Don't Know What to Tell Ya

"Don't Know What to Tell Ya" is a song recorded by American singer Aaliyah. It was written by Static Major and Timbaland for her self-titled third and final studio album (2001) but failed to make the final cut. Following Aaliyah's death on August 25, 2001, it was included on her first posthumous compilation album I Care 4 U (2002). It was released as its second single on February 11, 2003 by Blackground Records and Universal Records.

"Don't Know What to Tell Ya"
Single by Aaliyah
from the album I Care 4 U
B-side
ReleasedFebruary 11, 2003
Recorded2001
StudioManhattan Center (New York City)
GenreFunk
Length5:01
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Timbaland
Aaliyah singles chronology
"Miss You"
(2002)		 "Don't Know What to Tell Ya"
(2003)		 "I Care 4 U"
(2003)
Alternative cover
UK edition cover

Composition

"Don't Know What to Tell Ya" was described as having a "noir-funk feel that evokes Blade Runner" and it contains a sample from the Arabic song "Batwannis Beek" by Algerian singer Warda Al-Jazairia.[1][2][3] On the song Aaliyah is telling a story about a failing relationship.[4]

Critical reception

Arion Berger from Rolling Stone praised Aaliyah's vocals on the song saying, "Her sweet, strong voice whips around the ambivalence in Don't Know What to Tell Ya and melts the ends off the lines in the title song."[5]

Track listing
UK CD single[6]
  1. "Don't Know What to Tell Ya" (edit version) – 3:03
  2. "Don't Know What to Tell Ya" (Handcuff Remix) – 5:18
  3. "Miss You" (music video)
European CD single[7]
  1. "Don't Know What to Tell Ya" (radio edit) – 3:35
  2. "Don't Know What to Tell Ya" (Thomas Eriksen Mix) – 5:18
  3. "Don't Know What to Tell Ya" (Intenso Project Remix) – 6:58
  4. "Don't Know What to Tell Ya" (album version) – 5:02
  • Note: The "Handcuff Remix" on the UK CD single and the "Thomas Eriksen Mix" on the European CD single are the same remix.

Charts
Chart (2003) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[8] 34
Australian Urban (ARIA)[9] 14
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[10] 75
France (SNEP)[11] 49
Germany (Official German Charts)[12] 57
Ireland (IRMA)[13] 45
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[14] 7
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15] 57
Scotland (OCC)[16] 49
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] 30
UK Singles (OCC)[18] 22
UK R&B (OCC)[19] 5
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales (Billboard)[20] 70

Release history
Release dates and formats for "Don't Know What to Tell Ya"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
France February 11, 2003 CD Universal Music
[21]
United Kingdom March 24, 2003 Contemporary hit radio Independiente
[22]
Sweden March 31, 2003 Universal Music
[23]
United Kingdom April 14, 2003
Independiente
[24]
Germany April 21, 2003 Contemporary hit radio Edel
[25]
United States September 9, 2003 12-inch vinyl
[26]

References
  1. Nichols, Natalie (December 8, 2002). "Just Whitney and a whiff of desperation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  2. Ghanny, Hassan (December 9, 2016). "Was Timbaland's Skillful Sampling a Cultural Crime?". Cuepoint. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  3. Ayman, Menna (August 20, 2017). "These American songs sampled Arabic hits". Step Feed. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  4. "AALIYAH'S 15 BEST DEEP CUTS & ALBUM TRACKS". Fuse. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  5. BERGER, ARION (December 30, 2002). "Aaliyah-I Care 4 U". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2007-05-10. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  6. "Don't Know What to Tell Ya (1)". Discogs. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
  7. "Don't Know What to Tell Ya (2)". Discogs. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
  8. "Aaliyah – Don't Know What to Tell Ya". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
  9. "Issue 697" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  10. "Euro Chart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. 2003-05-03. p. 9. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  11. "Aaliyah – Don't Know What to Tell Ya" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
  12. "Aaliyah – Don't Know What to Tell Ya" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
  13. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Aaliyah". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
  14. "week 25 (21 juni 2003)" (in Dutch). top40.nl.
  15. "Aaliyah – Don't Know What to Tell Ya" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
  16. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  17. "Aaliyah – Don't Know What to Tell Ya". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
  18. "Aaliyah: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  19. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  20. "Aaliyah Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  21. "Don't know what to tell ya – Aaliyah" (in French). France: Fnac. February 11, 2003. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  22. "Power Players" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 21 no. 14. March 29, 2003. p. 14. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  23. "Power Players" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 21 no. 15. April 5, 2003. p. 18. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  24. "New Release Countdown: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. April 12, 2003. p. 17. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 4, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  25. "Power Players" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 21 no. 18. April 26, 2003. p. 18. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  26. "Don't Know What to Tell Ya/Got to Give It Up [US 12"] – Aaliyah". AllMusic. All Media Network. September 9, 2003. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
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