Don't Tell Me (Madonna song)

"Don't Tell Me"
Single by Madonna
from the album Music
B-side	"Cyberraga" (UK) "Don't Tell Me" (Thunderpuss' 2001 Radio Mix) (US)
Released	November 21, 2000 (Worldwide) January 16, 2001 (US)
Format	CD single CD maxi single Cassette single 7" single 12" single
Recorded	1999
Genre	Country pop, electronica
Length	4:40 (album version) 4:10 (radio edit)
Label	Maverick, Warner Bros.
Writer(s)	Madonna Mirwais Ahmadzaï Joe Henry
Producer	Madonna Mirwais Ahmadzaï
Certification	Gold (RIAA) Platinum (ARIA)
Madonna singles chronology
"Music" (2000) "Don't Tell Me" (2000/2001) "What It Feels Like for a Girl" (2001)

"Don't Tell Me" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna. It was released as the second single from her eighth studio album Music on November 21, 2000 by Maverick Records. The single has sold around 4.5 million copies to date.^{[citation needed]}

History

"Don't Tell Me" was originally written by Madonna's brother-in-law Joe Henry as "Stop".

The track was written by Joe Henry, Madonna's brother-in-law. He performed and released the track, originally named "Stop", on his 2001 album Scar. His wife Melanie sent a demo of the track to her sister, who liked it and recorded her own version with the help of Mirwais Ahmadzaï. The song is an unusual departure from most mainstream songs and Madonna's own sound up to that point, as the vocals used in its production are often 'dry', or without reverb. Ahmadzai convinced Madonna to try this as a unique effect. Strings were arranged by Michel Colombier, who would continue working with Madonna on subsequent projects.

The unexpected brief pauses of silence heard on the guitar riff at the beginning of the song initially caused some listeners to think that track on the Music album was defective; these intentional pauses help form the unusual beat of the song. Madonna performed "Don't Tell Me" on her 2001 Drowned World Tour and her 2004 Re-Invention Tour. In 2003, Madonna fans were asked to vote for their top 20 favorite Madonna singles of all time by Q magazine, "Don't Tell Me" won the #13 spot. In 2005, the song placed at #285 on Blender magazine's "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born".^[1]

Chart Performance

"Don't Tell Me" peaked at number four on the U.S. charts and spent eight weeks in the top ten. It made gains at radio for three months consecutively (her longest-growing hit since "Take a Bow"), and also spent a long time on the club-play chart.^{[citation needed]} Despite spending only one week at number one (most of her recent dance hits have spent at least two, and "Music" five), it managed fourteen weeks on the chart, out-lasting "Music" and tying with "Ray of Light" as Madonna's longest running club hit since "Bedtime Story" in 1995. In addition, "Don't Tell Me" is Madonna's biggest hit on the Adult Top 40 chart, where it peaked at number four, making it her only top five single on that chart. Charting at #10 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart, it was Madonna's last top 10 hit on the chart to date.

In March 2001 the single was certified gold. With this twenty-fourth gold record, Madonna tied with The Beatles for the second spot of most gold records in the United States.

The song was also a huge hit around the world, peaking in the top five in many countries. It hit the number one spot in Canada, New Zealand, Ireland and South Africa, remaining at #1 for 3 weeks in the latter two countries. It also reached the number four slot in the United Kingdom. According to The Official Charts Company, the song has sold 185,000 copies there.^[2]

Music video

Madonna in the music video for "Don't Tell Me" flanked by the cowboys.

The music video for "Don't Tell Me" was directed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino, who worked with Madonna in her videos for "Open Your Heart", "Justify My Love", "Human Nature" and "Love Don't Live Here Anymore", and filmed in October 2000. The choreography was done by Alex Magno, who also collaborated on the Drowned World Tour. The tour designers Dsquared and Arianne Phillips also designed Madonna's cowgirl costume. The video features Madonna walking down an automated treadmill walkway in front of a projection screen, while cowboys dance and play on the sand in the video played on the screen behind her. Later, they join Madonna in front of the screen in a choreographed dance routine. The iconic final scene of the the video depicts a cowboy riding a Skewbald horse in slow motion getting thrown to the ground, and getting up again.

There are four unreleased remix videos, using the following audio mixes: Thunderpuss Club Mix, the Thunderdub, the Thunderpuss 2001 Hands In The Air Anthem and the Thunderpuss Tribe-A-Pella.

• Director: Jean-Baptiste Mondino
• Producer: Maria Gallagher
• Director of Photography: Alex Barber
• Editor: Angus Wall
• Production company: DNA Inc.

Other performances

At the 2001 MTV Movie Awards as hosted by Jimmy Fallon and Kirsten Dunst, a parody of the song (and video) were performed by the hosts, as they detailed the anticipated events of the evening. Fallon at one time dropped to the floor to bathe himself in sand, a la Madonna in the video. Fallon, however, got most of it in his pants.

