Madonna’s ‘Don’t Tell Me’ Turns 20: Cowriters Mirwais and Joe Henry Tell the Story Behind One of Her Most Underrated Hits

variety.com:

Charlie Amter Twenty years ago this month, Madonna released “Don’t Tell Me,” the second single from her triple-platinum, Grammy nominated “Music” album.The song may be less remembered today than the title track from “Music,” but it arguably holds up even better, thanks not only to its minimalist production and forlorn lyrics, but also its fresh melding of country-and-folk with electronic music production (long before names such as Lil Nas X and Diplo won praise for doing the same in recent years).

Co-writer and producer of the song, Mirwais Ahmadzai, has a few ideas as to why “Don’t Tell Me” still resonates with listeners, two decades on.“I think ‘Don’t Tell Me’ has remained since that time as an iconic song for several reasons,” he says.