Judy wasn't the only one with issues

You know, as I was running today, the song "Judy's turn to cry" from Lesley Gore came on. As a child, I was extremely into 50s and 60s pop music. I knew the words and tunes to dozens, if not hundreds of songs. I totally dug (and still do!) Herman's Hermits, The Beach Boys (I remember when they were on Full House!!), The Beatles, Petula Clark, Annette Funicello, Frankie Valli (with and w/out the four seasons), the single hit of Shelly Fabares (Johnny Angel), the Turtles, Donovan, The Doors, The Byrds, the Zombies, the Monkees, and of course, Lesley Gore. I loved songs ranging from My Girl, Knock 3 times, R-E-S-P-E-C-T to Leavin' on a Jet Plane, Pretty Woman, Loco-motion.

In the first and second grades, me and two of my friends Mandy Scrivner and Jeanette (?) - sidenote: Mandy=blond, Jeanette=redhead, Me=brunette- would go out into the corner of the field at lunch and we would make up dances and songs to Rockin' Robin and to Lesley Gore songs. I remember on several occasions going to Mandy's house and doing it there. I remember we had this worn out tape of Lesley Gore songs that we would play for hours. Then, we would get an ice-cold Nehi out of her real-life soda machine [that was the coolest thing! particularly to a seven year old].

Mandy got switched to another, newer elementary school after that. However, sixth grade rolled around and we were in the same middle school! It didn't take long to pick up our friendship of music and dancing and laughing and cold Nehi sodas [the machine was still there :)!]
I remember realizing then that the whole tape of songs was a story that involved Lesley (I was presuming she was singing about herself), a guy named Johnny, and another girl named Judy. And, the thing was-Judy was a punk. She was mean. She stole people's boyfriends. At their own parties! Isn't that awful????? Once I started to see the story, I was horrified by this Judy girl.




















Well, recently, I've been thinking about this...no, really. I have been rediscovering some of my moments from childhood, particularly those linked to music. That has included uncovering some awesome tunes from this time. Well....this has offered me a new look at Miss Lesley Gore, Miss Judy, and this Johnny guy.

I have been thinking...you know, maybe Judy's not the only one with issues??? I mean, yes, she does indeed steal boys away from their girlfriends at parties. And, yes, apparently (according to 'She's a Fool') she also will treat him cruel even when she has his love. So, she's probably got some self-esteem stuff and maybe she didn't have a really good relationship with her dad and so she tries to overcompensate with men. Who knows.

But, about this Johnny guy. I mean....really?? He must be a pretty narcissistic bugger. Plus, he's clearly completely untrustworthy. Let's see, he cheats ('Maybe I know')...and, if one cheats, then one is also probably lying. His set of morals apparently allows for malleable parameters on relationships. It sounds like he's not a very good communicator if all these girls are sure that he's looking at THEM with the look of love and that he's with them. And, he's pretty selfish if he wants it all to himself and is kissing one girl and then punches a guy for kissing a separate girl (Judy's turn to cry).

But, I think that the one that is the most concerning is our Miss Lesley herself. I mean, talk about masochistic. She cries over a guy who ditches her and goes for another girl at her own birthday party!!! Completely understandable to be upset! However, it does not equate why she would then want that very guy back when it's Judy's Turn to Cry! Let the scumbag be jealous...why does she want him back? And, how is it that she interprets 'One night I saw them kissing at a party, so I kissed some other guy. Johnny jumped up and he hit him, cause he still loves me that's why" as love? I mean, maybe he still loves her...but, does that mean that he's done anything to deserve being with her? How has he ever evidenced that?? And, this whole back and forth thing she does just really decries a completely poor sense of herself. I mean, in Maybe I Know, she acknowledges that he cheats and that she has to deal with it. HUH??? She does? And, in 'That's the way Boys Are' she pretty much sings the same theme of being a martyr while he has fun. Well, that does not sound one bit healthy to me and I think I am far more alarmed by all of that than by Judy's antics. Judy I can even get behind a little bit. I mean, as far as I can tell, she wasn't deceiving herself about what Johnny was. So, at least her eyes were open.

Oh, Lesley still has some redeeming things about her ;) . I mean, aside from the catchy, bouncy nature of her tunes, she does have the classic You Don't Own Me, where she seems to be trying to claim some of her own identity. Which I am always applauding! And, I kinda like the one "The Old Crowd" where she reminisces about some past friendships. But, I'm a sucker for reminiscing ;). Will I still listen to the songs? Probably. Will I romanticize about the love triangle? Hell no. I'll see it for what it is and enjoy the parts I can without letting it take away from me :)!