Tell It to My Heart
Encyclopedia
"Tell It to My Heart" is a song recorded by dance-pop
vocalist Taylor Dayne
, released as her first single from her debut album of the same name in late 1987. The single was Dayne's first major exposure, and she soon became known for her up-tempo, dance-oriented music.
and Ernie Gold. A Chappell Music staff songwriter, Swirsky almost didn't deliver the song to his publisher after he and his girlfriend decided they didn't think it was good enough. Swirsky would also write, along with Arnie Roman, Dayne's follow-up single "Prove Your Love
".
"Tell It To My Heart" reached Taylor Dayne when Dane contacted Chappell Music and asked to be sent some demos which had been overlooked - although the song had been recorded in early 1987 by Louisa Florio for a self-titled Canadian album release - and Dayne would recall feeling an immediate affinity with the song: "I thought there was something about the hook - it's a happy hook." The track was recorded at Cove City Sound Studios in Glen Cove, Long Island; when Seth Swirsky received a copy of the original master track from Arista Records
president Clive Davis, Swirsky opined that having four bars before the bridge was too short and Davis obliged Swirsky's requested addition of four bars to allow the bridge to "breathe".
The track took off so unexpectedly in the fall of 1987, that Taylor was forced to complete her debut album - at Cove City Sound - in six weeks. For almost two months, people could only buy the 12-inch record of "Tell It to My Heart" with four mixes of the song on it. That 12-inch sold 900,000 copies alone.
Dayne was nominated for a Grammy Award
for Best Pop Vocal, Female for her performance on "Tell It to My Heart" in 1988. Producer Ric Wake
said in a 1994 interview with Vibe magazine that Tell It To My Heart "...really blew people away". Commenting on Taylor Dayne's voice he said "They thought she was, like, black or some kind of ethnic...".
was very low budget but it displayed Taylor's aggressive and sexy style. In the video she follows pretty much the same look featured in the cover of the album.
the week of 14 November 1987, rising to #39 from #43. Ten weeks later, the single peaked in the number seven spot, during the week of 23 January 23, 1988. The song was on the Hot 100 for 26 weeks.
In the UK "Tell It To My Heart" reached #3 to be ranked as the 23rd best-selling single of 1988 in the UK, one of the best selling singles that didn't get to number one that year.
"Tell It to My Heart'" was remix
ed and re-released in 1995 to promote Dayne's Greatest Hits package. This version climbed to number 23 on the UK Singles Chart
.
, sang "Tell It to My Heart" when she was a 12-year old member of the TV show Kids Incorporated
.
Australian group Young Divas
covered the song on their second album New Attitude
.
Spanish duet Amistades Peligrosas
included a cover of this song called "Díselo a mi corazón" in their 1993 album La última tentación.
Kelly Llorenna
's cover version was released as a single and reached #9 in the UK in October 2002.
In 2005, the song was covered by Laura Ponzo for the album MusicStars and in 2006 by Thomas Anders
on his album Songs Forever
.
In 2008, the song was covered by Korean hip hop
group YMGA and featured Uhm Jung Hwa.
Devendra Banhart
has been covering the song as part of his 2010 tour.
In 2010, the song was covered by American Theatrical Dance-pop recording artist, Raquela.
1995
2003
2008
(Released as track 2 on U.S. promotional "Beautiful
" CD single)
12" maxi
12" maxi - Remix
2008 CD single Promo
(Released as track 2 on U.S. Promotional "Beautiful" CD single)
Dance-pop
Dance-pop is dance-oriented pop music that originated in the early 1980s. Developing from post-disco, it is generally up-tempo music intended for clubs with the intention of being danceable or merely dancey...
vocalist Taylor Dayne
Taylor Dayne
Taylor Dayne was born Leslie Wunderman on March 7, 1962 before later adopting her current stage name. She is an American pop vocalist, songwriter, and dance artist. Overall, she has had eighteen individual hit songs reach the top ten in Billboard magazine...
, released as her first single from her debut album of the same name in late 1987. The single was Dayne's first major exposure, and she soon became known for her up-tempo, dance-oriented music.
