Dear Lie

Updated on Dec 17, 2023

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B-side "Sleigh Ride" Genre Pop rock R&B		Recorded 1998 Length 5:12
Released November 30, 1999 (1999-11-30) Format CD single 7" 12" cassette

"Dear Lie" is a song by American group TLC. The pop rock-influenced R&B ballad 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 in November 1999 in the United States following "No Scrubs" and "Unpretty". Though it managed to enter the top 40 in Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, it was widely considered a minor success compared to previous hits "No Scrubs" and "Unpretty", peaking at number 51 on the Billboard Hot 100. An accompanying music video, directed by Bille Woodruff, was filmed, but was only aired in foreign countries. "Dear Lie" was not featured on Now and Forever: The Hits (2003), Crazy Sexy Hits: The Very Best of TLC (2007) or 20 (2013). It was, however, included on We Love TLC (2009).

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 Chilli and T-Boz in an apartment, and "performance" shots with T-Boz, Left Eye, and Chilli in a hallway during the chorus. Lopes is shown running down the hall, knocking at the doors before running out of the frame. The video was only released in foreign countries, and aired exclusively on MTV UK on December 9, 1999.