Hey Now (Lesley Gore song)

"Hey Now" is a song by American recording artist Lesley Gore. It was released as the second single from her fourth studio album, Girl Talk. The song was a commercial disappointment, becoming Gore's first single not to enter the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 76. The B-side, "Sometimes I Wish I Were a Boy," also drew attention.

"Hey Now"
Single by Lesley Gore
from the album Girl Talk
B-side"Sometimes I Wish I Were a Boy"
ReleasedSeptember 29, 1964
Recorded1964
Genre
LabelMercury Records
Songwriter(s)Sonny Gordon
Producer(s)Quincy Jones
Lesley Gore singles chronology
"Maybe I Know"
(1964)		 "Hey Now"
(1964)		 "Look of Love"
(1964)

Background and release

"Hey Now" was released in September 1964 as the follow-up to Gore's hit "Maybe I Know." Considered to be markedly different from Gore's previous singles production-wise, the song bore more of an R&B influence, and was expected by Mercury Records to become a crossover hit for Gore.[2]

Though it was released only as a B-side, "Sometimes I Wish I Were a Boy" attracted attention, drawing criticism for its misogynistic lyrics.[2] Gore reportedly hated the B-side, feeling it went against the feminist image she'd managed to earn with earlier, forward-thinking singles like "You Don't Own Me," but agreed to record the song in exchange for some studio time in which she could record whatever she wished. The songs she recorded during this time have not survived, as her label felt they weren't commercially viable.[2]

Gore performed "Hey Now" at the TAMI Show.[3]

Reception

Critical

Critical reception to the song was generally positive.[2] In a single review for Billboard, DJ Eddie Clark called the song "very commercial" and noted the song's "hand-clappin' rock beat."[1] Cash Box described it as "a tantalizing, multi-voiced blues-jazz-flavored rock-a-cha-cha" that should keep Gore's chain of hits intact.[4] In 1999, Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill mentioned that she would include the song on one of her mix-tapes if she could.[5]

Commercial

The song wasn't as well received commercially, becoming Gore's first chart flop.[2] It peaked at number 76 on the Billboard Hot 100,[6] and was her first single to fail to enter the top 40. it remained her worst-performing single until "I Won't Love You Anymore (Sorry)", released in 1965, peaked at number 80 on the Hot 100.[6][2] Despite its controversy, "Sometimes I Wish I Were a Boy" gained airplay as well and became popular separate from "Hey Now." It entered the Hot 100 as a standalone single and peaked at number 86.[6]

Charts

Personnel

Adapted from 7" sleeve[7] and You Don't Own Me: The Life and Times of Lesley Gore by Trevor Tolliver.[2]

References
  1. Clarke, Eddie (10 October 1964). "Singles Review (Billboard Oct 10, 1964)". Google Books. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  2. Tolliver, Trevor (1 August 2015). You Don't Own Me: The Life and Times of Lesley Gore (1st ed.). Wisconsin: Backbeat Books. ISBN 978-1495024412.
  3. "The T.A.M.I. Show (1964) Soundtracks". IMDb. amazon.com. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  4. "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. October 10, 1964. p. 12. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  5. King, Jennifer. "Mother Jones Magazine Jan-Feb 1999 (page 74)". Google Books. Mother Jones. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  6. "Lesley Gore chart history". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  7. "Hey Now" 7" sleeve
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