Rock band The Androids recorded a song entitled "Do It with Madonna", where they detail how they would prefer sex with the titular star as opposed to more recently unveiled pop idols. One citation they make to Madonna's appeal is a music video in which she's wearing a "cowboy hat and [...] kicking the dirt", a clear reference to the video for "Don't Tell Me".

Singer Lizz Wright recorded a jazzy take on "Stop" which she included in her 2005 release, "Dreaming Wide Awake".

Track listings and formats

US 7" vinyl (7-16825)[3] US CD single (9 16825-2)[4] "Don't Tell Me" (Album version) - 4:40 "Don't Tell Me" (Thunderpuss' 2001 Hands in the Air Radio) - 4:26 US 2 x 12" vinyl (0-44910)[5] A1 "Don't Tell Me" (Timo Maas Mix) - 6:55 A2 "Don't Tell Me" (Vission Remix) - 7:52 B1 "Don't Tell Me" (Thunderpuss' 2001 Hands in the Air Anthem) - 10:20 B2 "Don't Tell Me" (Vission Radio Mix) - 3:38 C "Don't Tell Me" (Tracy Young Club Mix) - 11:01 D1 "Don't Tell Me" (Victor Calderone Sensory Mix) - 6:48 D2 "Don't Tell Me" (Thunderpuss' 2001 Hands in the Air Radio) - 4:26 US Maxi-CD (9 44910-2)[6] "Don't Tell Me" (Timo Maas Mix) - 6:55 "Don't Tell Me" (Tracy Young Club Mix) - 11:01 "Don't Tell Me" (Vission Remix) - 7:52 "Don't Tell Me" (Thunderpuss' 2001 Hands in the Air Anthem) - 10:20 "Don't Tell Me" (Victor Calderone Sensory Mix) - 6:48 "Don't Tell Me" (Vission Radio Mix) - 3:38 "Don't Tell Me" (Thunderpuss' 2001 Hands in the Air Radio) - 4:26 "Don't Tell Me" Music Video EU 12" vinyl (9362 44955 0)[7] A1 "Don't Tell Me" (Thunderpuss Club Mix) - 7:53 A2 "Don't Tell Me" (Vission Remix) - 7:52 B1 "Don't Tell Me" (Tracy Young Club Mix) - 11:01 B2 "Cyber-Raga" - 5:31 EU 12" blue vinyl (9362 44968 0)[8] A1 "Don't Tell Me" (Timo Maas Mix) - 6:55 A2 "Don't Tell Me" (Victor Calderone Sensory Mix) - 6:48 B1 "Don't Tell Me" (Thunderpuss' 2001 Hands in the Air Anthem) - 10:20 B2 "Don't Tell Me" (Album version) - 4:40

GR CD single (5439 16790 2)[9] "Don't Tell Me" (Radio edit) - 4:10 "Cyber-Raga" - 5:31 GR Maxi-CD (9362 44949 2)[10] JP Maxi-CD (WPCR-10903)[11] "Don't Tell Me" (Radio edit) - 4:10 "Cyber-Raga" - 5:31 "Don't Tell Me" (Thunderpuss Club Mix) - 7:53 "Don't Tell Me" (Vission Remix) - 7:52 UK CD single 1 (W547CD1)[12] "Don't Tell Me" (Radio edit) - 4:10 "Cyber-Raga" - 5:31 "Don't Tell Me" (Thunderpuss Club Mix) - 7:53 UK CD single 2 (W547CD2)[13] "Don't Tell Me" (Album version) - 4:40 "Don't Tell Me" (Vission Remix) - 7:52 "Don't Tell Me" (Thunderpuss Radio Mix) - 3:40 Don't Tell Me:Remixes EU Maxi-CD (9362 44977 2)[14] "Don't Tell Me" (Timo Maas Mix) - 6:55 "Don't Tell Me" (Thunderpuss' 2001 Hands in the Air Anthem) - 10:20 "Don't Tell Me" (Victor Calderone Sensory Mix) - 6:48 "Don't Tell Me" (Vission Remix) - 7:52 AU Maxi-CD (93624-49692-2)[15] "Don't Tell Me" (Thunderpuss' 2001 Hands in the Air Anthem) - 10:20 "Don't Tell Me" (Timo Maas Mix) - 6:55 "Don't Tell Me" (Victor Calderone Sensory Mix) - 6:48 "Don't Tell Me" (Tracy Young Club Mix) - 11:01 "Don't Tell Me" (Thunderpuss' 2001 Tribe-A-Pella) - 8:31 "Don't Tell Me" (Video) - 4:41

