn of a girl who sleeps around (and should therefore be avoided), came out in 1961 and were totally typical as well. So Lesley Gore belting out “You Don’t Own Me” in the midst of that type of sentiment was revolutionary, and it harkened back to Black women who sang female-empowering blues songs, especially in the 20s & 30s, but also in the early 50s, like Big Mama Thornton’s original 1953 hit “Hound Dog,” which was about rejecting a scoundrel, before Elvis transformed it into a song about an actual dog! Lesley Gore’s song is rightly considered an anthem for Second Wave Feminism. Go Lesley!! And thank you to Quincy Jones for introducing her to the world! 👏👏👏
PS. I should mention that John Lennon wrote “Run for Your Life” but reportedly never liked it, and he eventually explicitly condemned it as misogynistic.
@@holyspacemonkey That's how Gordon Lightfoot came to feel about That's What You Get for Lovin' Me, and he stopped performing it. The times they was a-changin' .......
Jayvee, hey man you are the first person to hear this song as I hear it... you recognize the power & passion in her voice & you show it. I actually get chills from her intoxicating & intense voice. And, she recorded this song in 1963, which was extremely radical & revolutionary for the time.
You have to realize that back then, men thought they owned their women. They told you what you were supposed to do and say. Listen, this was an ANTHEM for women to come into their own! Excellent choice to review! 🌹
This song should be an anthem for girls (or boys) who often feel they are in a relationship where they are being ,or trying to be controlled or changed. It's so important to be yourself, and hold on to your identity.
Listen to the girls in the audience screaming. I've heard this song plenty of times, but never a live version. I got the chills...she put her heart into it.
SIR------She was born Lesley Anne Goldstein, a nice NJ Jewish girl. Mercury Records signed her, under the direction of Quincy Jones. This song was released, just after the tragedy of 11/22/63, and was huge, by New years Eve. In Denver, it was #1 in NY Eve, '63 /'64.
I LOVE this song!!! I heard it in the movie "First Wives Club" with Better Middler, Diane Keaton, Goldie Hawn. Such a great little movie with this song. They all are ex wives and they are tired of being pushed around!
Jovaugh you're reaction says so much about you. You're such a humanitarian and understand the fight for all our rights. You are right. I remember this song when I was a kid. That a woman could say she was her own person, and please respect that. Thank you so much. What a fine young man you are. Stay safe
This was a revolutionary song because of the lyrics. Girls were expected to live their life for men. I was a Junior in High School - A very revolutionary idea at the time
Funny enough, this live performance was from the legendary T.A.M.I. Show in 1964. Famous for James Brown wrecking the house with his Famous Flames, a great performance on it's own, it's easy to forget that the biggest act in that California auditorium was the shortest artist, too! Look up her other great hit she sang in that show called MAYBE I KNOW. It was Leslie Gore's personal favorite...🇵🇷🇺🇸🗽🦂😎📽
As a 65 yr old woman I still get goosebumps, in those time men decided if you were his girlfriend, or sometimes a girl father decided who a girl dated or married 🎧🔥👍🏻👌🏼💕
She was one of the biggest Teen Female Singers in America at that time. Her performance was featured in a Rock & Roll Movie called The T.A.M.I. Show which is the best Rock & Roll Concert Movie you've never heard of. It stood for Teenage Music International. It was around 1965 and so many Artists appeared on The Show. Jan & Dean, The Beach Boys, The New Barbarians, James Brown, Chuck Berry, The Rolling Stones, The Miracles, Supremes, Marvin Gaye and Gerry & The Pacemakers. She made a Cameo appearance on All My Children and her Brother Michael did The Movie version of Fame and she did the TV Version of The Same Name. She was in the closet but came out much later in life. She also was in a Beach Movie called The girls On The Beach with The Beach Boys, and in a Movie called Grace Of My Heart there was a singer named Kelly loosely based on her. This was a very empowering song for that time. Also check out "It's My Party" produced by Quincy Jones or "Leave Me Alone".
This is a nugget!! Classic girl singer of the sixties. I was a kid but older sister played Lesley Gore all the time. She was the “ teenager angst” artist. Check out “Its My Party” “Judys turn to Cry”
I like the way she sang it at the climax. It's like she told the guy, in case you didn't hear me the first time. She went from cute to yo, I'm serious. What a message. Truly God used her to help women get some respect.
You are the first reaction to this song that I have found. Love it. try her California Nights. This is the first song that I know of to push back on the way men treated women during that time.
