Pity_Party_(song)

Pity Party (song)

Pity Party (song)

2015 single by Melanie Martinez


"Pity Party" is a song by American recording artist Melanie Martinez based on the 1963 Lesley Gore hit "It's My Party". It was released as the lead single from her[lower-alpha 1] debut album, Cry Baby (2015), on June 2, 2015.[1] The music video was released on June 1, 2015.[2] It impacted contemporary hit radio on March 22, 2016.[3]

Quick Facts Single by Melanie Martinez, from the album Cry Baby ...

Background and composition

An alt-pop[4] and electro track,[5] the song uses the chorus from Lesley Gore's "It's My Party" released in 1963, as an interpolation, and also employs the iconic repeating-note horns hook from the original song as the recurring theme throughout.[6] On July 28, 2016, the song was certified Gold by the RIAA, having sold 500,000 copies.[7]

Regarding the song, Martinez said, "This was during my second session with Kara DioGuardi. It was awesome to write that song because I love music from the 50s and 60s. When I was singing, Kara said my voice reminded her of Judy Garland and artists from that time. I really wanted to write about no one showing up to my birthday party and the song is perfect inspiration for this theme. I love samples, especially older songs because they can put a fresh new take on an old song. So we were really inspired by that and we sampled it for the first line of the chorus and that is how 'Pity Party' came about".[8]

Mike Wass of Idolator noted how both "Pity Party" and Grace's single "You Don't Own Me" are based on Lesley Gore songs, saying "there seems to be a revival of the late [Gore's] music afoot".[9]

Music video

The music video for "Pity Party" was released on June 1, 2015.[2] However, the video was leaked 3 days prior to the official release.[10] The video was directed by Melanie herself, describing it as a "fun experience for her", considering she's the only person featured in the video.[8]

A behind the scenes video was released June 17, 2015.[11]

Track listing

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Charts

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Certifications

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Release history

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Pity Party EP

Quick Facts EP by Melanie Martinez, Released ...

Pity Party EP is Melanie Martinez's second EP, released digitally on May 6, 2016 in Ireland, Mexico and the UK.[27]

Track listing

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Notes

  1. Martinez uses she/her and they/them pronouns. This article uses she/her pronouns for consistency.

References

  1. "Melanie Martinez: Pity Party - Music on Google Play". Google Play. June 2, 2015. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  2. "Melanie Martinez - Pity Party (Official Video) - YouTube". June 1, 2015. Retrieved May 27, 2016 via YouTube.
  3. McHale, Maggie (September 2, 2015). "OUR TAKE: CRYING OUT FOR "CRY BABY"". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  4. "Talib Kweli, Nada Surf, Melanie Martinez and More Music Reviews". ABC News. August 19, 2015. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
  5. "Melanie Martinez sales certifications". RIAA. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  6. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201620 into search. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
  7. "IFPI - Melanie Martinez: Pity Party". Suomen virallinen lista. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  8. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201628 into search. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  9. Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK". Zobbel.de. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  10. "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 8, 2023. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Pity Party in the search box.
  11. "MELANIE MARTINEZ "Pity Party" (Radio Date: 21/10/2016)". Radio Date. Retrieved February 5, 2017.

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