Tell Me A Lie

Album: Up All Night (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Kelly Clarkson penned this song for One Direction. The What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger) singer is proud of their recording: "It's a really cute song, I love it," she said. "I loved that they liked it. They sound really great on it. I already have it – I'm so VIP with my copy on my computer, It does sound really good."
  • Speaking to UK newspaper The Daily Star, Kelly Clarkson said she rarely gives her own tracks to other performers. "Giving away my songs is not something I do lightly," she explained. "I'm very particular about that because my songs are like my babies. If I wanted it done I can sing it myself. I'm such a writer's snob. People have asked for songs and I'm like, 'I can't stand their voice, they're not singing my song.'"

    However, on this occasion Simon Cowell asked Clarkson if One Direction could use one of her songs, and she realized the track would work after hearing the group perform. "When Simon Cowell put me forward to write for One Direction I said, 'Let me hear them first,'" she said. "Simon has been really supportive since I won American Idol. 'Tell Me a Lie' is the cut I've got on 1D's album as I like the story of them, how they came together as a group. While I wrote the song for me, it didn't fit in the current album as I never want an album to sound like one thought."
  • Clarkson admitted to the UK newspaper The Metro that she didn't know who One Direction were when she was approached with the idea of giving them this track. "It was meant to be on my album Stronger but it didn't fit," she explained, before adding with a laugh. "So my manager wanted to pitch it to One Direction for their debut album and I was like, 'I don't know who that is.'"

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Mike Campbell

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."

Donny Osmond

Donny OsmondSongwriter Interviews

Donny Osmond talks about his biggest hits, his Vegas show, and the fan who taught him to take "Puppy Love" seriously.

Carl Sturken

Carl SturkenSongwriter Interviews

Hitmaker Carl Sturken on writing and producing for Rihanna, 'N Sync, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Donny Osmond, Shakira and Karyn White.

American Hits With Foreign Titles

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?

Mick Jones of Foreigner

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.

The Police

The PoliceFact or Fiction

Do their first three albums have French titles? Is "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" really meaningless? See if you can tell in this Fact or Fiction.