Better Not Tell Her
| "Better Not Tell Her" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 CD Single cover | ||||
| Single by Carly Simon | ||||
| from the 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 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Carly Simon | |||
| Producer(s) | Frank Filipetti Paul Samwell-Smith | |||
| Carly Simon singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"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 The Very Best of Carly Simon: Nobody Does It Better (1998), the two-disc retrospective Anthology (2002), the single-disc Reflections: Carly Simon's Greatest Hits (2004), and Sony Music's Playlist: The Very Best of Carly Simon (2014).
Formats and track listings
[edit]- 7" single[4]
- "Better Not Tell Her" – 4:40
- "Happy Birthday" – 4:54
- CD single[5]
- "Better Not Tell Her" – 4:45
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1990) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada (RPM) | 30 |
| Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[6] | 3 |
| US Billboard Adult Contemporary | 4 |
Music video
[edit]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.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ Fitzharris, Dustin (16 December 2015). "Carly Simon: Still 'Living Like a Flower While the Boys Grow in the Trees.' The Singer Opens Up About Life, Love and Music". Huffington Post. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
- ^ Sandow, Greg. "Have You Seen Me Lately". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 24, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
- ^ a b "Carly Simon - Chart history". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2015-06-30. Retrieved 2015-04-29.
- ^ "Better Not Tell Her 7" single". Discogs. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
- ^ "Better Not Tell Her CD single". Discogs. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
- ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 9100." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
- ^ "Carly Simon - Better Not Tell Her". YouTube. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
