Not Tonight

Album: Perfectly Imperfect (2012)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Both Elle Varner's parents are in the music industry. Her mother, singer Mikelyn Roderick was a backup vocalist for Barry White and her father Jimmy Varner is a songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, who has collaborated with Kool & the Gang, and Will Downing. Its no surprise that Varner was singing as soon as she could speak, playing the flute at 6 and the piano at 9. The Los Angeles native earned a coveted spot in New York University's Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music, but her early success as a musician didn't make Varner any less shy when it came to a college crush. "It's one of the saddest songs on the album, about not being able to say 'hello' to a guy that I was in a class with for four months," she admitted to MTV News. "And to this day, I never said anything to him. And it was kinda heartbreaking, like, 'Just say it!' but I can't."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Kim Thayil of Soundgarden

Kim Thayil of SoundgardenSongwriter Interviews

Their frontman (Chris Cornell) started out as their drummer, so Soundgarden takes a linear approach when it comes to songwriting. Kim explains how they do it.

Charlie Benante of Anthrax

Charlie Benante of AnthraxSongwriter Interviews

The drummer for Anthrax is also a key songwriter. He explains how the group puts their songs together and tells the stories behind some of their classics.

Eric Burdon

Eric BurdonSongwriter Interviews

The renown rock singer talks about "The House of the Rising Sun" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."

Metallica

MetallicaFact or Fiction

Beef with Bon Jovi? An unfortunate Spandex period? See if you can spot the true stories in this Metallica version of Fact or Fiction.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Steely Dan

Steely DanFact or Fiction

Did they really trade their guitarist to The Doobie Brothers? Are they named after something naughty? And what's up with the band name?