Learn To Say No

Album: Jody Watley (1987)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Learn To Say No" is a duet between Jody Watley and George Michael. They met in 1984 when recording "Do They Know It's Christmas?" for the charity collective Band Aid. Watley had some success with her band Shalamar, but by then she had left the group and was looking for a solo deal. Michael made her a deal: When she landed a record deal and made a solo album, he'd do a song with her. He kept his word. Michael was launching his own solo career (after Wham!) around this time but still made himself available to Watley. The song made it onto her debut album but wasn't released as a single, per edict from Michael's record label.
  • The song is about how our carnal desires can cloud our judgment, making it very hard to say no.
  • George Michael wrote the song, but it's a reworking of the 1982 tune "I've Got Learn to Say No!" by Richard "Dimples" Fields, an R&B singer whose biggest hit was "If It Ain't One Thing... It's Another" in 1982. Fields is credited as a writer on the track along with Michael.
  • "Learn To Say No" was produced by Bernard Edwards, who along with Nile Rogers was the power source in the band Chic. Edwards also produced Watley's "Don't You Want Me."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)Songwriter Interviews

Chad tells tales from his time as drummer for Nirvana, and talks about his group Before Cars.

Spot The Real Red Hot Chili Peppers Song Titles

Spot The Real Red Hot Chili Peppers Song TitlesMusic Quiz

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have some rather unusual song titles - see if you can spot the real ones.

Commercials

CommercialsFact or Fiction

Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream?

Which Songs are About Drugs?

Which Songs are About Drugs?Fact or Fiction

"25 or 6 to 4" to "Semi-Charmed Life" - see if you can spot the songs that are really about drugs.

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New York

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New YorkSong Writing

Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.

Sam Hollander

Sam HollanderSongwriter Interviews

The hitmaking songwriter/producer Sam Hollander with stories about songs for Weezer, Panic! At The Disco, Train, Pentatonix, and Fitz And The Tantrums.