My Heart Can't Tell You No

"My Heart Can't Tell You No" is a song written by Simon Climie and Dennis Morgan. It was first recorded and released by British pop-rock artist Rod Stewart on his 1988 album Out of Order. Originally intended as a song for country artist Barbara Mandrell, Stewart ultimately claimed the song for himself. It was later covered in 2011 by American country artist Sara Evans and released as the second single from her sixth studio album, Stronger.

"My Heart Can't Tell You No"
Single by Rod Stewart
from the album Out of Order
Released	September 1988
Genre	Soft rock
Length	5:12
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Simon Climie, Dennis Morgan
Producer(s)	Rod Stewart, Andy Taylor
Rod Stewart singles chronology
"Forever Young" (1988) "My Heart Can't Tell You No" (1988) "Crazy About Her" (1989)

Rod Stewart version

"My Heart Can't Tell You No" was a Top 5 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and adult contemporary charts, eventually reaching 4 and 3, respectively, in 1989. It was the highest-charting single from the album. In the United Kingdom, the song reached a peak position of 49, becoming his second Top 50 single from Out of Order. A music video was also produced and released for the single. In some releases of the single and the album, the song was incorrectly identified as "My Heart Can't Tell Me No".

Critical reception

Jon Grein of the Los Angeles Times called the song "obviously commercial".^[1] Cash Box called it "an appealing mid-tempo tune" and praised Stewart's vocal performance and the production.^[2] Robin Smith of Record Mirror described it as "one of those infectious singalong ballads he's always done so well".^[3]

Chart positions

Weekly charts Chart (1988–1989) Peak position UK Singles (OCC)[4] 49 US Billboard Hot 100[5] 4 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[6] 3

Year-end charts Chart (1989) Position Canada Top Singles (RPM)[7] 48 US Billboard Hot 100[8][9] 50 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[10] 18

Sara Evans version

"My Heart Can't Tell You No"
Single by Sara Evans
from the album Stronger
Released	June 20, 2011
Recorded	2010
Genre	Country
Length	4:34
Label	RCA Nashville
Songwriter(s)	Simon Climie, Dennis Morgan
Producer(s)	Tony Brown
Sara Evans singles chronology
"A Little Bit Stronger" (2010) "My Heart Can't Tell You No" (2011) "Anywhere" (2012)
Music video
"My Heart Can't Tell You No" on YouTube

Critical reception

Jon Caramanica of The New York Times called Evans' version of the song a "gentle, regretful cover".^[11] Giving it four stars out of five, Bobby Peacock of Roughstock called it a "worthwhile cover" and described the production positively, although he thought that the lyrics were "slightly cluttered and underfocused".^[12] Kevin John Coyne, reviewing the song for Country Universe, gave it a D rating, calling it "watery, country-pop claptrap."^[13]

Reception

The video for "My Heart Can't Tell You No" was nominated for Female Video of the Year at the 2012 CMT Music Awards.^[14]

Chart positions

"My Heart Can't Tell You No" debuted at number 54 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week dated June 18, 2011.^[15] It reached a peak position of 21 on the chart dated January 28, 2012.^[16] The song did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but did peak at number 5 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles extension chart.^[17]

Weekly charts Chart (2011–2012) Peak position Canada Country (Billboard)[18] 40 US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[17] 5 US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[19] 21

Year-end charts Chart (2011) Position US Country Songs (Billboard)[20] 94 Chart (2012) Position US Country Songs (Billboard)[21] 90

References

1. Grein, Paul (29 July 1989). "Rod Stewart Gets His New Image in 'Order'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 19 August 2011.^{[dead link‍]}
2. "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. December 3, 1988. p. 18. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
3. Smith, Robin (22 April 1989). "Singles". Record Mirror. p. 29. ISSN 0144-5804.
4. "Rod Stewart: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
5. "Rod Stewart Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
6. "Rod Stewart Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
7. "Top Singles - Volume 51, No. 8, December 23, 1989". RPM. December 23, 1999. Archived from the original on September 7, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
8. "1989 The Year in Music: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 101, no. 51. December 23, 1989. p. Y-22.
9. "Billboard Top 100 – 1989".
10. "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 1989". Billboard. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
11. Pareles, Jon; Ben Ratliff; Jon Caramanica (7 March 2011). "Critics' Choice: New CDs". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
12. Peacock, Bobby (23 June 2011). "Sara Evans — "My Heart Can't Tell You No"". Roughstock. Archived from the original on 26 June 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
13. Coyne, Kevin John (May 30, 2011). "5 Five-Second Single Reviews: Laura Alaina, Rodney Atkins, Sara Evans, Joe Nichols, Kellie Pickler". Country Universe. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
14. Dauphin, Chuch (April 23, 2012). "2012 CMT Awards: Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert Lead Nominees". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
15. Trust, Gary (June 9, 2011). "Weekly Chart Notes: Adele, Eddie Vedder, Kristine W". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
16. "Hot Country Songs" (The Week Of: January 28, 2012). Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
17. "Sara Evans Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
18. "Sara Evans Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
19. "Sara Evans Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
20. "Best of 2011: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
21. "Best of 2012: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2012.