Background and writing
The song was written by Seth SwirskySeth Swirsky
Seth Swirsky is an American pop music songwriter , author, recording artist, filmmaker, political writer and baseball memorabilia collector -- a self-described "Manic Expressive."- Songwriter :In 1980, at the age of 20, Seth Swirsky wrote the national jingle for Thomas' English...
and Ernie Gold. A Chappell Music staff songwriter, Swirsky almost didn't deliver the song to his publisher after he and his girlfriend decided they didn't think it was good enough. Swirsky would also write, along with Arnie Roman, Dayne's follow-up single "Prove Your Love
Prove Your Love
"Prove Your Love" is a song recorded by dance-pop vocalist Taylor Dayne, released as the second single from her debut album in 1988. Like her previous single "Tell It to My Heart", it is a high energy dance track with aggressive vocal delivery....
".
"Tell It To My Heart" reached Taylor Dayne when Dane contacted Chappell Music and asked to be sent some demos which had been overlooked - although the song had been recorded in early 1987 by Louisa Florio for a self-titled Canadian album release - and Dayne would recall feeling an immediate affinity with the song: "I thought there was something about the hook - it's a happy hook." The track was recorded at Cove City Sound Studios in Glen Cove, Long Island; when Seth Swirsky received a copy of the original master track from Arista Records
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
president Clive Davis, Swirsky opined that having four bars before the bridge was too short and Davis obliged Swirsky's requested addition of four bars to allow the bridge to "breathe".
The track took off so unexpectedly in the fall of 1987, that Taylor was forced to complete her debut album - at Cove City Sound - in six weeks. For almost two months, people could only buy the 12-inch record of "Tell It to My Heart" with four mixes of the song on it. That 12-inch sold 900,000 copies alone.
Dayne was nominated for a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Pop Vocal, Female for her performance on "Tell It to My Heart" in 1988. Producer Ric Wake
Ric Wake
Ric Wake is a record producer who has won an Academy Award and two Grammy Awards. During his tenure as staff producer with Sony Music Entertainment he has worked with vocalists such as Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Simpson, Barry Manilow, and Marc Anthony...
said in a 1994 interview with Vibe magazine that Tell It To My Heart "...really blew people away". Commenting on Taylor Dayne's voice he said "They thought she was, like, black or some kind of ethnic...".
Music video
The music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was very low budget but it displayed Taylor's aggressive and sexy style. In the video she follows pretty much the same look featured in the cover of the album.
Chart performances
"Tell It to My Heart" appeared in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
the week of 14 November 1987, rising to #39 from #43. Ten weeks later, the single peaked in the number seven spot, during the week of 23 January 23, 1988. The song was on the Hot 100 for 26 weeks.
In the UK "Tell It To My Heart" reached #3 to be ranked as the 23rd best-selling single of 1988 in the UK, one of the best selling singles that didn't get to number one that year.
"Tell It to My Heart'" was remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
ed and re-released in 1995 to promote Dayne's Greatest Hits package. This version climbed to number 23 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
Cover versions
Fergie, of The Black Eyed PeasThe Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas are an American pop group , formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1995. The group includes rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and singer Fergie. Since the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003, the group has sold an estimated 56 million records worldwide...
, sang "Tell It to My Heart" when she was a 12-year old member of the TV show Kids Incorporated
Kids Incorporated
Kids Incorporated, is an American children's television program that was produced from 1984 to 1993. It was largely a youth-oriented program with musical performances as an integral part of each and every storyline....
.
Australian group Young Divas
Young Divas
Young Divas was an Australian girl group that had consisted of previous Australian Idol contestants. The original line up consisted of season one finalist Paulini Curuenavuli, season two finalist Ricki-Lee Coulter, season three winner Kate DeAraugo and runner-up Emily Williams...
covered the song on their second album New Attitude
New Attitude (album)
New Attitude is the second album by the Young Divas and the first to feature Jessica Mauboy who replaced Ricki-Lee Coulter after she left to concentrate on her solo career....
.
Spanish duet Amistades Peligrosas
Amistades Peligrosas
Amistades Peligrosas was a Spanish band formed in 1989 by singers Alberto Comesaña from Galicia and Cristina del Valle from Asturias. Their music blended two Spanish Music types such as Celtic and Arab which is part of Spanish history and culture. Bagpipes, flute and bouzouki are common...
included a cover of this song called "Díselo a mi corazón" in their 1993 album La última tentación.
