Once again I learn so much from your work. And bonus to have you marry Boney M with Giorgio Moroder and ABBA in conversation. And thanks for another wonderful compilation!
I have long had a soft spot in my heart for Boney M, ever since hearing “Rasputin” and their cover of The Creation’s “Painter Man” sometime in the 1980s. I’d heard “Rivers of Babylon” when it was a minor US hit, and it didn’t move me at all - but those two tracks made it clear to me that they (or rather, Frank Farian) were coming from a place of highly enjoyable ridiculousness. So it didn’t bother me at all when I learned they were a totally manufactured group.
So when Milli Vanilli got huge, and I saw that Farian’s name was attached to that project, I knew damn well what the deal was - and frankly (no pun intended), I found MV’s hits just as giddily, campily enjoyable as Boney M’s. I also found the public outcry over their Grammy win absolutely absurd; then again, people in this country tend to place way too much stock in industry awards and things like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame…
But anyway, you’ve once again shed new light on someone I thought I knew a fair bit about, but had really just scratched the surface on. And that’s why this is one of my favorite Substacks!
People who loved reggae really seemed to love "Rivers of Babylon." I've never been taken by reggae so didn't take to it either, but it got lots of folks on the dancefloor.
I do remember doing the bump and loving it. Easy and fun. But it really didn't stick around long as a dance move.
I'm with you on the whole 'scandal' of someone lipsynching to parts they didn't sing on the recording. We got used to that in films like My Fair Lady, with Singing in the Rain even making it a big part of the plotline. So many sixties groups didn't necessarily do the playing or singing on their records, and so many performances on TV were lipsynched. It's been done all along, hasn't it? Never quite understood why Milli Vanilli got the big scandal except maybe they didn't cover it up like you're supposed to and Farian even admitted to it.
It's quite enjoyable watching Bobby Farrell perform, even if he didn't sing.
Once again I learn so much from your work. And bonus to have you marry Boney M with Giorgio Moroder and ABBA in conversation. And thanks for another wonderful compilation!
These compilations of the era always remind me of K-Tel Records of Winnipeg!
Great piece, Pé!
I have long had a soft spot in my heart for Boney M, ever since hearing “Rasputin” and their cover of The Creation’s “Painter Man” sometime in the 1980s. I’d heard “Rivers of Babylon” when it was a minor US hit, and it didn’t move me at all - but those two tracks made it clear to me that they (or rather, Frank Farian) were coming from a place of highly enjoyable ridiculousness. So it didn’t bother me at all when I learned they were a totally manufactured group.
So when Milli Vanilli got huge, and I saw that Farian’s name was attached to that project, I knew damn well what the deal was - and frankly (no pun intended), I found MV’s hits just as giddily, campily enjoyable as Boney M’s. I also found the public outcry over their Grammy win absolutely absurd; then again, people in this country tend to place way too much stock in industry awards and things like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame…
But anyway, you’ve once again shed new light on someone I thought I knew a fair bit about, but had really just scratched the surface on. And that’s why this is one of my favorite Substacks!
People who loved reggae really seemed to love "Rivers of Babylon." I've never been taken by reggae so didn't take to it either, but it got lots of folks on the dancefloor.
I do remember doing the bump and loving it. Easy and fun. But it really didn't stick around long as a dance move.
I'm with you on the whole 'scandal' of someone lipsynching to parts they didn't sing on the recording. We got used to that in films like My Fair Lady, with Singing in the Rain even making it a big part of the plotline. So many sixties groups didn't necessarily do the playing or singing on their records, and so many performances on TV were lipsynched. It's been done all along, hasn't it? Never quite understood why Milli Vanilli got the big scandal except maybe they didn't cover it up like you're supposed to and Farian even admitted to it.
It's quite enjoyable watching Bobby Farrell perform, even if he didn't sing.
Great post as usual, Pe!
I remember “Young, Free and Single” from them.