Music Friday: ‘Judy’s Wearin’ His Ring’ in Lesley Gore’s 1963 Classic, ‘It’s My Party’

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you classic songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today we shine our spotlight on Lesley Gore, who, as a 17-year-old in 1963, exploded onto the music scene with her #1 pop hit, “It’s My Party.”

A heartbreaking account of a teenage girl being humiliated at her own birthday party, “It’s My Party” grew to be much more than a song. The catchphrase “It’s my party. I’ll cry if I want to” became part of the pop culture lexicon to describe a happy event that takes an unexpected turn for the worse.

In the song, Gore's boyfriend, Johnny, leaves the party for a while with her rival, Judy. When they return later, Judy is showing off a new piece of jewelry.

Gore sings, “Oh, Judy and Johnny just walked through that door / Like a queen with her king / Oh what a birthday surprise / Judy’s wearin’ his ring.”

The line “It’s my party. I’ll cry if I want to” was originally credited to the Brill Building writing team of John Gluck, Wally Gold and Herb Weiner. But, later, it was rightfully attributed to part-time songwriter Seymour Gottlieb, and specifically, his daughter, Judy.

Judy Solash told the New York Daily News in 2015 that she was a teenager living in Brooklyn when a disagreement over her Sweet 16 guest list sparked an emotional exchange with her dad. Seymour thought it was proper to invite Judy’s grandparents and the birthday girl had other ideas.

Here’s how the song was born, according to Solash: “I, of course, being a bratty teenager, said I didn’t want them there. I burst into tears, and my father said, ‘Don’t cry.'”

Judy, famously answered, “It’s my party, and I’ll cry if I want to.”

Gottlieb, a restaurant owner and lyricist, passed the catchy phrase to his songwriter friend Weiner, who later composed the song with Gluck and Gold. When the song became a chart-topping hit, Weiner agreed to share his portion of the song’s royalties with Gottlieb.

Gore, who was born Lesley Sue Goldstein, was a junior in high school when she recorded “It’s My Party” for producer Quincy Jones. The song zoomed to #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, while also charting in the UK, New Zealand and Australia.

She followed this chart-topper with other memorable songs, such as “Judy’s Turn to Cry” and “You Don’t Own Me.” Gore lost her battle with lung cancer in 2015. She was 68.

Please check out the video of Gore’s live performance of “It’s My Party” on the Ed Sullivan Show in October 1963. The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…

“It’s My Party”
Written by John Gluck, Wally Gold, Herb Weiner and Seymour Gottlieb. Performed by Lesley Gore.

It’s my party, and I’ll cry if I want to
Cry if I want to, cry if I want to
You would cry too if it happened to you

Nobody knows where my Johnny has gone
Judy left the same time
Why was he holding her hand
When he’s supposed to be mine?

It’s my party, and I’ll cry if I want to
Cry if I want to, cry if I want to
You would cry too if it happened to you

Play all my records, keep dancing all night
But leave me alone for a while
‘Til Johnny’s dancing with me
I’ve got no reason to smile

It’s my party, and I’ll cry if I want to
Cry if I want to, cry if I want to
You would cry too if it happened to you

Oh, Judy and Johnny just walked through that door
Like a queen with her King
Oh what a birthday surprise
Judy’s wearin’ his ring

It’s my party, and I’ll cry if I want to
Cry if I want to, cry if I want to
You would cry too if it happened to you

Oh it’s my party, and I’ll cry if I want to
Cry if I want to, cry if I want to
You would cry too if it happened to you

Credit: Screen capture via Youtube.com/The Ed Sullivan Show.

Atlanta Man Pops the Question With Five Different Engagement Rings

In a marriage proposal that caught the attention of CBS This Morning anchor Gayle King and was picked up by People, Newsweek, Essence and iHeart Radio, groom-to-be William Hunn got down on one knee atop an Atlanta skyscraper to pop the question to Brittney Miller with not one, but five diamond engagement rings.

As Miller explained in an Instagram post, the special day started with a helicopter ride that was intended to zoom the couple to a wine tasting. Instead, the helicopter circled the city and then landed on the helipad of the Park Pavilion building. There, a few friends were already on hand to witness Hunn present the love of his life with five diamond rings on a multi-finger velvet display.

“I thought I knew what love was until you came back into my life,” Hunn said. “Not only did you help me realize that I don’t want to live without you, but I realized that I can’t live without you. I have to have you. And I have to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Miller answered "Absolutely" when he asked for her hand in marriage.

Then he gave her the following choice: “You can try all five or pick one.”

