Don't Don't Tell Me No Explained

"Don't Don't Tell Me No" is a song by American singer-songwriter Sophie B. Hawkins, released in November 1994 as the second single from her second studio album, Whaler (1994). The song was written by Hawkins and produced by Stephen Lipson. "Don't Don't Tell Me No" peaked at 36 on the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for five weeks.

Critical reception

Upon its release as a single, Music & Media noted, "Like the wind blows the leaves off the trees, Hawkins constantly pulls pop songs out of her bag."^[2] Barbara Ellen of NME stated, "Despite harbouring some of the worst lyrics ever, [this] is a groovy, clever pop ballad, the sort of thing Kylie might have ended up doing if she'd slept with Neil Finn instead of Michael Hutchence."^[3] In a review of Whaler, Jim Farber of The Daily News noted, "Tracks like 'Right Beside You' and 'Don't Don't Tell Me No' chirp happily along with coquettish flair and great hook appeal."^[4] Dave Younk of St. Cloud Times described the song as "excellent" with "the most incredible a cappella ending that seems to pleasantly go on forever".^[5]

Track listings

CD single

1. "Don't Don't Tell Me No" (album version) – 4:52
2. "Right Beside You" (The Grid 7-inch mix) – 3:38
3. "Right Beside You" (The Grid dub mix) – 8:40
4. "Big Beautiful Bottom in My Face" – 2:55

CD and cassette single

1. "Don't Don't Tell Me No" (album version) – 4:52
2. "Swing from Limb to Limb (My Home Is Your Jungle)" (album version) – 4:15

CD single (UK CD2)

1. "Don't Don't Tell Me No" (album version) – 4:52
2. "I Need Nothing Else" (album version) – 4:15
3. "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover" (album version) – 5:24
4. "Right Beside You" (The Grid 12-inch mix) – 8:35

12-inch single (UK release)

1. "Don't Don't Tell Me No" (album version) – 4:52
2. "Swing from Limb to Limb (My Home Is Your Jungle)" – 4:15
3. "Right Beside You" (The Grid 12-inch mix) – 8:35
4. "Right Beside You" (The Grid 7-inch mix) – 3:38

Personnel

Don't Don't Tell Me No

• Sophie B. Hawkins – vocals, keyboards, programming
• Stephen Lipson – bass, programming
• Peter Vettese – keyboards
• Neil Conti – drum set

Production

• Stephen Lipson – producer on "Don't Don't Tell Me No", "Right Beside You", "Swing from Limb to Limb" and "I Need Nothing Else"
• Heff Moraes – engineer on "Don't Don't Tell Me No", "Right Beside You", "Swing from Limb to Limb" and "I Need Nothing Else"
• Sophie B. Hawkins – producer, recording and mixing on "Big Beautiful Bottom in My Face"
• Rick Chertoff, Ralph Schuckett – producers of "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover"
• Steve Churchyard, David Leonard – mixing on "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover"
• The Grid – remixes of "Right Beside You"

Notes and References

1. Single Releases. Music Week. 23. November 12, 1994.
2. December 3, 1994. New Releases: Singles. Music & Media. 8.
3. Ellen . Barbara . Singles . . November 26, 1994 . 39.
4. News: Farber. Jim. July 31, 1994. Pop Music: A Sophie Hawkins dance. The Daily News.
5. News: Younk. Dave. September 1, 1994. Sophie B. Hawkins matures into powerful songwriter with 'Whaler'. St. Cloud Times. 7E.