Official versions

Official versions

• Don't Tell Me (Album version) - 4:40
• Don't Tell Me (Radio edit) - 4:10
• Don't Tell Me (Instrumental version) - 4:40
• Don't Tell Me (A cappella) - 3:03
• Don't Tell Me (Video version) - 4:38

Remixes

• Don't Tell Me (Timo Maas Mix) - 6:56
• Don't Tell Me (Timo Maas Dub)
• Don't Tell Me (Victor Calderone Sensory Mix) - 6:48
• Don't Tell Me (Vission Remix) - 7:51
• Don't Tell Me (Vission Radio Mix) - 3:48
• Don't Tell Me (Thunderpuss Club Mix) - 7:50
• Don't Tell Me (Thunderpuss Radio Mix) - 3:42
• Don't Tell Me (Thunderpuss 2001 Hands in the Air Anthem) - 10:20
• Don't Tell Me (Thunderpuss 2001 Hands in the Air Radio Mix) - 4:26
• Don't Tell Me (Thunderpuss Tribe-A-Pella) - 8:31
• Don't Tell Me (Thunderdub) - 8:56
• Don't Tell Me (Tracy Young Club Mix 1) - 11:00
• Don't Tell Me (Tracy Young Club Mix 2) - 11:08
• Don't Tell Me (Tracy Young Dub) - 8:11
• Don't Tell Me (Dave Aude Funk Mix) - 7:57
• Don't Tell Me (Dave Aude Funk Mix Edit) - 7:57

Charts and certifications

Charts Chart (2001) Peak position Australia ARIA Singles Chart[16] 7 Austrian Singles Chart[16] 12 Belgian Singles Chart (Flanders)[16] 15 Belgian Singles Chart (Wallonia)[16] 27 Canadian Singles Chart[17] 1 Danish Singles Chart[16] 15 Dutch Top 40[16] 26 Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2 Finnish Singles Chart[16] 3 French SNEP Singles Chart[16] 16 German Singles Chart 22 Irish Singles Chart 15 Italian FIMI Singles Chart[16] 1 New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart[16] 1 Norwegian Singles Chart[16] 6 Spanish Singles Chart[18] 2 Swiss Singles Chart[16] 10 UK Singles Chart[19] 4 U.S. Billboard Hot 100[17] 4 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Airplay[17] 10 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles Sales[17] 1 U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[17] 1

Certifications Country Certifications Australia Platinum[20] France Silver[21] United States Gold[22]

Preceded by "Again" by Lenny Kravitz	Italian FIMI Singles Chart number-one single December 8, 2000	Succeeded by "Goodnight Moon" by Shivaree
Preceded by "The Underground" by Celeda	U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single January 20, 2001	Succeeded by "Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" by Modjo
Preceded by "Cruisin'" by Huey Lewis and Gwyneth Paltrow	New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart number-one single February 25, 2001	Succeeded by "Love Don't Cost a Thing" by Jennifer Lopez

References

1. ^ "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born (251-300)". Blender. Alpha Media Group. 2009-01-04. http://www.blender.com/lists/68125/500-greatest-songs-since-you-were-born-251-300.html?p=5. Retrieved 2010-05-17. 
2. ^ "Madonna: The Official Top 40". MTV. MTV Networks. http://www.mtv.co.uk/music/charts/official-uk-countdowns/madonna-official-top-40. Retrieved 2010-12-20. 
3. ^ Madonna - Don't Tell Me
4. ^ Madonna - Don't Tell Me
5. ^ Madonna - Don't Tell Me
6. ^ Madonna - Don't Tell Me
7. ^ Madonna - Don't Tell Me
8. ^ Madonna - Don't Tell Me
9. ^ Madonna - Don't Tell Me
10. ^ Madonna - Don't Tell Me
11. ^ Madonna - Don't Tell Me
12. ^ Madonna - Don't Tell Me
13. ^ Madonna - Don't Tell Me (CD 2)
14. ^ Madonna - Don't Tell Me (Remixes)
15. ^ Madonna - Don't Tell Me (The Remixes)
16. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l} "Don't Tell Me - Madonna". Ultratop. Hung Medien. http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Madonna&titel=Don%27t+Tell+Me&cat=s. Retrieved 2010-05-17. 
17. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Don't Tell Me". Billboard. e5 Global Media. http://www.billboard.com/artist/madonna/50294#/song/madonna/don-t-tell-me/2663405. Retrieved 2010-05-17. 
18. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 8480486392. 
19. ^ "Chart Stats - Madonna - Don't Tell Me". The Official Charts Company. Chart Stats. http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=28703. Retrieved 2010-05-17. 
20. ^ http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-singles-2001.htm
21. ^ http://www.disqueenfrance.com/fr/page-259165.xml?year=2001
22. ^ [1]

External links

• Mad-Eyes.net - "Don't Tell Me" Single Page