The song was written by Chappell Music staff songwriter Seth Swirsky and Ernie Gold, and produced by Ric Wake.

[7] Lysette Cohen from Record Mirror wrote, "The single is one of those unbelievably catchy ones, full of what Taylor calls, "happy hooks".

"[8] Another Record Mirror editor, Matthew Collin, felt that the single showed that Dayne "makes a brilliant disco queen".

[9] In 2023, Time Out ranked "Tell It to My Heart" number 80 in their "The 100 Best Party Songs Ever Made", writing, "The Long Island native born Leslie Wunderman sounds positively voracious on her 1987 signature hit.

The lyrics might read like bad student poetry, but blend them with unabashedly hammy '80s synths and a so-passionate-it's-a-little-scary delivery, and the result is a sonic Roman candle, blasting fireballs of fun onto the dance floor.

"[10] Same year, Rolling Stone ranked it number 148 in their "The 200 Best '80s Songs", adding, "Miami freestyle hits the Long Island bar-mitzvah circuit to conquer Middle America.