"Sunshine, lollipops and rainbows, everything that's wonderful, Is sure to come your way"
About Lesley Gore
Lesley Gore — Life and Legacy
Lesley Gore was a prominent American singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the 1960s with her powerful voice and poignant lyrics. Her most iconic song, 'You Don't Own Me,' not only topped the charts but also became a feminist anthem, expressing a fierce declaration of independence and self-identity. Gore's work often explored themes of love, heartbreak, and personal freedom, resonating deeply with audiences, particularly young women navigating societal expectations. In her lyrics, Gore challenged the traditional roles assigned to women, as seen in 'You Don't Own Me,' where she boldly asserts her autonomy in a relationship. This song reflects her core belief in the importance of self-expression and individuality, making her a trailblazer in the music industry. Gore's ability to articulate the emotional complexities of youth and love set her apart from her contemporaries, as she infused her pop music with genuine emotional depth. Today, Lesley Gore's quotes and songs continue to inspire discussions around identity and personal freedom, highlighting her lasting impact on music and culture. Her legacy as a voice for independence and self-empowerment remains significant, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community, where her work is celebrated for its authenticity and courage.
Quote collection
Lesley Gore quotes
18 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"I just kind of lived my life naturally and did what I wanted to do."
"Really you just gotta keep chugging along and keep a positive attitude and get through all the problems. You gotta face them, otherwise you don't get through."
"You can only bite off so much, so you gotta know what you want to do."
"I don't know any other lifestyle. I get up in the morning and I really do feel that the world is my oyster, and I start that way, the same as I would if I were preparing to write a song: put a blank piece of paper up on the piano and you go for it."
"It's my party and I'll cry if I want to."
"Don't tell me what to do, don't tell me what to say. And please, when I go out with you, don't put me on display."
"And I thought, you know, a little gender confusion makes a better person. A little adversity in life at an early age. It's character building."
"I meet a lot of young people in the Midwest, and I saw what a difference a show like In the Life can make to their lives in some of these small towns where, you know, there are probably two gay people in the whole damn town."
"Actually, the funny thing is, after all these years, I've got all these new songs to learn for the show we're doing at Joe's Pub, so it's kind of fun to get down and rehearse new things, and also rethink some of the older songs, how we're going to do them."
"One night I saw them kissing at a party, so I kissed some other guy. Johnny jumped up and hit him, cause he still loved me, that's why."
"Given that there was that era of girl group music and it's still very popular, but I think if you looked at the chart from that time you would see many more men on it. Because the industry, they were catering to young girls. I mean, that's what they thought their audience was."
"You know, Quincy Jones was a great mentor, but he was a man in a man's world. Fortunately he's a very sensitive man and a beautiful human being, and even though he was 14 or 15 years older than me, he's a capable human being and has great communication skills."
"And that's what got me to the piano, that's what got me up in the morning: a blank piece of paper and a hope to have something by the end of the day."
"You know, the interesting thing about having traveled around the country as much as I have, and I think it's sort of inadvertently what made me come out or at least begin doing things within the community and thinking more about that, was that I get to travel quite a bit."
"I can remember in the early 60s that there were a couple of really dynamic women performers at the time - Brenda Lee, there was Connie Francis."
"I think the record industry, by and large what's left of it, is still totally homophobic. I think it's much less so in the film industry now, but the record industry, it's always been a man's world."
"I think I turned to writing really just to wake up in the morning and be a musician and to have something to do, and feel like a musician every day even if I wasn't working."