Format Digital download Label N.E.E.T.
XL
Interscope | Length 4:10 | |
Released 6 July 2010 (2010-07-06) Recorded 10 November 2009 (2009-11-10) Writer(s) Maya Arulpragasam
Thomas Pentz | ||
"Tell Me Why" is a song by British recording artist M.I.A. from her third studio album, Maya (2010). It was written by Maya "M.I.A." Arulpragasam, and Diplo, and production was handled by the latter. The song was recorded at Red Bull Studios in Santa Monica, California on Diplo's birthday in 2009. The producer admitted that "Tell Me Why" is his favorite song on the album, likening the track's sound to Wall of Sound and Motown. The song incorporates elements of Sarah Lancaster's "The Last Words of Copernicus" as performed by the Alabama Sacred Harp Singers. It was released worldwide as a digital download, under license to XL Recordings and N.E.E.T. Recordings, on 6 July 2010, as the fifth single from the album. No music video was made for the single, and M.I.A. has never performed it live.
Contents
Critical reception
The track was met with mixed reviews from music critics. While some called it an "absolute beauty" with a "super slick" production, others were very critical towards the use of Auto-Tune. Rap-Up and AllMusic picked the song as one of their highlights on the album.
Track listing
- "Tell Me Why" – 4:10