Girly Music, Part 3: The 1960s

Lesley Gore – Maybe I Know
Lesley Gore – Sunshine Lollipops & Rainbows
(from The Best of Lesley Gore)

Most recognized for her song “It’s My Party” (and I’ll cry if I want to!), the anthem of 16-year-old drama queens everywhere, Lesley Gore’s voice is not particularly pleasing –it’s a bit scratchy and piercing, much like a 16-year-old drama queen.  Her songs, however, were perfect for her, which was perhaps the biggest problem with her career.  Although she has tried to continue recording music, she never really escaped that typecasting of the whiney teenager. 
 
But who cares!  I still love it!  It’s bubblegum and twee and such a perfect example of 1960’s girly music.   It’s got touches of sexism –”That’s the Way Boys Are” (ironic since she is a lesbian) and “Maybe I Know” where she bemoans, ”Maybe I know that’s he’s been a-cheating, maybe I know that he’s been untrue, but what can I do?”   Indeed, Lesley, what can you do?  Sing a peppy song, complete with hand claps and a lively horn section!  Weren’t the 1960s a grand time?
 
Following suit, she capitalized on the success of her classic single “It’s My Party” with an unnecessary sequel, her revenge song “Judy’s Turn to Cry,” in which she gloats about having Johnny, who cheated on her with Judy, leave Judy for Lesley.  I mean, you don’t mess with Lesley Gore.  Although I think it would have been much more fun for her to sing about breaking Johnny’s heart by dating Judy.
 
However, my all-time favorite of Lesley’s songs is “Sunshine Lollipops & Rainbows.”  The song just burrows into your brain and I find myself with an uncontrollable urge to sing it at completely inappropriate times. It’s irresistible –I bet you’re singing it now.

Dionne Warwick – Do You Know The Way To San Jose?
Dionne Warwick – I’ll Never Fall In Love Again
(from The Definitive Collection)

Okay, I can wait here while you laugh for a minute.  I know that in recent years Dionne Warwick is more known for her work with the Psychic Friends Network than her awesome music, but seriously, let’s just try and overlook that for the time bein.

I am unashamed in my love of Dionne Warwick, perhaps it is a result of nostalgia from my childhood as my mom insisted upon listening to adult contemporary radio stations. Pretty much everything on those stations are pure liquid crap, and whenever I heard a Dionne Warwick song it stood out because it was one of the few artists (if not the only artist) who didn’t suck.  You can tell she has a powerful voice, but she’s not too flashy with it (I’m talking about you, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston).  The songs, mostly written by Burt Bacharach, have simple lyrics that everybody can pick up quickly.  She is my all-time favorite karaoke artist (ABBA is a close second).

I think most people’s favorite Dionne song is “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?”  I’ll admit –it’s not my favorite.  It’s deceivingly upbeat, but when you really listen to the lyrics, it’s kind of sad.  It’s about crushed dreams –moving to Los Angeles to pursue a dream and then realizing years later that you don’t have any hope left and you haven’t made any friends.  It’s about moving on, realizing that friends are more important that some cockamamie dream to become famous.  But the highlight of the song are the exquisite background singers chiming in with their “waa waa waa’s.” 

I love the song “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again.”  I think it is the most under appreciated Dionne Warwick song.  Burt Bacharach is genius with the lyrics: “What do you get when you fall in love?  You get enough germs to catch pneumonia,” or “What do you get when you fall in love?  You get another pin to burst your bubble.”  She sings the song very matter of fact and effortlessly; it is a much more challenging song to sing than she lets on.  This song was my favorite break-up song during my high school years.  What can I say –I was a strange teenager.

I always think of Dionne Warwick in the 1970s wearing a sequin poncho, but the bulk of my favorite songs came out in the 1960s.  Interestingly, she actually had relatively few hits in the 1970s –her career was more active in the ’60s and the ’80s.

-Posted by Kim