Ask Me How I Feel

Album: Foreign Affair (1989)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In this song, Turner takes her man to task for his lack of compassion. He's blithe to her troubles even though she cares for him. To top it off, at the end of the song, we find out he's been cheating on her: "And now I find that you're untrue."

    This sounds a lot like Tina's relationship with her first husband, Ike Turner, who was not only unfaithful, but also abused her.
  • "Ask Me How I Feel" was written by Holly Knight and Albert Hammond, who teamed to write two other songs on the Foreign Affair album as well: "Be Tender with Me Baby" and "You Can't Stop Me Loving You." Both Hammond and Knight were artists as well; Hammond had a hit in 1971 with "It Never Rains In Southern California," Knight had a few minor hits in the '80s with her groups Spider and Device.

    Knight started writing songs aimed to Turner after Tina covered "Better Be Good To Me," which Knight wrote and originally recorded with her band Spider. Many of these songs reflect the struggles both Turner and Knight faced in abusive relationships. Speaking with Songfacts, Knight said: "If you look at the title 'Ask Me How I Feel,' I think she was denied that for so long, so it's obviously close to her heart."
  • This wasn't released as a single, but it was a key song in Turner's career. She often performed it in concert, and it's the song that opens her 2021 HBO documentary, Tina. It's also the title of a chapter in Turner's 2018 autobiography, My Love Story.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Chris Fehn of Slipknot

Chris Fehn of SlipknotSongwriter Interviews

A drummer for one of the most successful metal bands of the last decade, Chris talks about what it's like writing and performing with Slipknot. Metal-neck is a factor.

Todd Rundgren

Todd RundgrenSongwriter Interviews

Todd Rundgren explains why he avoids "Hello It's Me," and what it was like producing Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell album.

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)Songwriter Interviews

Steve Cropper on the making of "In the Midnight Hour," the chicken-wire scene in The Blues Brothers, and his 2021 album, Fire It Up.

Corey Hart

Corey HartSongwriter Interviews

The Canadian superstar talks about his sudden rise to fame, and tells the stories behind his hits "Sunglasses At Night," "Boy In The Box" and "Never Surrender."

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman Jack

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman JackSong Writing

The story of the legendary lupine DJ through the songs he inspired.

Producer Ron Nevison

Producer Ron NevisonSong Writing

Ron Nevison explains in very clear terms the Quadrophenia concept and how Heart staged their resurgence after being dropped by their record company.