Better Not Tell Her Explained

Better Not Tell Her
Cover:CarlysimonBetternottellher.jpg
Caption:CD Single cover
Type:single
Artist:Carly Simon
Album:Have You Seen Me Lately
B-Side:Happy Birthday
Released:1990
Recorded:1990
Genre:Pop
Rock
Length:5:13 (Album version)
4:49 (Single version)
Label:Arista
Producer:Frank Filipetti
Paul Samwell-Smith
Prev Title:Let the River Run
Prev Year:1989
Next Title:Love of My Life
Next Year:1992

"Better Not Tell Her" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, and produced by Frank Filipetti and Paul Samwell-Smith. The opening track from Simon's 15th studio album, Have You Seen Me Lately (1990), the song also served as the album's lead single.[1]

A salsa-infused track, the song features a Spanish guitar solo by Jay Berliner. Entertainment Weekly called it a "mildly bittersweet love song" that sounds "firm, tender, and genuine" with a "pointed melody" and "an airy outdoor aura."[2] The single was a huge Adult Contemporary hit, remaining on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart for 21 weeks, peaking at No. 4, and becoming Simon's biggest hit of the entire decade.[3] The second single from the album, "Holding Me Tonight", was also successful on this chart, peaking at No. 36.[3] Simon released music videos for both singles, and they each received airplay on VH1.

The song is one of Simon's biggest Adult contemporary hits, and has been included on multiple compilations of her work, such as the three-disc box set Clouds in My Coffee (1995), the UK release (1998), the two-disc retrospective Anthology (2002), the single-disc (2004), and Sony Music's (2014).

Formats and track listings

7" single[4]
CD single[5]

Charts

Chart (1990)Peak
position
Canada (RPM)30
US Billboard Adult Contemporary4

Music video

Simon filmed a sensual music video for the track, which was shot on a beach on Martha's Vineyard in July 1990 - at the estate of Jackie Onassis. The video alternates between clips of Simon on the beachfront in the day, during the evening in the same sitting, and at night with a roaring bonfire while she and company dance around and play guitars.[6]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Carly Simon: Still 'Living Like a Flower While the Boys Grow in the Trees.' The Singer Opens Up About Life, Love and Music . . 16 December 2015 . 20 February 2016 . Dustin. Fitzharris.
  2. Web site: Sandow. Greg. Have You Seen Me Lately. Entertainment Weekly. August 21, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20220424151008/https://ew.com/article/1990/10/05/have-you-seen-me-lately/. April 24, 2022. live.
  3. Carly Simon - Chart history. Billboard. 2015-04-29. 2015-06-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20150630005037/http://www.billboard.com/artist/298710/carly-simon/chart?f=341. dead.
  4. Web site: Better Not Tell Her 7" single . . January 9, 2015.
  5. Web site: Better Not Tell Her CD single . . January 9, 2015.
  6. News: Carly Simon - Better Not Tell Her. YouTube. April 29, 2014.