Tears Don't Lie

"Tears Don't Lie" is a song by German DJ Mark 'Oh, released in as the third single from his debut album, Never Stop That Feeling (1995). The song uses the same melody best known in English-speaking countries as "When a Child is Born", which when originally a number-one hit in Germany for Michael Holm in 1974 was called "Tränen lügen nicht" or "Tears Don't Lie", which is a cover of the Italian Instrumental "Soleado" by Ciro Dammicco. "Tears Don't Lie" peaked at number-one in Austria, Belgium, Germany, and Sweden and was a top 10 hit across continental Europe and Ireland. It was also nominated to the 1996 Echo Awards for the best German dance single.^[3] Matt Broadley directed the music video for the song.

"Tears Don't Lie"
Single by Mark 'Oh
from the album Never Stop That Feeling
Released	1994
Genre	Happy hardcore^[1] techno^[2]
Length	3:34
Label	Peace Urban
Songwriter(s)	Baldan-Bembo Dammicco Specchia Seymandi
Producer(s)	Marko Albrecht Holger Scheiker
Mark 'Oh singles chronology
"Love Song" (1994) "Tears Don't Lie" (1994) "Droste, Hörst Du Mich?" (1995)

In 2002, the song was released in a new version, as "Tears Don't Lie 2002", peaking at number 35 in Germany and number 36 in Austria.

Critical reception

Alan Jones from Music Week wrote, "The oddest single of the week has to be Mark Oh's "Tears Don't Lie", which starts with some fairly ambient synth work before turning into a very fast techno track, overlaid with the humming melody from "When a Child is Born". Already making its ascent of RM's On a Pop Tip chart, it's so unusual it can't help but attract attention and seems destined to maintain the Systematic label's 100% strike rate."^[2] James Hyman from the RM Dance Update gave it four out of five, saying, "Using Johnny Mathis "When a Child is Born" theme, the Euro stomper adds its 140bpm-plus breakbeats, sped-up 'tears don't lie' bytes and great melodic breakdowns to great commercial effect."^[4] Another editor, James Hamilton, described it as a "insanely infectious German novelty".^[5]

Chart performance

"Tears Don't Lie" was very successful on the charts in Europe, remaining Mark Oh's biggest hit. It peaked at number-one in at least four countries; Austria, Belgium, Germany and Sweden. Additionally, it entered the top 10 in Denmark (2), Finland (6), Ireland (9), the Netherlands (2), Norway (8) and Switzerland (3), as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it peaked at number two. In the UK, the single reached number 24 in its first week on the UK Singles Chart, on 30 April 1995.^[6] But it reached number five on the RM UK on a Pop Tip Club Chart.^[7] "Tears Don't Lie" was also a top 20 hit in Scotland (18).

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Tears Don't Lie" was directed by Swedish-based director Matt Broadley.^[8] It was A-listed on Germany's VIVA in December 1994.^[9]

Track listings

12-inch single "Tears Don't Lie" (12" Mix) – 4:57 "Tears Don't Lie" (O. Lieb Remix) – 6:17 "Tears Don't Lie" (Mark' Oh Remix) – 4:32 "Tears Don't Lie" (Hooligan Remix) – 5:29 CD single "Tears Don't Lie" (Short Mix) – 3:34 "Tears Don't Lie" (12" Mix) – 4:55

CD maxi "Tears Don't Lie" (12" Mix) – 4:55 "Ultimate" – 4:16 "Tears Don't Lie" (Shortmix) – 3:34 CD maxi - Remixes "Tears Don't Lie" (O.Lieb Remix) – 6:17 "Tears Don't Lie" (Mark' Oh Remix) – 4:36 "Tears Don't Lie" (Hooligan Remix) – 5:34

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1994–1995) Peak position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[10] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[11] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)^[12] 1 Denmark (IFPI)^[13] 2 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[13] 2 Europe (European Dance Radio)^[14] 3 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[15] 6 Germany (Official German Charts)^[16] 1 Ireland (IRMA)^[17] 9 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[18] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[19] 2 Norway (VG-lista)^[20] 8 Scotland (OCC)^[21] 18 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[22] 1 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[23] 3 UK Singles (OCC)^[24] 24 UK Club Chart (Music Week)^[25] 68 UK on a Pop Tip Club Chart (Music Week)^[7] 5

Year-end charts Chart (1995) Position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[26] 12 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[27] 37 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)^[28] 40 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[29] 28 Germany (Official German Charts)^[30] 8 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[31] 21 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[32] 20 Norway (VG-lista) (Winter Period)^[33] 13 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[34] 8 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[35] 29

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Europe	1994	12-inch vinyl CD	Peace Urban
United Kingdom	24 April 1995	12-inch vinyl CD cassette	Systematic	^[36]

References

1. Masterton, James (30 April 2022). "Week Ending May 6th 1995". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
2. Jones, Alan (15 April 1995). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 10. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
3. "Echo Awards Nominations" (PDF). Music & Media. p. 5. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
4. Hyman, James (15 April 1995). "Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 10. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
5. Hamilton, James (22 April 1995). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 11. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
6. "Official Singles Chart Top 100 30 April 1995 - 06 May 1995". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
7. "The RM on a Pop Tip Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 29 April 1995. p. 8. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
8. "mark oh - tears don't lie ( viva tv )". YouTube. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
9. "Station Reports > VIVA TV/Cologne" (PDF). Music & Media. 24 December 1994. p. 18. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
10. "Mark 'Oh – Tears Don't Lie" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
11. "Mark 'Oh – Tears Don't Lie" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
12. "Mark 'Oh – Tears Don't Lie" (in French). Ultratop 50.
13. "Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 9. Prometheus Global Media. 4 March 1995. p. 69. ISSN 0006-2510.
14. "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. 18 February 1995. p. 21. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
15. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
16. "Mark 'Oh – Tears Don't Lie" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
17. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Tears Don't Lie". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
18. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Mark 'Oh" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
19. "Mark 'Oh – Tears Don't Lie" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
20. "Mark 'Oh – Tears Don't Lie". VG-lista.
21. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
22. "Mark 'Oh – Tears Don't Lie". Singles Top 100.
23. "Mark 'Oh – Tears Don't Lie". Swiss Singles Chart.
24. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
25. "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 15 April 1995. p. 6. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
26. "Jahreshitparade 1995" (in Austrian German). austriancharts.at. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
27. "Faaroverzichten 1995". ultratop.be. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
28. "Rapports annuels 1995". ultratop.be. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
29. "1995 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 23 December 1995. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
30. "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1995" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
31. "Jaarlijsten 1995" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
32. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1995". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
33. (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
34. "Årslista Singlar, 1995" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
35. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1995". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
36. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 22 April 1995. p. 43.