Kelly Llorenna
Kelly Llorenna
Kelly Llorenna is an English female dance music and Euro-trance singer, who was raised in Oldham, Greater Manchester.-1992: Debut with N-Trance:...
's cover version was released as a single and reached #9 in the UK in October 2002.
In 2005, the song was covered by Laura Ponzo for the album MusicStars and in 2006 by Thomas Anders
Thomas Anders
Thomas Anders is a German singer, composer and record producer. Anders was the lead singer of Germany's popular pop-duo Modern Talking in 1984–1987 and in 1998–2003.-Early years:...
on his album Songs Forever
Songs Forever
Songs Forever is the title of the 2006 studio album by German singer-songwriter & producer Thomas Anders, consisting mainly of popular swing covers...
.
In 2008, the song was covered by Korean hip hop
Korean hip hop
In South Korea, hip hop expanded into a form of cultural phenomenon; namely in Seoul, Busan and Daegu. Although the movement has been growing since the mid-90's, Korean hip-hop scene has been gaining a great amount of attention on an international level, since their exposure of bboys who have won...
group YMGA and featured Uhm Jung Hwa.
Devendra Banhart
Devendra Banhart
Devendra Obi Banhart is a singer-songwriter and visual artist. Banhart was born in Houston, Texas and was raised by his mother in Venezuela, until he moved to California as a teenager. He began to study at the San Francisco Art Institute in 1998, but dropped out to perform music in Europe, San...
has been covering the song as part of his 2010 tour.
In 2010, the song was covered by American Theatrical Dance-pop recording artist, Raquela.
Remixes
1987- House of Hearts Mix – 9:10
- Dub of Hearts Mix – 7:10
1995
- Love to Infinity Subway Anthem – 10:49 (US 12" promo vinyl)
- Love to Infinity Hacienda Dub – 5:39 (US 12" promo vinyl)
- Love to Infinity Subway Anthem Radio Mix – 4:06 (UK studio reference CD)
- Tony De Vit Club Mix – 7:54 (UK CD single)
- Tony De Vit Trade Mix – 7:03 (UK CD single)
- T–Empo Radio Remix – 3:47 (UK CD single)
- T-Empo Club Mix – 8:46 (UK CD single)
- T-Empo Alt Club Mix – 8:48 (US 12" promo vinyl)
- T-Empo Blue Room Dub – 7:12 (UK 12" promo vinyl)
2003
- MASH Club Mix – 7:50 (UK promo DMC 12" and CD)
2008
- "Tell It to My Heart" (2008 version) – 3:41
(Released as track 2 on U.S. promotional "Beautiful
Beautiful (Taylor Dayne song)
-Charts:...
" CD single)
Track listings
7" single- "Tell It to My Heart" — 3:38
- "Tell It to My Heart" (Instrumental) — 3:15
12" maxi
- "Tell It to My Heart" (Club Mix) — 6:46
- "Tell It to My Heart" (Percapella Mix) — 3:21
- "Tell It to My Heart" (Single Mix) — 3:24
- "Tell It to My Heart" (Dub Mix) — 5:47
12" maxi - Remix
- "Tell It to My Heart" (House of Hearts Mix) — 8:43
- "Tell It to My Heart" (Radio Edit) — 3:31
- "Tell It to My Heart" (Dub of Hearts Mix) — 6:43
2008 CD single Promo
- "Tell It to My Heart" (2008 version) — 3:41
(Released as track 2 on U.S. Promotional "Beautiful" CD single)
Peak positions
| Chart (1988) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... Singles Chart |
14 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 1 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 1 |
| Eurochart Hot 100 | 1 |
| Finnish Singles Chart | 15 |
| French Singles Chart | 11 |
| German Singles Chart | 1 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
2 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 3 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 3 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 1 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
3 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 7 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | 4 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1988) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 43 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 17 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 10 |
Certifications
| Country | Certification | Date | Sales certified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Gold | 1988 | 250,000 |
| Sweden | Gold | March 23, 1988 | 10,000 |
| U.S. | Gold | February 13, 1989 | 500,000 |