Tell It to the Moon

"Tell It to the Moon" was written by Diane Warren, who had previously collaborated with Davis in around 1986–87 when they wrote a song together which was not recorded. A short time later, Davis was made aware of "Tell It to the Moon" and decided to record it for Policy. She revealed in a 1988 interview, "The song we [wrote together] was a good song, but it wasn't brilliant. Later on and somebody said, '[Diane's] written a song that sounds like something you'd write'. That's what hit writers do, they listen to your style and obviously we'd worked together, and so I heard it and I go, 'you know, it does sort of sound like something I'd write'. And then other people said, 'it sounds like a hit' and I go, 'hey, that's a good reason to put it on your album!'"{{cite AV media |people=Martha Davis |date=1988 |title=Martha Davis - Interview |medium=TV |publisher=Super Channel |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OQXBhdn1JQ&t |via=YouTube}}

Speaking of the song's message, Davis commented in 1987, "It's a beautiful song. I would say it's like abstract frustration, being in love with someone that you can't touch and you can't even get up the gumption to actually tell them, so you've got to tell it to the moon."{{cite AV media notes |title=Policy: Radio Star Audio Cue Card (Track-by-track run thru with Martha Davis of her debut album, 'Policy') |others=Martha Davis |year=1987 |type=US promotional vinyl LP |publisher=Capitol Records |id=SPRO-79197, CLT-48054}}

Davis was later critical of Policy and the commercialised nature of the material. She told Louder Than War in 2017, "[After The Motels' split], the record company scrambled around and I'm singing Diane Warren songs... I was like, "holy crap, this is not right at all. More than anything I'm a writer. That's the main thing I am, the singing was a lucky kind of accident."{{cite web |url=https://louderthanwar.com/martha-davis-and-the-motels-a-post-industrial-family-on-a-field-trip/ |title=Martha Davis... and The Motels, "A Post Industrial Family On a Field Trip" |last=Shapiro |first=Eileen |publisher=Louder Than War |date=December 29, 2017 |access-date=June 14, 2022}}

The song's music video was directed by David Fincher. It achieved breakout rotation on MTV.{{cite magazine |title=Video Music: The Clip List |magazine=Billboard |date=February 13, 1988 |publisher=Billboard Publications, Inc. |volume=100 |issue=7 |page=42 |issn=0006-2510}}

On its release, Billboard commented, "There are no reasons why 'Don't Tell Me the Time' didn't score; programmers can redeem themselves with this equally engaging rock track from the former Motel."{{cite magazine |title=Single Reviews |magazine=Billboard |date=January 23, 1988 |publisher=Billboard Publications, Inc. |volume=100 |issue=4 |page=73 |issn=0006-2510}} Cash Box predicted the song would be a "sure-fire Top 40 smash" and stated, "No doubt about it, the Motels sound was defined by the emotive voice Davis brought to the songs. This is as satisfying a performance as you'll hear from her."{{cite magazine |title=Single Releases |magazine=Cash Box |date=January 23, 1988 |volume=51 |issue=29 |page=10 |issn=0008-7289}} In Australia, Michael Wellham of The Canberra Times described it as a "four-minute Mills & Boon" which is "much the same standard as the other songs on Policy".{{cite news |last=Wellham |first=Michael |date=April 14, 1988 |title=Round and Round |newspaper=The Canberra Times |page=9}}

7–inch single (US and Australasia){{cite AV media notes |title=Tell It to the Moon |others=Martha Davis |year=1988 |type=US 7-inch single sleeve |publisher=Capitol Records |id=B-44114}}{{cite AV media notes |title=Tell It to the Moon |others=Martha Davis |year=1988 |type=Australasia 7-inch single sleeve |publisher=Capitol Records |id=CP 2067}}

1. "Tell It to the Moon" – 4:08
2. "Bridge of Sighs" – 3:53

7–inch promotional single (US){{cite AV media notes |title=Tell It to the Moon |others=Martha Davis |year=1988 |type=US 7-inch promotional single sleeve |publisher=Capitol Records |id=P-B-44057}}

1. "Tell It to the Moon" – 4:08
2. "Tell It to the Moon" – 4:08

12–inch promotional single (US){{cite AV media notes |title=Tell It to the Moon |others=Martha Davis |year=1988 |type=US 12-inch promotional single sleeve |publisher=Capitol Records |id=SPRO-79244}}

1. "Tell It to the Moon" – 4:08
2. "Tell It to the Moon" – 4:08

Credits are adapted from the Policy CD liner notes.{{cite AV media notes |title=Policy |title-link=Policy (Martha Davis album) |others=Martha Davis |year=1987 |type=US CD album liner notes |publisher=Capitol Records |id=CDP 7 48054 2}}

"Tell It to the Moon"

• Martha Davis – vocals
• Gary Falcone, Kipp Lennon, Carmen Twillie, Joe Pizzulo – backing vocals
• Richie Zito – guitars
• Steve Farris – guitar solo
• Gary Chang – synthesizers
• Randy Jackson – bass
• Michael Baird – drums

Production

• Richie Zito – producer
• Phil Kaffel – engineer
• David Leonard – mixing
• Stephen Marcussen – mastering

In 2005, American singer Stephani Krise recorded a version which was released as a single in the US by Dauman Music.{{cite AV media notes |title=Tell It to the Moon |others=Stephani Krise |year=2005 |type=US CD single liner notes |publisher=Dauman Music}} It reached number 16 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in September 2005.{{cite magazine |title=Billboard Dance - Hot Dance Club Play |magazine=Billboard |date=September 10, 2005 |publisher=Billboard Publications, Inc. |volume=117 |issue=37 |page=87 |issn=0006-2510}}

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Category:1987 songs

Category:1988 singles

Category:2005 singles

Category:Capitol Records singles

Category:Songs written by Diane Warren

Category:Song recordings produced by Richie Zito

Category:Music videos directed by David Fincher