Tell Me (Groove Theory song)

"Tell Me"
Single by Groove Theory
from the album Groove Theory
Released	June 23, 1995 (1995-06-23) [1]
Genre	R&B
Length	3:56
Label	Epic
Songwriters	Bryce Wilson Amel Larrieux Darryl Brown Rick James
Producer	Bryce Wilson
Groove Theory singles chronology
"Tell Me" (1995) "Keep Tryin'" (1996)

"Tell Me" is a song by American R&B duo Groove Theory from their debut album, Groove Theory (1995). The track is a cover of Rhythm-N-Bass' 1993 song "Tell Me (If You Want Me Too)", which was also produced by Bryce Wilson. ^[2] The song contains an interpolation of Mary Jane Girls' "All Night Long" which itself interpolates Keni Burke's "Risin' to the Top".^{[ citation needed ]}

Released as a single in June 1995, "Tell Me" peaked at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top 10 in Australia and Canada, peaking at numbers six and eight, respectively. The single also peaked at number 14 in New Zealand and number 31 in both Iceland and the United Kingdom. "Tell Me" is certified gold in Australia and the United States.

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Tell Me", directed by Daniela Federeci, begins with Amel Larrieux and Bryce Wilson in a recording studio. Amel sings into the microphone, whilst Bryce produces behind the studio panel. Amel bops in front a city skyline in other scenes. In between scenes are transitional shots, which feature either Amel singing or Bryce nodding.

Legacy

In 2003, Raymond & Co wrote "Playing Games", which was melodically inspired by "Tell Me". In 2017, Australian singer Starley wrote "Touch Me", which was also heavily inspired by "Tell Me". ^[3]

Accolades for "Tell Me"

Publication	Accolade	Rank	Ref.
Pitchfork	The 53 Best R&B Songs of the ’90s	*	[4]
	The 250 Best Songs of the 1990s	189	[5]
Soul Bounce	Top 100 Soul/R&B Songs	46	[6]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1995–1996) Peak position Australia (ARIA) [7] 6 Canada ( The Record ) [8] 8 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) [9] 61 Europe (European Dance Radio) [10] 13 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40) [11] 31 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [12] 14 Scotland Singles (OCC) [13] 83 UK Singles (OCC) [14] 31 UK Dance (OCC) [15] 11 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC) [16] 4 US Billboard Hot 100 [17] 5 US Hot R&B Singles ( Billboard ) [18] 3 US Maxi-Singles Sales ( Billboard ) [19] 2 US Top 40/Mainstream ( Billboard ) [20] 21 US Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover ( Billboard ) [21] 2

Year-end charts Chart (1995) Position US Billboard Hot 100 [22] 65 US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard) [23] 38 US Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard) [24] 26 US Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover (Billboard) [25] 37 Chart (1996) Position Australia (ARIA) [26] 55 US Billboard Hot 100 [27] 58 US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard) [28] 66 US Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard) [29] 41 US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard) [30] 52 US Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover (Billboard) [31] 10

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [32]	Gold	35,000^
United States (RIAA) [1]	Gold	500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	June 23, 1995	12-inch vinyl CD cassette	Epic	[1]
	August 1, 1995	Rhythmic contemporary radio		[33]
Australia	August 14, 1995	CD cassette		[34]
	November 27, 1995	Remix CD		[35]

AXSHN version

On June 9, 2017, production group AXSHN released a version of the song featuring Mexican singer Sofia Reyes. ^[36] Erica Russell from PopCrush described it as a "throbbing tropical dance banger". The reviewer also highlighted Reyes' voice, writing "Sofia's smooth, sultry vocals beckon to the dance floor like the reflection of the moon sparkling against the Caribbean Sea". ^[37]

References

1. "American single certifications – Groove Theory – Tell me". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved March 14, 2023.
2. From Mantronix to Groove Theory: Bryce Wilson's Journey – Discovering Amel Larrieux & Producing Hits . Retrieved April 19, 2024– via www.youtube.com.
3. "STARLEY Releases Highly Anticipated Follow Up Single 'Touch Me' On Tinted Records". Amnplify. June 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
4. "The 53 Best R&B Songs of the '90s". Pitchfork. November 3, 2022. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
5. "The 250 Best Songs of the 1990s". Pitchfork. September 27, 2022. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
6. Mami, Ill (June 3, 2008). "Top 100 Soul/R&B Songs". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
7. "Groove Theory – Tell Me". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
8. "Hits of the World: Canada". Billboard . Vol. 108, no. 8. February 24, 1996. p. 44.
9. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media . Vol. 12, no. 47. November 25, 1995. p. 18.
10. "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media . December 16, 1995. p. 18. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
11. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (10.2. – 16.2. '96)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). February 10, 1996. p. 26. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
12. "Groove Theory – Tell Me". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
13. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
14. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
15. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
16. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
17. "Billboard Hot 100" . Billboard. November 4, 1995. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
18. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs" . Billboard. October 28, 1995. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
19. "Dance Singles Sales" . Billboard. October 28, 1995. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
20. "Pop Airplay" . Billboard. February 17, 1996. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
21. "Rhythmic Airplay" . Billboard. November 4, 1995. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
22. "Billboard Top 100 – 1995" . Retrieved October 3, 2014.
23. "The Year in Music: Hot R&B Singles". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 51. December 23, 1995. p. YE-38.
24. "The Year in Music: Hot Dance Music Maxi-Singles Sales". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 51. December 23, 1995. p. YE-44.
25. "The Year in Music 1995: Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover Top Titles". Airplay Monitor . Vol. 3, no. 51. December 15, 1995. p. 9.
26. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1996". Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved February 2, 2016.
27. "Billboard Top 100 – 1996". Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
28. "The Year in Music: Hot R&B Singles". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. December 28, 1996. p. YE-40.
29. "The Year in Music: Hot Dance Music Maxi-Singles Sales". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. December 28, 1996. p. YE-45.
30. "Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Top 40/Mainstream Titles". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 30.
31. "Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover Titles". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 32.
32. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1996 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved November 25, 2021.
33. "Selected New Releases". Radio & Records . No. 1105. July 28, 1995. p. 35.
34. "New Releases – Product Available from : 14/08/95: Singles". The ARIA Report . No. 287. August 13, 1995. p. 20.
35. "New Releases – Product Available from : 27/11/95: Singles". The ARIA Report. No. 302. November 26, 1995. p. 20.
36. "Tell Me (feat. Sofia Reyes) - Single". iTunes . Retrieved June 10, 2017.
37. Russell, Erica (June 8, 2017). "AXSHN and Sofia Reyes Give Groove Theory's 'Tell Me' a Tropical Twist". PopCrush . Retrieved June 10, 2017.