Milli Vanilli

[Monzo]

I got lots of "faceless" dance music from labels specialized in pop/house dance, lots of different artist names on the covers but often sung by one and the same singer.

Can you guess who it is?
And can you guess whose bandwagon they jumped on when they created this track?

Could it be Ken Laszlo? As for Ken Laszlo, I am not informed whether it was his decision to use various pseudonyms or whether he was hired as a studio singer for new projects, similar to the studio singers for Milli Vanilli.

In Germany and a few other European countries the real singers of Milli Vanilli were in the spotlight for a few months. When the lipsyncing scandal came out in November 1990, the lead single from Milli Vanilli's second album was already in the German top 10. Instead of falling out of the charts "Keep On Running" stayed in the German top 20 until April 1991. It was even claimed that the real singers could finally shine after the imposters had been exposed.

Here are both performances of "Keep On Running", once as Milli Vanilli and as The Real Milli Vanilli. Which performance works better for you?

As for the US, I wonder who was so upset about Milli Vanilli and who was blamed for it? Milli Vanilli's founder Frank Farian remained successful in the US: From his next projects La Bouche and No Mercy, one single each made it into the top 10 and several others reached the Hot 100.

 

[Monzo]

For those in the US who would like to see the movie about Milli Vanilli, here is some good news:

Milli Vanilli Biopic ‘Girl You Know It’s True’ Acquired By Vertical

Milli Vanilli biopic 'Girl You Know It's True' has been acquired by Vertical for release in North America later this year.

deadline.com

The film was released in South Africa this week.

 

[CeeCee72]

@Monzo in the US, the everyone blames the two guys who fronted the scam. They were instant pariahs where as the producer and people behind the scenes faced very little back lash at all.

I personally enjoyed the music and was one of a few who didn't trash my cassette tape. Still catchy music, no matter who was singing it.

 

[DallasFanForever]

Sad what came later with Rob Pilatus dying so young from a drug overdose. I always thought it was also sad that the scandal is what they’re mostly remembered for because they were extremely popular at the time and made their mark.

 

[AndyB2008]

@Monzo in the US, the everyone blames the two guys who fronted the scam. They were instant pariahs where as the producer and people behind the scenes faced very little back lash at all.

I personally enjoyed the music and was one of a few who didn't trash my cassette tape. Still catchy music, no matter who was singing it.

According to the Rolling Stone article on Martha Wash, Zelma Davis was treated as a pariah too after the whole lip synch scandal came out.

(It was Zelma lipsynching to Martha on Gonna Make You Sweat).

 

[CeeCee72]

According to the Rolling Stone article on Martha Wash, Zelma Davis was treated as a pariah too after the whole lip synch scandal came out.

(It was Zelma lipsynching to Martha on Gonna Make You Sweat).

Right! I remember that! They made that poor girl sing live at an awards show to "prove" she could sing.

As I recall, it didn't go well.

 

[Monzo]

"Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story" brings Milli Vanilli back into the spotlight.

Netflix's Menendez Story Revives Milli Vanilli | The Music

Following their synch in 'The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story', Milli Vanilli’s discography has gained 114% in streams.

themusic.com.au

Milli Vanilli Is Hotter Than Ever Thanks to Menendez Bros

The disgraced lipsynchers have a heavy, if bizarre, presence in “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.” Now, a new generation is obsessed with their music.

www.thedailybeast.com

Truth behind Menendez brothers' bizarre song choice at parents' funeral that left viewers baffled

Lyle Menendez selected a rather obscure 1989 track to play at the funeral of their murdered parents.

www.tyla.com

 

[Monzo]

Milli Vanilli return to the UK charts thanks to Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. Girl I’m Gonna Miss You, which in 1989 peaked at No.2, reenters at No.40 with 11,546 sales. Blame It On The Rain reenters to No.47, surpassing its original No.52 peak from 1989.

 

[KayLloyd]

I never understood the consumer fraud angle. Can people in the US sue authors who have ghostwriters writing their books? Or Audrey Hepburn for not singing in My Fair Lady? Someone recently tried to sue a film company because they've left actress Ana de Armas in the trailer for a film, Yesterday, in which all of her scenes were cut, to no avail.

I assume the distinction you point out "explicitly crediting the models as vocalists on the album" was the big mistake made by the record company. But as far as I recall there were no similar suits outside the US

I never understood the consumer fraud angle. Can people in the US sue authors who have ghostwriters writing their books? Or Audrey Hepburn for not singing in My Fair Lady? Someone recently tried to sue a film company because they've left actress Ana de Armas in the trailer for a film, Yesterday, in which all of her scenes were cut, to no avail.

I assume the distinction you point out "explicitly crediting the models as vocalists on the album" was the big mistake made by the record company. But as far as I recall there were no similar suits outside the US.

I never understood the consumer fraud angle. Can people in the US sue authors who have ghostwriters writing their books? Or Audrey Hepburn for not singing in My Fair Lady? Someone recently tried to sue a film company because they've left actress Ana de Armas in the trailer for a film, Yesterday, in which all of her scenes were cut, to no avail.

I assume the distinction you point out "explicitly crediting the models as vocalists on the album" was the big mistake made by the record company. But as far as I recall there were no similar suits outside the US.

