"Don't Know What to Tell Ya"
Single by Aaliyah
from the album I Care 4 U
B-side
ReleasedFebruary 11, 2003
Recorded2001
StudioManhattan Center (New York City)
Genre
Length5:01
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Timbaland
Aaliyah singles chronology
"Miss You"
(2002)		 "Don't Know What to Tell Ya"
(2003)		 "I Care 4 U"
(2003)
Alternative cover
UK edition cover

"Don't Know What to Tell Ya" is a song recorded by American singer Aaliyah. It was written by Static Major and Timbaland for her eponymous third studio album (2001), and was produced by the latter. However, it did not make the final cut for Aaliyah and remained unreleased until after Aaliyah's August 25, 2001 death. The song was then included on the posthumous compilation album I Care 4 U (2002) and was released as its second single on February 11, 2003 by Blackground Records and Universal Records.

Upon its release, "Don't Know What to Tell Ya" received generally favorable reviews from music critics. With many praising both Aaliyah's voice and production of the song. Due to a limited release, it only peaked at number 70 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales. It fared better internationally, peaking at number 22 in the United Kingdom and within the top 40 in Australia and Switzerland.

Music and lyrics

Musically, "Don't Know What to Tell Ya" was described as having a "noir-funk feel that evokes Blade Runner".[1] While, Joseph Patel from Blender labeled the song as a "syncopated dance marvel".[2] The song sample's the Egyptian Arabic song "Batwanes Beek" by Warda. Originally its composer Salah El Sharnouby had not been credited for his work.[3][4][5] Lyrically on the record, Aaliyah discusses a failing relationship.[6] In her book Baby Girl: Better Known as Aaliyah (2021), author–journalist Kathy Iandoli, further explained that the lyrics talks about, "Aaliyah refusing to be tied down by a controlling relationship, as she compares it to incarceration".[7]

Release

"Don't Know What to Tell Ya" was released as the second international single from I Care 4 U on February 11, 2003, by Blackground Records and Universal Records.[8] In the United States, it was released as the fourth and final single from the album, as a double A-side single with the remix of "Got to Give It Up", on September 9.[9]

In August 2021, it was reported that Aaliyah's recorded work for Blackground (since rebranded as Blackground Records 2.0) would be re-released on physical, digital, and, for the first time ever, streaming services in a deal between the label and Empire Distribution.[10] I Care 4 U and Ultimate Aaliyah, both including "Don't Know What to Tell Ya", were re-released on October 8.[11]

Critical reception

While reviewing "I Care 4 U" Nekesa Mumbi Moody from the Associated Press described "Don't Know What to Tell Ya" as "dramatic" and felt that it was the best song out of the new material featured on the album.[12] Bianca Gracie from Fuse stated a similar statement as she felt that the song's "Middle Eastern" inspired production made it more "dramatic".[6] Music Week gave a mixed review the publication felt that the song "sounds a bit like work in progress", but "it is still head and shoulders above most other R&B releases out there".[13] Also, they labeled the production as "edgy" and said that Aaliyah's voice "just serves to remind us all what the world has lost".[13] Arion Berger from Rolling Stone praised Aaliyah's vocals on "Don't Know What to Tell Ya", saying: "Her sweet, strong voice whips around the ambivalence" on the song.[14] Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine called the song a "cool midtempo number" and described it as "Aaliyah-lite".[15]

Commercial performance

In Europe "Don't Know What to Tell Ya" achieved moderate success, peaking within the top 40 in several countries. In Switzerland the song debuted and peaked at 30 on the Swiss Hitparade chart on May 18, 2003; it remained on the charts for 6 consecutive weeks.[16] In the United Kingdom the song debuted and peaked at number 22 during the week of 9 April 2003 - 25 April 2003.[17] It also peaked at number 5 on the UK Hip Hop/R&B chart.[18] Outside of Europe the song peaked at 34 in Australia on the singles chart.[19] On the Australian Urban chart it peaked at number 14.[20]

Track listings and formats

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of I Care 4 U.[30]

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Don't Know What to Tell Ya"
Chart (2003) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[19] 34
Australian Urban (ARIA)[20] 14
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[31] 75
France (SNEP)[32] 49
Germany (Official German Charts)[33] 57
Ireland (IRMA)[34] 45
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[35] 7
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[36] 57
Scotland (OCC)[37] 49
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[16] 30
UK Singles (OCC)[17] 22
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[18] 5
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales (Billboard)[38] 70

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Don't Know What to Tell Ya"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
France February 11, 2003 CD Universal Music
United Kingdom April 14, 2003 Independiente
United States September 9, 2003 12-inch vinyl

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Don't Know What to Tell Ya" contains a sample from "Batwannis Beek" by Warda Al-Jazairia. Salah El Sharnouby, who composed the music for "Batwanes Beek", was uncredited prior to the 2021 reissue of I Care 4 U.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Thomas Eriksen Remix was titled Handcuff Remix on the UK editions of "Don't Know What to Tell Ya".

