Pity Party (song)

"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]

This article is about the song by Melanie Martinez. For other songs, see Pity Party (disambiguation) § Music.
"Pity Party"
Single by Melanie Martinez
from the album Cry Baby
ReleasedJune 2, 2015 (2015-06-02)
Genre
Length3:24
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)CJ Baran
Melanie Martinez singles chronology
"Carousel"
(2014)		 "Pity Party"
(2015)		 "Soap"
(2015)
Music video
"Pity Party" on YouTube

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
Digital download and streaming[1]
No.TitleLength
1."Pity Party"3:24
Remixes EP[12]
No.TitleLength
1."Pity Party" (Madison Mars Remix)4:45
2."Pity Party" (Kayliox Remix)4:43
3."Pity Party" (XVII Remix)4:01
4."Pity Party" (K Theory Remix)4:58
5."Pity Party" (The Feels Remix)4:32
6."Pity Party" (Myles Travitz Remix)3:02
7."Pity Party" (Kassiano Remix)4:04

Charts
Chart (2016) Peak
position
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[13] 65
Finland (Suomen virallinen radiosoittolista)[14] 36
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[15] 70
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[16] 175
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[17] 4
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[18] 40

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[19] Platinum 80,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[20] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[21] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Region Date Format Label Ref.
United States June 2, 2015 Digital download
[1]
United Kingdom [22]
South Africa [23]
Australia [24]
United States March 22, 2016 Contemporary hit radio Atlantic [3]
Italy October 21, 2016 Warner [25]

Pity Party EP
Pity Party EP
EP by
Melanie Martinez
ReleasedMay 6, 2016
Length15:32
Label
Melanie Martinez chronology
Cry Baby
(2015)		 Pity Party EP
(2016)		 Cry Baby's Extra Clutter EP
(2016)

Pity Party EP is Melanie Martinez's second EP, released digitally on May 6, 2016 in Ireland, Mexico and the UK.[26]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)ProducerLength
1."Pity Party"
Baran3:24
2."Dollhouse"
Kinetics & One Love3:52
3."Dead to Me"
  • Martinez
  • Dussolliet
  • Sommers
Kinetics & One Love3:30
4."Bittersweet Tragedy"
Robopop4:49
Total length:15:32

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. "Top 40/M Future Releases - Mainstream Hit Songs Being Released and Their Release Dates - AllAccess". AllAccess Media Group. March 22, 2016. Archived from the original on March 21, 2016.
  4. McHale, Maggie (September 2, 2015). "OUR TAKE: CRYING OUT FOR "CRY BABY"". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  5. "Talib Kweli, Nada Surf, Melanie Martinez and More Music Reviews". ABC News. August 19, 2015. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
  6. "iTunes - Music - It's My Party - Single by Lesley Gore". iTunes. January 2000.
  7. "Melanie Martinez sales certifications". RIAA. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  8. "Singer Melanie Martinez discusses new single 'Pity Party' (Includes interview)". digitaljournal.com. 2 July 2015.
  9. "Melanie Martinez Teases Debut LP 'Cry Baby' With A Delightfully Depressing "Pity Party": Watch". Music News, Reviews, and Gossip on Idolator.com. 2 June 2015.
  10. "Melanie Martinez is throwing a 'Pity Party' after song leaks » POPULOVE". POPULOVE.
  11. Melanie Martinez - Pity Party (Behind the Scenes Video). YouTube. 17 June 2015.
  12. "iTunes Store (US) - Music - Melanie Martinez - Pity Party (Remixes)". iTunes Store (US). May 20, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  13. "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.
  14. "IFPI - Melanie Martinez: Pity Party". Suomen virallinen lista. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  15. "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.
  16. Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK". Zobbel.de. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  17. "Melanie Martinez Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  18. "Melanie Martinez Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  19. "Canadian single certifications – Melanie Martinez – Pity Party". Music Canada. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  20. "British single certifications – Melanie Martinez – Pity Party". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  21. "American single certifications – Melanie Martinez – Pity Party". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  22. "iTunes Store (UK) - Music - Melanie Martinez - Pity Party - Single". iTunes Store (UK). June 2, 2015. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
  23. "iTunes Store (ZA) - Music - Melanie Martinez - Pity Party - Single". iTunes Store (ZA). June 2, 2015. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
  24. "iTunes Store (AU) - Music - Melanie Martinez - Pity Party - Single". iTunes Store (AU). June 2, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
  25. "MELANIE MARTINEZ "Pity Party" (Radio Date: 21/10/2016)". Radio Date. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  26. "Pity Party by Melanie Martinez | a‐tisket: A multi‐source seeder for MusicBrainz".
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