Explicitly crediting the models as the vocalists on the album and then them accepting the Grammy as the vocalists made the difference. To my knowledge, the vocalist who sang for Audrey in the movie was credited and consumers purchasing the soundtrack would be able to see that credit.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

The real problem with the Menendez brothers is that Lyle looks like an Erik and Erik looks like a Lyle.

 

[Artur]

Their only „crime” was becoming popular in The United States. If they remained popular only in Europe and Australia nobody would have cared like nobody cared for the Black Box scandal.

 

[Monzo]

The British music scene had its own Milli Vanilli in Robson & Jerome. Although their debut album went six times platinum and its successor four times platinum, nobody seemed to mind that they didn't sing (or barely sang) on the records. Influential men were also involved behind the scenes: Simon Cowell, as well as Mike Stock and Matt Aitken of Stock Aitken Waterman. None of those responsible for the fraud suffered any damage, why not? Did most people realize that Robson & Jerome's version of Unchained Melody on Soldier, Soldier sounded so different from the single version (which wasn't released until six months later) that they couldn't possibly have sung it themselves? And did record buyers simply indulge in the fantasy that Robson & Jerome, these good friends, were just having fun lip-syncing?

The Wild True Story of the '90s Pop Duo Featuring Robson Green & Jerome Flynn

The 'Grantchester' and 'Game of Thrones' favorites had an outrageously successful detour as Robson & Jerome, a cover band signed by Simon Cowell.

www.tvinsider.com

Robson & Jerome now - drink battle, monk life and Game of Thrones 'feud'

After '90s pop duo Robson & Jerome called it quits on their music careers, the pair went on separate paths - but still remain good friends and think highly of each other

www.mirror.co.uk

Robson & Jerome was bad karma, says Green

Robson Green is unlikely to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Robson & Jerome this year.

www.digitalspy.com

 

[AndyB2008]

The British music scene had its own Milli Vanilli in Robson & Jerome. Although their debut album went six times platinum and its successor four times platinum, nobody seemed to mind that they didn't sing (or barely sang) on the records. Influential men were also involved behind the scenes: Simon Cowell, as well as Mike Stock and Matt Aitken of Stock Aitken Waterman. None of those responsible for the fraud suffered any damage, why not? Did most people realize that Robson & Jerome's version of Unchained Melody on Soldier, Soldier sounded so different from the single version (which wasn't released until six months later) that they couldn't possibly have sung it themselves? And did record buyers simply indulge in the fantasy that Robson & Jerome, these good friends, were just having fun lip-syncing?

The Wild True Story of the '90s Pop Duo Featuring Robson Green & Jerome Flynn

The 'Grantchester' and 'Game of Thrones' favorites had an outrageously successful detour as Robson & Jerome, a cover band signed by Simon Cowell.

www.tvinsider.com

Robson & Jerome now - drink battle, monk life and Game of Thrones 'feud'

After '90s pop duo Robson & Jerome called it quits on their music careers, the pair went on separate paths - but still remain good friends and think highly of each other

www.mirror.co.uk

Robson & Jerome was bad karma, says Green

Robson Green is unlikely to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Robson & Jerome this year.

www.digitalspy.com

To add Tracy Mann didn't sing anything on the TV series Sweet and Sour - it was Deborah Conway actually doing her singing.

Neither did David Reyne (although he sang some backing vocals) nor Sandie Lillingston. No one batted a eyelid over that.

 

[Monzo]

The Dalai Lama won his first Grammy, but what does this information have to do with Milli Vanilli?

Grammy Awards 2026: Dalai Lama creates history, Tibetan spiritual leader wins his first Grammy for spoken-word album

Dalai Lama, in a collab with sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan and sons, for their spoken-album, Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama won in the category of Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording.

www.dnaindia.com

Fab Morvan was nominated for a Grammy with You Know It’s True: The Real Story of Milli Vanilli in the Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording category and lost to the Dalai Lama.

Fab Morvan was present at the Grammy Awards ceremony and was also featured in the media during the lead-up to the event.

How Fab Morvan of Milli Vanilli mounted one of the greatest comebacks in Grammy history

Can Fab Morvan of Milli Vanilli find redemption at the Grammys in the audiobook category, decades after the Recording Academy revoked his duo's best new artist award?

www.latimes.com

Milli Vanilli’s Fab Morvan on his lip-syncing downfall and Grammys comeback: ‘The truth will set you free’

Three decades after having his Grammy rescinded as part of the notorious duo, he is a nominee once more, for the audiobook of his unflinching memoir. ‘I had to tell my story,’ he says

www.theguardian.com

 

[Monzo]

Following the death of producer Frank Farian, it seemed as though Fab Morvan and The Real Milli Vanilli had managed to coexist peacefully; yet there is someone who has reignited the conflict: Donald Trump.

Is Milli Vanilli Playing ‘Freedom 250’ or Not? It Depends Which of the Two Competing ‘Real’ Milli Vanillis You Ask … but Fab Morvan Says He’s Doing It

Conflicting reports have arisen over whether Milli Vanilli is playing the 'Freedom 250' festival or not. It turns out there are competing versions.

variety.com

 

[CeeCee72]

I was shocked to learn that ONE version of Milli Vanilli was still around, much less two versions!