When You Tell Me That You Love Me Explained

When You Tell Me That You Love Me
Cover:Single Cover When You Tell Me That You Love Me Diana Ross.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Diana Ross
Album:The Force Behind the Power
B-Side:
Released:August 20, 1991
Genre:Soul
Length:4:14
Label:Motown
Producer:Peter Asher
Prev Title:Bottom Line
Prev Year:1989
Next Title:You're Gonna Love It
Next Year:1991

"When You Tell Me That You Love Me" is a song by American singer Diana Ross, released on August 20, 1991 as the lead single from her nineteenth studio album, The Force Behind the Power (1991). The song was released on the Motown label in the United States and by EMI Records in the United Kingdom. It was written by Albert Hammond and John Bettis, and produced by Peter Asher. A sentimental ballad, it became the album's biggest hit, peaking at number 37 on the US Billboard R&B singles chart and number two on the UK Singles Chart. Ross considers it one of her signature songs[1] and it was subsequently covered by various artists. The UK release of "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" included her 1985 hit "Chain Reaction".

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as "a dramatically produced power ballad. Gratefully, track is less trend-conscious than Ross's more recent efforts, though this is far from her strongest work. Regardless, diehard fans will love it—as will AC radio programmers."[2] Henderson and DeVaney from Cashbox called it a "highly commercial pop ballad" and a "slick single".[3] In the review of the album, the magazine declared it as a "potential hit" and a "dramatic ballad".[4] Jan DeKnock from Chicago Tribune named it the album's "strongest ballad".[5] A reviewer from Liverpool Echo wrote, "And while Diana Ross's voice couldn't be more different, this track does have some of that radio-friendly style. It starts like a sophisticated ballad, with quiet piano and voice. and builds into an emotional climax, complete with a bit of rock guitar. It's perfectly produced and perfectly predictable."[6] Connie Johnson from Los Angeles Times viewed it as "a gorgeously gushy ballad that’s perfect for Ross’ theatrical delivery. Peter Asher had a hand in producing this track, on which Ross manages to appear unpretentious and guilelessly sweet."[7] Newcastle Evening Chronicle remarked the singer's "romantic mood" on the song.[8] Stephen Holden from New York Times felt it "strongly echoes the sentiments" of "Wind Beneath My Wings".[9]

Music video

The single's accompanying music video featured scenes of Ross in an evening gown singing on stage intercut with home video footage of Ross with her two sons Ross & Evan.[10]

Track listings

A. "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" (LP version) – 4:10

B. "You and I" – 4:05

  1. "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" (LP version) – 4:10
  2. "Chain Reaction" (single version) – 3:47

A1. "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" (LP version)

B1. "Chain Reaction" (12-inch version)

B2. "You and I"

  1. "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" (LP version)
  2. "Chain Reaction" (single version)
  3. "You and I"
  1. "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" (LP version)
  2. "Supremes Medley"

Note: "Supreme Medley" consists of five songs by the Supremes: "Baby Love", "Stop! In the Name of Love", "You Can't Hurry Love", "You Keep Me Hangin' On", and "Love Is Like an Itchin' in My Heart"

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1991–1992)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[18] 83
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[19] 8

Year-end charts

Chart (1992)Position
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[21] 32
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[22] 44

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United StatesAugust 20, 1991Motown
United KingdomNovember 18, 1991EMI[23]
JapanJune 24, 1992Mini-CD[24]

Julio Iglesias versions

With Dolly Parton

When You Tell Me That You Love Me
Cover:Single Cover When You Tell Me That You Love Me Iglesias Parton.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Julio Iglesias and Dolly Parton
Album:Crazy
Released:1994
Recorded:1994
Genre:
Length:3:59
Label:Columbia
Producer:

The song was recorded in a duet form by American singer Dolly Parton and Spanish singer Julio Iglesias for the latter's 1994 album Crazy. A single was released in 1994 which managed to chart in the Netherlands for three weeks: entering at position 48, peaking at 45, and in its final week charting at number 49.[25] Parton included this song on her 4-disc compilation box set, The Tour Collection.[26]

