Don't Know What to Tell Ya

"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. It 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.

"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)
GenreFunk
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

Upon its release, "Don't Know What to Tell Ya" received widespread critical acclaim. Due to a limited release, it peaked only 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

"Don't Know What to Tell Ya" was described as having a "noir-funk feel that evokes Blade Runner" and it contains an initially-uncredited sample from the Egyptian Arabic[1] song "Batwanes Beek" by Warda.[2][3][4] On the song, Aaliyah is discussing a failing relationship.[5]

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.[6] 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.[7]

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.[8][9][10][11][12][13] I Care 4 U and Ultimate Aaliyah, both including "Don't Know What to Tell Ya", were re-released on October 8.

Critical reception

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]

Track listings and formats

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of I Care 4 U.[25]

Charts
Weekly chart performance for "Don't Know What to Tell Ya"
Chart (2003) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[26] 34
Australian Urban (ARIA)[27] 14
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[28] 75
France (SNEP)[29] 49
Germany (Official German Charts)[30] 57
Ireland (IRMA)[31] 45
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[32] 7
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[33] 57
Scotland (OCC)[34] 49
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[35] 30
UK Singles (OCC)[36] 22
UK R&B (OCC)[37] 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
[6]
United Kingdom April 14, 2003
Independiente
[39]
United States September 9, 2003 12-inch vinyl
[7]

Notes
  1. "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. Thomas Eriksen Remix was titled Handcuff Remix on the UK editions of "Don't Know What to Tell Ya".

References
  1. "خاص محمد دياب لـ "في الفن": رئيس شركة مارفل يحب أغنية "الملوك" ويدندن "بتونس بيك"", filfan
  2. Nichols, Natalie (December 8, 2002). "Just Whitney and a whiff of desperation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  3. Ghanny, Hassan (December 9, 2016). "Was Timbaland's Skillful Sampling a Cultural Crime?". Cuepoint. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  4. Ayman, Menna (August 20, 2017). "These American songs sampled Arabic hits". Step Feed. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  5. "AALIYAH'S 15 BEST DEEP CUTS & ALBUM TRACKS". Fuse. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  6. "Don't know what to tell ya – Aaliyah" (in French). France: Fnac. February 11, 2003. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  7. "Don't Know What to Tell Ya/Got to Give It Up (Remix)". United States: Amazon Music. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  8. "Aaliyah albums streaming: 'Her influence is absolutely everywhere'". BBC. August 20, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  9. Minsker, Evan (August 20, 2021). "Aaliyah's One in a Million Arrives to Streaming Amid Dispute Between Label and Estate". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  10. Legaspi, Althea (August 20, 2021). "Stream Aaliyah's 'One in a Million' Album". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  11. "IStandWithAaliyah". August 5, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021 – via Twitter.
  12. "Aaliyah's Estate Slams Her Uncle's 'Unauthorized' Announcement of Releasing Her Music To Streaming Platforms". thatgrapejuice.net. August 4, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  13. DeVito, Lee (August 5, 2021). "Aaliyah estate denounces upcoming 'unauthorized projects' as 'Blackground 2.0' emerges". Metro Times. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  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. Aaliyah (2003). Don't Know What to Tell Ya/Got to Give It Up (Remix) (12-inch single). United States: Blackground Records, Universal Records.
  17. Aaliyah (2003). Don't Know What to Tell Ya (CD single). United Kingdom: Independiente. ISOM 73MS.
  18. Aaliyah (2003). Don't Know What to Tell Ya (12-inch single). United Kingdom: Independiente. ISOM 73T.
  19. Aaliyah (2003). Don't Know What to Tell Ya (CD single). Germany: Edel Records. 0148296BGR.
  20. Aaliyah (2003). Don't Know What to Tell Ya (maxi CD single). Germany: Edel Records. 0148295BGR.
  21. Aaliyah (2003). Don't Know What to Tell Ya (maxi CD single). Australia: Addiction Records. ADICT139CD.
  22. Aaliyah (2003). Don't Know What to Tell Ya (CD single). France: Universal Music France. 834511005-5.
  23. Aaliyah (2003). Don't Know What to Tell Ya (CD single). Benelux: Unique Corp. UNIQUECORPCD106.
  24. Aaliyah (2003). Don't Know What to Tell Ya (maxi CD single). Benelux: Unique Corp. UNIQUECORPCD107.
  25. Aaliyah (2021). I Care 4 U (CD liner notes). Blackground Records, Empire Distribution. ERE675.
  26. "Aaliyah – Don't Know What to Tell Ya". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  27. "Issue 697" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  28. "Euro Chart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. May 3, 2003. p. 9. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  29. "Aaliyah – Don't Know What to Tell Ya" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  30. "Aaliyah – Don't Know What to Tell Ya" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  31. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Aaliyah". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  32. "week 25 (21 juni 2003)". top40.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  33. "Aaliyah – Don't Know What to Tell Ya" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  34. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  35. "Aaliyah – Don't Know What to Tell Ya". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  36. "Aaliyah: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  37. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  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.
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