About The Song
“What Made You Say That” is the debut single by Canadian country music artist Shania Twain. The song was released on March 6, 1993, as the lead single to her eponymous debut album (1993). The song was written by Tony Haselden and Stan Munsey Jr. and produced by Harold Shedd and Norro Wilson, who also produced her album. The song was initially recorded by American country singer and actor Wayne Massey for his third and final studio album Wayne Massey and Black Hawk (1989).
The song itself was not a commercial success, only peaking at number 55 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and number 70 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart. The song did receive attention due to its controversial at the time music video, directed by Steven Goldmann, which prominently showed Twain’s midriff. The music video was later banned by CMT. The song’s success did lead her to winning the 1993 Rising Star award from CMT Europe. Twain performed the song live at the 1993 Canadian CMAs and would later include it on her Come On Over Tour, the only song from her debut album to be included. During the tour’s performances, Twain brought a local child who won a radio contest to perform it in front of everyone, with Twain singing backup vocals. One rendition was sung by a then unknown Avril Lavigne, who was only 13 when she performed with Twain on stage. Although not included on her 2004 Greatest Hits compilation, it was later included on 2022’s Not Just a Girl (The Highlights), which was released to coincide with the Netflix documentary of the same name.
Video
Lyrics
Maybe tonight I’m gonna tell him how I feel
Maybe I’ll leave well enough alone
Maybe, just maybe, he’ll want to be my baby
What if he’s got plans of his own
I’m waiting for the perfect moment
Looking for the perfect phrase
The one I finally choose is simply “I love you”
And as the words came out I heard a voice inside me say
What made you say that
Was it the moonlight, was it the starlight in your eyes
What made you say that
Have you been listening to your heart
It’s too late now, you don’t want to take it back
‘Cause I know love’s what made you say that
I Look up to see his reaction
And a smile slowly spread across his face
He said “What took you so long
That’s what I’ve been waiting on
I thought you’d take forever and a day”
What made you say that
Was it the moonlight, was it the starlight in your eyes
What made you say that
Have you been listening to your heart
It’s too late now, I won’t let you take it back
‘Cause I know love’s what made you say that
What made you say that
Was it the moonlight, was it the starlight in your eyes
What made you say that
Have you been listening to your heart
It’s too late now, you don’t want to take it back
‘Cause I know love’s what made you say that
Was it the moonlight, was it the starlight in your eyes
What made you say that
Have you been listening to your heart
What made you say that
Oh, what made you say that
What made you say that
Was it the moonlight, was it the starlight in your eyes
What made you say that
Have you been listening to your heart