Critical reception

Fell and Rufer from the Gavin Report wrote, "It's hard to beat the box office combo of a ladies' man and a man's woman. Julio and Dolly get the David Foster treatment with an expensive sounding arrangement worthy of such stars."[27]

Music video

The accompanying music video was directed by John Hopgood, and was filmed for the single at Oheka Castle on Long Island's north shore.[28] The sepia-toned clip features Iglesias and Parton singing in separate rooms and a love scene involving a younger couple. At the end of the video Parton and Iglesias are shown leaving the castle. Parton having changed from a white nightgown into a black cocktail dress.[29]

Charts

With CoCo Lee

In 1998, Iglesias re-recorded the duet with Chinese singer Coco Lee (李玟) and released it as a single to promote his compilation . Despite this, CoCo Lee's version was not included on the actual album, but rather Parton's.[30] A music video was released featuring Iglesias and Lee singing together in a recording studio intercut with scenes of Lee walking around in a trench coat. At the end of the video Iglesias and Lee sit down to a candlelit dinner.[31]

Westlife version

When You Tell Me That You Love Me
Cover:WhenYouTellMeThatYouLoveMeCD1.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Westlife and Diana Ross
Album:Face to Face
Released:[32]
Recorded:2005
Genre:Pop
Length:3:58
Label:Sony BMG
Chronology:Westlife
Prev Title:You Raise Me Up
Prev Year:2005
Next Title:Amazing
Next Year:2006

"When You Tell Me That You Love Me" is the second single released from Westlife's sixth studio album, Face to Face (2005). It features vocals from original artist Diana Ross. The single peaked at No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart, just losing out on the top spot by a mere 171 copies. The song was the 39th best selling single of 2005 in the UK. It debuted with 40,708 combined physical and download sales in the UK alone.[33] The single reached 120 000 copies sold in UK so far.[34] This single marked its fourteenth year since the original Diana Ross version was released and peaked at No. 2, the same chart position in the UK Singles Chart in 1991.

It missed becoming the Christmas Single for 2005 by just 170 units, as had happened to the original. It also peaked at No. 2 in Ireland and Scotland. It is the band's nineteenth best selling single in paid-for sales category and in best selling single combined sales category in the United Kingdom as of January 2019.[35]

Music video

The video features Westlife and Ross singing on a stage together. The members of Westlife are wearing dark suits whilst Ross wears a long white dress and later in the video, a gold dress. New excerpts from the music video with Ross, that didn't make the cut on the official video, was used on television performances by the band of the song for the premiere promotional release week of it as a single.

Track listing

  1. "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" (Single Mix) – 4:01
  2. "White Christmas" – 3:34
  3. "The Way You Look Tonight" (Westlife Only Version) – 4:07
  1. "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" (Single Mix) – 4:00
  2. "If I Let You Go" (Acoustic Version) – 3:40