References

  1. ↑ Nichols, Natalie (December 8, 2002). "Just Whitney and a whiff of desperation". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Aaliyah - I Care 4 U". Blender. Archived from the original on 15 August 2004. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  3. ↑ "خاص محمد دياب لـ "في الفن": رئيس شركة مارفل يحب أغنية "الملوك" ويدندن "بتونس بيك"", filfan
  4. ↑ Ayman, Menna (August 20, 2017). "These American songs sampled Arabic hits". Step Feed. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  5. ↑ Moughni, Noor (September 16, 2020). "When music reflects identity". The Michigan Daily. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Aaliyah's 15 Best Deep Cuts & Album Tracks". Fuse. August 25, 2016. Archived from the original on March 31, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2018. click the "next" button to view each song review on the list.
  7. ↑ Iandoli 2021, p. 147
  8. 1 2 "Don't know what to tell ya – Aaliyah" (in French). France: Fnac. February 11, 2003. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  9. 1 2 "Don't Know What to Tell Ya/Got to Give It Up (Remix)". United States: Amazon Music. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  10. ↑ McIntyre, Hugh (August 5, 2021). "20 Years After Her Passing, Aaliyah's Music Is Finally Coming To Streaming Services". Forbes. Archived from the original on August 23, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  11. ↑ Legaspi, Althea (October 8, 2021). "Stream Aaliyah's 'I Care 4 U' and 'Ultimate Aaliyah' Compilation Albums". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  12. ↑ Mumbi Moody, Nekesa (December 12, 2002). "Houston's Album Ok, Phish's Album Better". Times-Union. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  13. 1 2 "Single Reviews" (PDF). Music Week. April 5, 2003. p. 7. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  14. ↑ Berger, Arion (December 30, 2002). "I Care 4 You". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 10, 2007. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  15. ↑ Cinquemani, Sal (December 4, 2002). "Aaliyah: I Care 4 U". Slant Magazine. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  16. 1 2 "Aaliyah – Don't Know What to Tell Ya". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  17. 1 2 "Aaliyah: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  18. 1 2 "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  19. 1 2 "Aaliyah – Don't Know What to Tell Ya". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  20. 1 2 "Issue 697" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  21. ↑ Aaliyah (2003). Don't Know What to Tell Ya/Got to Give It Up (Remix) (12-inch single). United States: Blackground Records, Universal Records.
  22. ↑ Aaliyah (2003). Don't Know What to Tell Ya (CD single). United Kingdom: Independiente. ISOM 73MS.
  23. ↑ Aaliyah (2003). Don't Know What to Tell Ya (12-inch single). United Kingdom: Independiente. ISOM 73T.
  24. ↑ Aaliyah (2003). Don't Know What to Tell Ya (CD single). Germany: Edel Records. 0148296BGR.
  25. ↑ Aaliyah (2003). Don't Know What to Tell Ya (maxi CD single). Germany: Edel Records. 0148295BGR.
  26. ↑ Aaliyah (2003). Don't Know What to Tell Ya (maxi CD single). Australia: Addiction Records. ADICT139CD.
  27. ↑ Aaliyah (2003). Don't Know What to Tell Ya (CD single). France: Universal Music France. 834511005-5.
  28. ↑ Aaliyah (2003). Don't Know What to Tell Ya (CD single). Benelux: Unique Corp. UNIQUECORPCD106.
  29. ↑ Aaliyah (2003). Don't Know What to Tell Ya (maxi CD single). Benelux: Unique Corp. UNIQUECORPCD107.
  30. ↑ Aaliyah (2021). I Care 4 U (CD liner notes). Blackground Records, Empire Distribution. ERE675.
  31. ↑ "Euro Chart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. May 3, 2003. p. 9. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  32. ↑ "Aaliyah – Don't Know What to Tell Ya" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  33. ↑ "Aaliyah – Don't Know What to Tell Ya" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  34. ↑ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Aaliyah". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  35. ↑ "week 25 (21 juni 2003)". top40.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  36. ↑ "Aaliyah – Don't Know What to Tell Ya" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  37. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  38. ↑ "Aaliyah Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  39. ↑ "New Release Countdown: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. April 12, 2003. p. 17. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 4, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2021.

Bibliography

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