Don't Ask Me Why (Eurythmics song)

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This article is about the Eurythmics single. For the Billy Joel single, see Don't Ask Me Why (Billy Joel song).

"Don't Ask Me Why"
Single by Eurythmics
from the album We Too Are One
B-side"Rich Girl"
ReleasedOctober 1989
Recorded1988/89
GenrePop[1]
Length4:21
LabelRCA Records
Arista Records (US)
Songwriter(s)Annie Lennox, David A. Stewart
Producer(s)David A. Stewart, Jimmy Iovine
Eurythmics singles chronology
"Revival"
(1989) 		"Don't Ask Me Why"
(1989) 		"The King and Queen of America"
(1990)
Alternative cover
US edition
Music video
"Don't Ask Me Why" on YouTube

"Don't Ask Me Why" is a song recorded by British pop music duo Eurythmics, released as the second single from their seventh album, We Too Are One (1989). The song was written by bandmembers Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart and produced by Stewart with Jimmy Iovine. In the US, it was released as the first single from the album. It is a lush pop song with melancholy and bitter lyrics which describe the ending of a love relationship. In it Lennox tells the subject "don't ask me why / I don't love you any more / I don't think I ever did".

Chart performance[edit]

"Don't Ask Me Why" peaked at number twenty-five in the UK singles chart and became Eurythmics' last US Billboard Hot 100 hit (and last top 40 hit), peaking at number forty (and twelve on the US Modern Rock Chart).

Critical reception[edit]

American magazine Billboard described the song as a "subdued midtempo number", adding, "Lennox's vocal shines on a track that's not as immediate as prior releases but could easily be a sleeper."[2] Mick Williams of the Lennox Herald gave the song a 9.5 out of 10 rating and commented: "If there ever was any doubt that Annie Lennox's voice was a gift from heaven, "Don't Ask Me Why" confirms it."[3] A reviewer from Music & Media felt its appeal stemmed from the "poignant contrast between [the] enchanting harmonies and sad lyrics".[4]

David Giles from Music Week wrote, "A distinct improvement on the rather histrionic blues of "Revival", this more subdued song allows Lennox's voice room for more expressiveness, and Stewart restrains himself admirably until an uncharacteristically twangy guitar break."[5] Iestyn George of Record Mirror considered "Don't Ask Me Why" to be "a great deal meaner and moodier than the half-baked "Revival", but will probably get lost among the plethora of pop-dance records cluttering up the airwaves."[6]

Music video[edit]

The song's accompanying music video, directed by Sophie Muller, features a performance by Eurythmics with various members of a backing band. Filmed in bright, saturated colors the finished clip drew comparisons to nightclub scenes in David Lynch's film Blue Velvet. [citation needed]

Track listings[edit]

  • 7" (UK, GER, FR, SPA, AUS, USA, CAN) & K7 Single (UK, AUS, USA, CAN) & CD single (JAP)
  1. "Don't Ask Me Why" (LP Version) – 4:21
  2. "Rich Girl" (Non-LP Track) – 4:09
  • 12" (UK, GER) & CD single (UK, GER)
  1. "Don't Ask Me Why" (LP Version) – 4:21
  2. "Sylvia" (LP Version) – 4:35
  3. "Rich Girl" (Non-LP Track) – 4:09
  • Limited 12" (UK) & Limited CD single Box-Set (UK)
  1. "Don't Ask Me Why" (LP Version) – 4:21
  2. "Rich Girl" (Non-LP Track) – 4:09
  3. "When The Day Goes Down" (Acoustic Version) – 3:47
  4. "Don't Ask Me Why" (Acoustic Version) – 3:58

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for "Don't Ask Me Why"
Chart (1989–1990) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[7] 35
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8] 31
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[9] 13
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[10] 1
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)[11] 61
Ireland (IRMA)[12] 17
Italy (Musica e dischi)[13] 16
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[14] 2
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15] 45
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[16] 30
UK Singles (OCC)[17] 25
US Billboard Hot 100[18] 40
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[19] 12
US Cash Box Top 100[20] 37
West Germany (Official German Charts)[21] 56

References[edit]

  1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Eurythmics - Greatest Hits (1991) Review at AllMusic. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  2. ^ "Single reviews". Billboard. 7 October 1989.
  3. ^ Williams, Mick (18 November 1989). "Entertainment". Lennox Herald.
  4. ^ "Previews: Singles". Music & Media. 18 November 1989.
  5. ^ Giles, David (4 November 1989). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 27. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  6. ^ George, Iestyn (28 October 1989). "Singles". Record Mirror. p. 14.
  7. ^ "Eurythmics – Don't Ask Me Why". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  8. ^ "Eurythmics – Don't Ask Me Why" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  9. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6617." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  10. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 6560." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  11. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 48. 2 December 1989. p. V. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  12. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Don't Ask Me Why". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  13. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 2 June 2022. Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "Don't Ask Me Why" in the "Titolo" field and press "cerca".
  14. ^ "Eurythmics – Don't Ask Me Why" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  15. ^ "Eurythmics – Don't Ask Me Why" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  16. ^ "Eurythmics – Don't Ask Me Why". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  17. ^ "Eurythmics: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  18. ^ "Eurythmics Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  19. ^ "Eurythmics Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  20. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending November 11, 1989". Cash Box. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  21. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Eurythmics – Don't Ask Me Why" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
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