An early feminist anthem, WAY ahead of its time. Lesley Gore was a gay woman, so it was appropriate that this song doesn't refer to a specific gender. She came out later in life as a proud gay woman.
It is stunning how EARLY this song is for how strong and direct it is. I've always loved it. Another one from the early '60s this makes me think of is the Shirelle's "Will You Love Me Tomorrow".
My best friend and I used to pull out our Moms' records when we were in high school and would have sleepovers. This was one of our favorites because it made you feel so confident.
You need to listen to a 60’s band from Australia called The Seekers - The Carnival is over - Judith Durham the lead vocal is probably one of the best voices of that decade.
I have been waiting for your reaction to this, you get it I can see , that's some powerful song , when i heard this back in the day , it's just what I wanted to hear 😃😃😃.
This came out the year I left school and it became my anthem! I remember my father saying it'd be a brave lad who'd try to tell me how to dress, what to do and what to say! I was like what? I'm such a sweet natured shrew :D
Still waiting to see those Muppets reactions. So far nobody else has tried it. Start with Harry Belafonte, the Banana Boat song, the Muppet Show version. Also, Lesley and her brother Michael wrote most of the songs for the movie Fame. Check out the finale (original 1980 film performance). It's called I Sing the Body Electric. You will NOT be disappointed by these suggestions. Best to you and keep up the beautiful work, young man.
Wow! I dont think I've ever heard that before. I knew of it but never listened.... what a great song!!! Women speaking up for our own minds!! Go girl!!!
Lesley and Quincy Jones were dialing in the HITS! They were on top of things and actually beat another high profile singing girl group slated to release the same hit. They got wind of the release and spent all night (breaking child labor law rules) recording "It's My Party" in the studio and beat the girl group to release. Leslie's version hit first and became a HUGE smash! They were brilliant and this was Quincy's first hit single as producer! Jovaughn, you should cover "It's My Party" which was also followed by "Judy's Turn To Cry". Great songs!
This is an early anthem of and for women's liberation. Your reaction shows that you are a big-hearted soul. One reason you are one of my favorite reactors. The other is that you have a knack for great and good music, and music that is good for you. Peace and love. db
In many ways Lesley Gore was a revolutionary artist. This song was released in 1963 before feminism had caught on. To me, she was one of the best girl singers to come out of the '60's. You also might want to check out: "The Look of Love", "Maybe I Know" and "California Nights." Perfection!
This is my most favorite Lesley Gore song. I love her. She was a teen star. But she never got the money she earned and that was an injustice. She did not write this song. It was written by Philadelphia songwriters John Madara and David White. I won't discuss the equality in a reaction video.
She sang it great in the studio, but live, she was UNLEASHED! Fantastic performance! The song has been covered countless times, most recently by Ann Wilson of Heart - look that performance up on RU-vid!
I heard this song in my childhood and didn't get the message like I should have. I wished I did because who knows where I could have gone, but at the same time, I love my husband and couldn't imagine my life without him. He doesn't try to control me, but I feel I am somewhat submissive to what he wants. But I think it's a healthy balance because I sign up to do volunteer work outside the home when I want to. I think we're an old couple who have a healthy relationship with no ownership of any kind.
Love watching your reactions my friend! My 1st time commenting. Everybody’s forgetting that treasure of a group- The Young Rascals. Start with the song: “ It’s a Beautiful Morning” or “Groovin”. Can’t wait to see your reaction! Thank you in advance!
I saw a younger lad respond to this and normally i have more fun watching him, but he thought this was the 80s and said "you want me to keep you in the car?". Lovely kid he just had no idea 😂
Great song!!! I forgot about this song!!! Yeah...love her.....yeah...it was for women's rights....against men owning women...telling them how to act or behave.....good song!
Being about 8-10 years old at this time Leslie had a big impact in me. Such a great & powerful voice. If she was going to be on TV all of us, parents, sister and me, were there. Such great memories.
And really CREEPILY and sadly and...right smack on the nose...ly, in "The Handmaid's Tale"... They play this over the ending of the first episode, and I was just crying my eyes out. Not gonna lie.
@@robinchesterfield42 Oh man, I forgot about that. Or blocked it out. It was incredibly painful used like that. Never have I felt more like that was a possibility in this country than the last few months.
Lesley loved this song from the first Time she heard it and she loved the lyric "don't tell me what to do and don't tell me what to say" also she didn't write it two men wrote it ironically