Charts

American Idol finalists - Season 4 version

The 12 American Idol finalists - Season 4 Finalists got together perform this song. It was selected as the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Single in 2005 for the American Idol TV show. It also appears on the compilation album.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: YouTube . . December 2, 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160429041327/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSm6Z3WlDv8 . April 29, 2016 .
  2. Larry . Flick . Single Reviews . . September 14, 1991 . 87 . October 23, 2020 . Larry Flick.
  3. Alex . Henderson . Bryan . DeVaney . Music Reviews: Singles . . September 14, 1991 . 5 . October 31, 2020 .
  4. Music Reviews: Albums . . September 28, 1991 . 5 . October 31, 2020 .
  5. DeKnock, Jan (November 7, 1991). "Home Entertainment: Recordings". Chicago Tribune. p. 8.
  6. "Single-Minded". Liverpool Echo. November 18, 1991. p. 15.
  7. News: Connie. Johnson. In Brief. Los Angeles Times. November 3, 1991. January 22, 2023.
  8. Newcastle Evening Chronicle. July 30, 1991. p. 27.
  9. [Stephen Holden|Holden, Stephen]
  10. Web site: YouTube. www.youtube.com. December 2, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160416134808/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFZiOvAEdhQ. April 16, 2016. live.
  11. When You Tell Me That You Love Me. Diana Ross. 1991. US 7-inch single vinyl disc. Motown. MOTS7-2139.
  12. When You Tell Me That You Love Me. Diana Ross. 1991. US cassette single sleeve. Motown. MOTCS-2139.
  13. When You Tell Me That You Love Me. Diana Ross. 1991. UK 7-inch single vinyl disc. EMI Records. EM 217, 2056007.
  14. When You Tell Me That You Love Me. Diana Ross. 1991. UK cassette single sleeve. EMI Records. TCEM 217, 2056004.
  15. When You Tell Me That You Love Me. Diana Ross. 1991. UK 12-inch single sleeve. EMI Records. 12EM 217, 2056006.
  16. When You Tell Me That You Love Me. Diana Ross. 1991. UK CD single liner notes. EMI Records. CDEM 217, 2056002.
  17. When You Tell Me That You Love Me. Diana Ross. 1991. Japanese mini-CD single liner notes. EMI Records. TODP-2363.
  18. 239.
  19. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 9. 3. 31. January 18, 1992. July 21, 2020.
  20. 1991 Top 100 Singles. Music Week. Spotlight Publications . London, England. 20. January 11, 1992.
  21. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1992. Dutch Top 40. December 3, 2021.
  22. Web site: Jaaroverzichten - Single 1992. MegaCharts. nl. April 10, 2019.
  23. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 21. November 16, 1991.
  24. Web site: 恋のプレリュード ダイアナ・ロス. Prelude of Love Diana Ross. Oricon. ja. September 23, 2023.
  25. Web site: Steffen Hung . Julio Iglesias & Dolly Parton - When You Tell Me That You Love Me . Dutchcharts.nl . January 8, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140510125303/http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Julio+Iglesias+&+Dolly+Parton&titel=When+You+Tell+Me+That+You+Love+Me&cat=s . May 10, 2014 . live .
  26. Web site: The Tour Collection: Dolly Parton: Amazon.co.uk: Music . Amazon.co.uk . January 8, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110501134223/http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tour-Collection-Dolly-Parton/dp/B0017UW10Y . May 1, 2011 . live .
  27. Ron. Fell. Diane. Rufer. Gavin A/C: New Releases. Gavin Report. February 10, 1995. 26. January 20, 2023.
  28. http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/ny_local/1996/12/30/1996-12-30_manse_gets_back_on_its_fete_.html
  29. Web site: YouTube - julio iglesias,dolly parton-when you tell me that you love. https://web.archive.org/web/20081009191351/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnGveS9x5bk. dead. October 9, 2008. . October 9, 2008. January 15, 2019.
  30. Web site: Julio Iglesias - My Life: Greatest Hits: Julio Iglesias: Music . Amazon . January 8, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120107025759/http://www.amazon.com/Julio-Iglesias-Life-Greatest-Hits/dp/B00000DCHQ . January 7, 2012 . live .
  31. Web site: Coco Lee & Julio Iglesias - When You Tell Me That You Love M . YouTube . August 10, 2007 . January 8, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081025225035/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axS8s2NIRIY . October 25, 2008 . live .
  32. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 23. December 10, 2005.
  33. Web site: CHART: CLUK Update 24.12.2005 (wk50) CHART LOG UK: NEW ENTRIES UPDATE . zobbel.de. January 17, 2019.
  34. Web site: Westlife | Official Top 20 . Mtv.co.uk . January 8, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120629230034/http://www.mtv.co.uk/music/charts/official-uk-countdowns/westlife-official-top-20 . June 29, 2012 . dead .
  35. Web site: Westlife's Top 20 biggest songs on the Official Charts. Copsey. Rob. January 12, 2019. Official Charts Company. January 12, 2019.