Dear Lie

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.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8499567/tlc-fanmail-interview-20th-anniversary-dallas-austin|title=TLC's 'FanMail' Turns 20: A Track-By-Track Retrospective With the Girl Group and Behind-the-Scenes Collaborators|magazine=Billboard|last=Gracie|first=Bianca|date=February 22, 2019|access-date=November 15, 2019}} Watkins stated that the song began with the group's vulnerability and transformed into "a place of strength". 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.

The song reached the top 40 in several countries, including Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. It also reached number 51 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Despite its peak in the United Kingdom, it is their sixth best-selling single there.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/tlcs-official-top-10-biggest-selling-singles-revealed__18982/|title=TLC's Official Top 10 biggest selling singles revealed|language=English|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=May 9, 2017|access-date=February 27, 2024}}

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.{{Citation needed|date=November 2019}}

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Australian and European maxi-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Dear Lie|others=TLC|year=1999|type=Australian & European maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=LaFace Records, Arista Records|id=74321 71279 2}}

1. "Dear Lie" (radio edit) – 3:55
2. "Dear Lie" (album version) – 5:10
3. "Unpretty" (MJ Cole mix vox up) – 4:46
4. "Sleigh Ride" (album version) – 3:43

European CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Dear Lie|others=TLC|year=1999|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=LaFace Records, Arista Records, BMG|id=74321 71280 2}}

1. "Dear Lie" (radio edit) – 3:55
2. "Sleigh Ride" (album version) – 3:43

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UK CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Dear Lie|others=TLC|year=1999|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=LaFace Records, Arista Records, BMG|id=74321 72401 2}}

1. "Dear Lie" (radio edit) – 3:55
2. "Dear Lie" (album version) – 5:10
3. "Sleigh Ride" (album version) – 3:43

UK cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Dear Lie|others=TLC|year=1999|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=LaFace Records, Arista Records, BMG|id=74321 72401 4}}

1. "Dear Lie" (album version) – 5:10
2. "Sleigh Ride" (album version) – 3:43

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Personnel are adapted from the album's liner notes.{{cite AV media notes|title=FanMail|title-link=FanMail|others=TLC|year=1999|type=US CD album liner notes|publisher=LaFace Records, Arista Records|id=73008-26055-2}}

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• 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

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Category:1998 songs

Category:1999 singles

Category:Arista Records singles

Category:Bertelsmann Music Group singles

Category:LaFace Records singles

Category:Music videos directed by Bille Woodruff

Category:Songs written by Babyface (musician)

Category:Songs written by Tionne Watkins

Category:Song recordings produced by Babyface (musician)

Category:TLC (group) songs