YMMV / Lesley Gore

• Alternative Character Interpretation: While it's agreed that "You Don't Own Me" is an empowering song, debate has been made about whether it's about a woman who doesn't want their boyfriend to objectify them or about a woman who doesn't want to be in a committed relationship. This is especially muddled up with the cover by Grace.
• Covered Up: “It’s My Party” went viral on TikTok and was assumed to be based on Melanie Martinez’s “Pity Party” by younger users.
• Hilarious in Hindsight: Look through many of the singles, album titles and album cuts Lesley recorded in The '60s, from "That's The Way Boys Are", "Wonder Boy", "My Town, My Guy And Me", the album titles Lesley Gore Sings of Mixed-Up Hearts and Boys, Boys, Boys, and especially the album cut "Sometimes I Wish I Were A Boy", along with many interviews and articles she'd participate in for teen magazines offering advice on dating boys, with the knowledge that by 2004, Lesley would come out as a lesbian. To be fair, by Lesley's admission, she hadn't truly discovered her sexuality until 1966 while attending Sarah Lawrence College, and mentioned she was as boy-crazy in her high school days as any straight girl.
• Retroactive Recognition: A young Marvin Hamlisch co-wrote "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows" and "California Nights".
• Values Dissonance:
  • "Judy's Turn to Cry", the sequel to "It's My Party (and I'll Cry if I Want To)". Our heroine, jilted by her boyfriend, kisses another guy — whereupon the jealous Johnny hits this interloper and takes her back. This is presented as a triumph over rival Judy. Lesson learned, girls — don't expect your boyfriend to be faithful to you, but you had sure better be faithful to him.
  • Another popular Gore hit, "Maybe I Know", has its own dissonance, with a chorus like, "Maybe I know that he's been a cheat/Maybe I know that he's been untrue/But what can I do?" In more enlightened times, as AllMusic pointed out in its contemporary review of the song, maybe the girl would think to confront his boyfriend over the matter, or find someone more faithful to her. It may be no wonder that she took to "You Don't Own Me" later, with its more defiant, independent lyrics.

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