"You Don't Own Me" is a popular song written by Philadelphia songwriters John Madara and David White and recorded by Lesley Gore in 1963, when Gore was 17 years old. The song reached number 2 on the Billboard Pop Singles Chart in the United States (just behind The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand"). The song remained at number 2 for three consecutive weeks, unable to overcome the Beatles' hit, and became Gore's second most successful hit, next to "It's My Party". It was Gore's last top ten single.
The song is an example of threatened emancipation, as the singer tells a lover that he does not own her; that he is not to tell her what to do or what to say; that he is not to put her on display. The song's lyrics became an inspiration for younger women and played in a major factor in the rise of the second wave feminist movement. Gore said, "My take on the song was: I'm 17, what a wonderful thing, to stand up on a stage and shake your finger at people and sing you don't own me". In Gore's obituary, The New York Times referred to "You Don't Own Me" as "indelibly defiant".
"You Don't Own Me" is the debut single by Australian singer Grace. It features American rapper G-Eazy. A modern take on Lesley Gore's 1963 single of the same name. It was produced by Quincy Jones (who produced the original recording by Gore) and released on 17 March 2015. It peaked at number 1 on the ARIA charts and was later certified 2× Platinum by ARIA (for sales of more than 140,000). It has also been a success in New Zealand, peaking currently for two consecutive weeks at number 5 for the charts dated 28 July and 4 August 2015, and in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 4.
Background and release
"You Don't Own Me" is a modern cover of Lesley Gore's 1963 song of the same name. It was produced by legendary producer Quincy Jones and Parker Ighile and features two rap verses by American rapper G-Eazy. Grace said about the song: "[Jones] told me how the song came out during the feminist movement and how it was such a strong statement...I loved the song, started researching Lesley Gore and fell in love with her as an artist...[it] really inspired me."