'An alternative perspective to Lesley Gore's 1963 song, 'It's My Party', told through the eyes of Lesley's supposed boyfriend; Johnny. What was Johnny really doing with Judy and why was she wearing his ring? Was it all a big misunderstanding?
Full Description:
This is my most recent creative piece that I鈥檝e written for school. I really enjoyed writing this story and I think it is one of my best pieces. The task was 鈥榯o re-imagine an event from a short text (song lyric or poem or short story), focusing on a different character鈥檚 perspective. The chosen character should be sufficiently underdeveloped to allow you to bring forward a new, original, and convincing perspective in
response to the original event.鈥� It took me quite a while to find a song that had a character that I wanted to create a narrative around, but I eventually thought of Lesley Gore鈥檚 1963 song 鈥業t鈥檚 My Party鈥�. The original song presents Lesley at her party, upset because 鈥淣obody knows where [her] Johnny has gone / But Judy left the same time, / Why was he holding her hand鈥�. Further conflict is introduced with the line 鈥淛udy and Johnny just walked through the door 鈥� Judy鈥檚 wearing his ring鈥�. I took this tension and told the story through Johnny鈥檚 eyes using intertextuality, dialogue, and personification (Gore, 1963).
I thought it would be interesting to write a story that explains where Johnny went, why he was seen holding Judy鈥檚 hand and why Judy was wearing his ring. I started my story by developing the context that Lesley is 鈥渁lways overdramatising things鈥� by including a fight between her and Johnny at her party. Through Johnny鈥檚 internal monologue, I demonstrate that what he said to Lesley about planning on dancing with her when she got back was true. However, her response shows she is very sensitive and tends to jump to conclusions, therefore establishing my story as a plausible perspective to the song. I鈥檝e always loved this song and so I thought it would be really fascinating to create a possible pairing that brings more depth and development towards the story.
Bibliography: Gore, L., 1963, It's My Party, New York City, Mercury.
Photo Bibliography: US Record Shop - 1950s n.d., Photograph, Flickr, viewed 9 October 2022, https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/us-record-shop-1950s--383580093246195654/
