Don't Know What to Tell Ya

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"Don't Know What to Tell Ya"
Aaliyah dontknow.jpg
Single by Aaliyah
from the album I Care 4 U
B-side
Released
  • May 20, 2003 (UK CD)
  • June 17, 2003 (German CD)
  • August 25, 2003 (US 12")
Recorded2001
StudioManhattan Center
(New York City, New York)
GenreFunk
Length5:01
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Timbaland
Aaliyah singles chronology
"I Care 4 U"
(2003) 		"Don't Know What to Tell Ya"
(2003) 		"Come Over"
(2003)
Alternative cover
UK cover for "Don't Know What to Tell Ya"
UK cover for "Don't Know What to Tell Ya"

"Don't Know What to Tell Ya" is a song by American singer Aaliyah. It was initially written by Static Major and Timbaland for the singer's third studio album Aaliyah (2001). While it failed to make the final cut, it was eventually included on the singer's first posthumous compilation album, I Care 4 U (2002).

Released in mid-2003, the song was the second and final single from I Care 4 U in the European and Asian markets. In North America and Asia, the final single off the album was "Come Over".

Composition[]

"Don't Know What to Tell Ya" has a "noir-funk feel that evokes Blade Runner" and the song contains a sample from the Arabic song "Batwannis Beek" by Algerian singer Warda Al-Jazairia.[1][2][3] On the song Aaliyah is telling a story about a failing relationship.[4]

Critical reception[]

Arion Berger from Rolling Stone praised Aaliyah's vocals on the song saying, "Her sweet, strong voice whips around the ambivalence in Don't Know What to Tell Ya and melts the ends off the lines in the title song."[5]

Track listing[]

UK CD single[6]
  1. "Don't Know What to Tell Ya" (edit version) – 3:03
  2. "Don't Know What to Tell Ya" (Handcuff Remix) – 5:18
  3. "Miss You" (music video)
European CD single[7]
  1. "Don't Know What to Tell Ya" (radio edit) – 3:35
  2. "Don't Know What to Tell Ya" (Thomas Eriksen Mix) – 5:18
  3. "Don't Know What to Tell Ya" (Intenso Project Remix) – 6:58
  4. "Don't Know What to Tell Ya" (album version) – 5:02
  • Note: The "Handcuff Remix" on the UK CD single and the "Thomas Eriksen Mix" on the European CD single are the same remix.

Charts[]

Chart (2003) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[8] 34
Australian Urban (ARIA)[9] 14
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[10] 75
France (SNEP)[11] 49
Germany (Official German Charts)[12] 57
Ireland (IRMA)[13] 45
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[14] 7
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15] 57
Scotland (OCC)[16] 49
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] 30
UK Singles (OCC)[18] 22
UK R&B (OCC)[19] 5
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales (Billboard)[20] 70

References[]

  1. ^ Nichols, Natalie (December 8, 2002). "Just Whitney and a whiff of desperation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  2. ^ Ghanny, Hassan (December 9, 2016). "Was Timbaland's Skillful Sampling a Cultural Crime?". Cuepoint. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  3. ^ Ayman, Menna (August 20, 2017). "These American songs sampled Arabic hits". Step Feed. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  4. ^ "AALIYAH'S 15 BEST DEEP CUTS & ALBUM TRACKS". Fuse. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  5. ^ BERGER, ARION (December 30, 2002). "Aaliyah-I Care 4 U". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2007-05-10. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  6. ^ "Don't Know What to Tell Ya (1)". Discogs. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
  7. ^ "Don't Know What to Tell Ya (2)". Discogs. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
  8. ^ "Australian-charts.com – Aaliyah – Don't Know What to Tell Ya". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
  9. ^ "Issue 697" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  10. ^ "Euro Chart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. 2003-05-03. p. 9. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  11. ^ "Lescharts.com – Aaliyah – Don't Know What to Tell Ya" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
  12. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Aaliyah – Don't Know What to Tell Ya" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
  13. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Aaliyah". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
  14. ^ "week 25 (21 juni 2003)" (in Dutch). top40.nl.
  15. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Aaliyah – Don't Know What to Tell Ya" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
  16. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  17. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Aaliyah – Don't Know What to Tell Ya". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
  18. ^ "Aaliyah: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  19. ^ "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  20. ^ "Aaliyah Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2021.

External links[]

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