Each ring was beautiful in its own way, with many different diamonds sizes, shapes and setting options.

Miller entertained the notion of trying on all the rings at the same time, but she did have a favorite in mind. The ring she pulled from the third finger of the display appears to feature a radiant-cut diamond center stone on a delicate diamond-adorned band.

"I SAID YES!!!!," Miller wrote on her Instagram page. "He proposed with not just one…. but FIVE rings. I had options. @ichillwillfixit went above and beyond to make this day one that we'll never forget. William, you are truly a blessing. You're my best friend, fiancé, soon to be husband and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you."

Later in the day, the couple attended a surprise engagement party where both sides of the family gathered to celebrate the big day.

CBS This Morning anchor King was impressed by the Hunn's extraordinary efforts to make the proposal extra special.

"It was very creative," King said of the five-ring proposal. "And the fact that he cared that much. To me, it sounds like that marriage is off to a very good start."

Miller posted the CBS clip along with this caption: "I can't believe The CBS Morning show covered my and @ichillwillfixit proposal!!! The amount of support we've received over the last week has been astronomical. This is truly amazing to have our story shared with so many people. And by GAYLE KING!?!? I'm speechless. Definitely a humbling experience @gayleking."

Credits: Images courtesy of James D. Love (www.jamesdlove.com).

LA Dodgers' 2020 World Series Ring Radiates With 232 Diamonds and 53 Sapphires

Radiating with 232 diamonds and 53 sapphires, the Los Angeles Dodgers' 2020 World Series ring is a fitting tribute to a franchise celebrating its seventh world title. Coaches and players were presented with their rings on the field at Dodger Stadium prior to the team's home opener on Friday. The total weight of all the gemstones is exactly 11 carats.

Steeped in intricate storytelling and artful details, the 14-karat white and yellow gold rings tell the story of the team's march to the 2020 championship, while also paying homage to the storied franchise that began calling Los Angeles its home in 1958.

What instantly stands out in the championship ring are the 17 custom-cut Dodger blue sapphires that make up the "LA" symbol. That symbol is layered atop a baseball "diamond" illustrated with pavé-set gems and punctuated at the bases with princess-cut diamonds. In total, the interior of the baseball diamond is set with 29 diamonds symbolizing the number of Dodgers home runs hit in the Arlington, Texas, Postseason Bubble.

Layered below the LA logo and baseball diamond is a ground of 16 intricately set genuine custom-cut sapphires. The blue gems are encircled by a halo of 44 diamonds. Above and below the halo are the words WORLD and CHAMPIONS set in raised white-gold lettering on a black ground.

Enhancing the edges of the ring face are six princess-cut diamonds set in stylized pennants, which honor the Dodgers' previous six World Series titles. Cascading down the sides of the ring top are 96 diamonds.

Combined on both edges of the ring are 12 princess-cut sapphires representing the 12 home runs hit by the Dodgers in the 2020 World Series, a feat that contributed heavily to the team's 4-2 series victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

The left side of the ring features the recipient’s name in raised white gold lettering. Below the name is the player's number set in diamonds. Below and to the right of the number is the Dodgers logo rendered in custom blue and red ceramic. Completing the left side of the ring is the logo of Major League Baseball.

The right side of the ring features the Dodgers home town, spelled out in raised white gold lettering. Below the words Los Angeles is the year 2020 set with 36 round diamonds. Splitting the 20s in the year 2020 is the coveted Commissioner's Trophy illustrated in contrasting yellow gold. The trophy is punctuated by a single diamond.

On either side of the trophy are four round sapphires. The eight sapphires and the text NL WEST below are symbolic of the eight straight NL West Division titles held by the Dodgers. Los Angeles palm trees are the finishing detail on the right side of the ring.

The LA logo crafted in blue enamel is at the center of the inside of the ring. On either side of the "LA" symbol are the logos of the teams the Dodgers faced in the run up to the World Series. Also shown are the series results.

The rings were presented to the players and coaches in an elaborate ring box that featured a rotating platform, interior light and an LCD screen that automatically plays a four-minute highlight film each time the box is opened. Jostens called it the most elaborate ring box ever created by the company.

“For 32 years Los Angeles waited for this moment, this team and this ring – and all that it represents. Jostens did a spectacular job designing these rings, which represent the sacrifice, determination and fortitude demonstrated by our players, coaches and entire organization to win a championship while overcoming unprecedented challenges,” said Stan Kasten, Dodgers President and CEO. “We are so proud of this team and thrilled to have presented them with their rings today in front of the best fans in baseball.”

Credits: Images courtesy of Jostens.