Tell Me 'bout It explained

Tell Me 'bout It
Cover:Joss Stone - Tell Me bout It.png
Type:single
Artist:Joss Stone
Album:Introducing Joss Stone
B-Side:My God
Recorded:Compass Point Studios
Producer:Raphael Saadiq
Prev Title:Cry Baby Cry
Prev Year:2006
Next Title:Tell Me What We're Gonna Do Now
Next Year:2007

"Tell Me 'bout It" is a song by English singer and songwriter Joss Stone from her third studio album, Introducing Joss Stone (2007). It was written by Stone, Raphael Saadiq and Robert Ozuna (half of the duo Jake and the Phatman), and produced by Saadiq. The song was released in March 2007 as the album's lead single.

Music video

The music video for "Tell Me 'bout It" was directed by Bryan Barber and filmed on location at 5 Pointz, an industrial building used as a graffiti space located in Queens, New York City. In December 2006, the place's owner, graffiti artist Jonathan "Meres" Cohen, received a phone call from a representative for Stone, asking him to use 5 Pointz as the backdrop for the single's video. He was initially unaware of who Stone was, but he eventually gave permission to her crew after speaking to her. Cohen would later be in charge of Stone's body painting for the cover art and the photo shoot of Introducing Joss Stone.[1]

Accompanying its setting, the video is noted for its hip hop-related elements such as graffiti and breakdancers. It features cameo appearances by Saadiq, who appears at the beginning playing the bass, and Cohen, who is shown at the end doing a mural of Stone's face, reminiscent of her face on the cover of her album Mind Body & Soul (2004).

Chart performance

The single debuted at number 80 on the UK Singles Chart on 24 February 2007, it fell to number 92 the second week, two weeks later it went to its peak of 28, having spent six weeks on the Top 100. Having previously topped the US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, "Tell Me 'bout It" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 83 in late March, becoming Stone's first solo single to enter the chart.

Use in media

The song was used in the second episode of the first season of The CW's series Gossip Girl, titled "The Wild Brunch", which originally aired on 25 September 2007. It was also used in the soundtrack to the 2007 EA Sports video game NBA Live 08, and Saints Row 2.

Track listings

UK and German CD single
  1. "Tell Me 'bout It" – 2:53
  2. "My God" – 3:48
Digital download – A Yam Who? Rework
  1. "Tell Me 'bout It" (A Yam Who? Rework) – 4:21
  2. "Tell Me 'bout It" (A Yam Who? Club Rework) – 9:38

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Introducing Joss Stone.[2]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2007)Peak
position
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[3] 46
Greece (IFPI)[4] 29
US Pop 100 (Billboard)[5] 73

Year-end charts

Chart (2007)Position
Brazil (Crowley)[6] 96
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[7] 73
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[8] 42

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kiper . Dmitry . Curator of an urban canvas . . 24 July 2007 . 22 December 2015.
  2. . CD liner notes . . . 2007 . 0946 3 76268 2 5.
  3. European Hot 100 Singles . . 31 March 2007 . 4 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070323105420/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/chart_display.jsp?f=European+Hot+100+Singles&pageNumber=Top+11-50&g=Singles . 23 March 2007.
  4. Web site: Top 50 Singles . Greek . . 16 April 2007.
  5. Web site: Introducing Joss Stone – Joss Stone Awards . . 22 December 2015.
  6. Web site: Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 2007. April 3, 2018. Crowley Broadcast Analysis. January 30, 2022.
  7. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2007 . Dutch . Dutch Top 40 . 22 December 2015.
  8. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 2007 . Dutch . dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien . 22 December 2015.