Dear Lie

"Dear Lie" is a song by American group TLC. It was written by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and band member Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins for the trio's third studio album FanMail (1999), featuring production by Edmonds. The song was released as the album's third and final single on December 6, 1999, peaking at number 51 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reaching the top 40 in several other countries. "Dear Lie" is included on the group's 2009 compilation album, We Love TLC.

"Dear Lie"
Single by TLC
from the album FanMail
B-side"Sleigh Ride"
ReleasedDecember 6, 1999 (1999-12-06)
Length5:12
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Babyface
TLC singles chronology
"Unpretty"
(1999)		 "Dear Lie"
(1999)		 "What It Ain't (Ghetto Enuff)"
(2000)

Background and composition

The idea for the song initially came from a poem written by Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins titled "What's My Name", which was published in her book of semi-autobiographical poetry called Thoughts. The poem was later turned into a song with the help of Babyface. Watkins discussed that her father constantly lied, which put a strain on their relationship.[1] Watkins stated that the song began with the group's vulnerability and transformed into "a place of strength".[1] Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas enjoyed that the song played out as a metaphor for power, stating that

You can hear a lie that somebody says about you and it's not true. But it can really have so much power over you and that is why it sucks. But you've got to take that power back. We get so caught up sometimes in being upset about things and the person that we're allowing to have that type of power over us are doing just fine and as they say these days, living their best life.[1]

Commercial performance

The song reached the top 40 in several countries, including Australia,[2] Canada,[3] Ireland,[4] New Zealand,[5] and the United Kingdom.[6] It also reached number 51 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[7]

Music video

A music video for "Dear Lie", directed by Bille Woodruff, was shot on September 26, 1999. This video features solo parts of both Thomas and Watkins in an apartment, confronted by hyperactive and overconfident alter-egos and trying to tune them out, and performance shots of Watkins, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, and Thomas in a hallway. At the end shot, Lopes is shown running down the hall, knocking at the doors before running out of the frame. Reportedly, none of the performers were on speaking terms with each other during the video shoot due to Lopes' frustrations with the FanMail album. Lopes stated in an online interview in 2001 that none of the members of TLC liked the video. The video was only released in foreign countries, and aired exclusively on MTV UK on December 9, 1999.

Track listings

Personnel

Personnel are adapted from the album's liner notes.[12]

  • TLC: vocals
  • Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins: writer, background vocals
  • Debra Killings: background vocals
  • Babyface: writer, producer, keyboards, drum programming, electric and acoustic guitars
  • Greg Phillinganes: Wurlitzer
  • Nathan East: bass
  • Michael Thompson: electric guitar
  • Paulinho Da Costa: percussion
  • Paul Boutin: recording
  • Vernon J. Mungo: assistant engineer
  • Jon Gass: mixing
  • Ely’k: assistant mix engineer
  • John Hanes: Pro Tools engineer
  • Ivy Skoff: production coordinator

Charts

Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United Kingdom December 6, 1999
  • CD
  • cassette
[30]
United States January 4, 2000
  • LaFace
  • Arista
 [31][32]
January 25, 2000 Urban radio [33]

References
  1. Gracie, Bianca (February 22, 2019). "TLC's 'FanMail' Turns 20: A Track-By-Track Retrospective With the Girl Group and Behind-the-Scenes Collaborators". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  2. "TLC – Dear Lie". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  3. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 8304." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  4. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Dear Lie". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  5. "TLC – Dear Lie". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  6. "TLC: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  7. "TLC Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  8. Dear Lie (Australian CD single liner notes). TLC. LaFace Records, Arista Records. 1999. 74321 71279 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. Dear Lie (European CD single liner notes). TLC. LaFace Records, Arista Records, BMG. 1999. 74321 71280 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. Dear Lie (UK CD single liner notes). TLC. LaFace Records, Arista Records, BMG. 1999. 74321 72401 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. Dear Lie (UK cassette single sleeve). TLC. LaFace Records, Arista Records, BMG. 1999. 74321 72401 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. FanMail (US CD album liner notes). TLC. LaFace Records, Arista Records. 1999. 73008-26055-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. "TLC – Dear Lie" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  14. "TLC – Dear Lie" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  15. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 9764." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  16. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 8. February 19, 2000. p. 9. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  17. "TLC – Dear Lie" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  18. "TLC – Dear Lie" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  19. "Nederlandse Top 40 – TLC" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  20. "TLC – Dear Lie" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  21. "Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 2000" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on January 22, 2005. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  22. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  23. "TLC – Dear Lie". Singles Top 100. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  24. "TLC – Dear Lie". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  25. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  26. "TLC Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  27. "TLC Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  28. "TLC Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  29. "Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2000" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 8, no. 51. December 22, 2000. p. 54. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  30. "New Releases – For Week Starting 6 December, 1999: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. December 4, 1999. p. 25. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  31. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1330. December 17, 1999. pp. 46, 53. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  32. "Gavin Top 40/Rhythm Crossover: Impact Dates". Gavin Report. No. 2285. December 17, 1999. p. 7.
  33. "AddVance Notice" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1334. January 21, 2000. p. 59. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
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