Blame It On The Lip Sync

**nrgbeat** · October 25th, 2004, 08:54 AM

After the Milli Vanilli scandal of the early 90's, did Arista send refunds to consumers or were they allowed to return their albums to the store for a refund?

I wondered how this whole issue was resolved.

**Nano** · October 25th, 2004, 01:57 PM

LOL

That was a good one! :lol: :lol: :lol:

**nrgbeat** · October 25th, 2004, 04:55 PM

No seriously, I seem to remember that a lot of angry people ended up suing Arista and I wondered if they came to a resolution.

**buckaroo** · October 26th, 2004, 09:28 AM

I think you're right actually. I vaguely recall that customers were offered the option of a refund, if they returned their copies to the shop, because of the ensuing uproar over the group.

**Videoskooter** · October 26th, 2004, 03:01 PM

OMG the Vanilli-Thing!

Frank Farian has made dozens of records like that. He's the vocalist on Boney M-songs and not Bobby Farell.

I never liked Silly Vanilly but I never understood why people were making such a fuzz about the lip sync. Even Plastic Bertrand didn't sing one note on "Ca plaine pour moi"-did people ask a refund for that one??? (it was a worldhit too)

Let's all be happy and make love

(Yes, I fake orgasms too and my girlfriend never asks financial compensation, so...)

**Nano** · October 26th, 2004, 04:56 PM

What would be the point for a refund anyway? They suddenly stopped liking the record?
Did they buy it for the music or because of those guy's faces? "Girl you'll know it's true" (or whatever it's called) is still a good song and very well produced.

**Nano** · October 26th, 2004, 05:02 PM

Wait, we could take this premise to the movies. Imagine the long treads of offended audience members with mag articles and "making of" videos in hand:

"Superman" audiences: "hey, that guy doesn't really fly! It's just some FX, I read it on this Starlog edition!"

Any Kim Basinger movie: "hey, those aren't Kim's tits! Look at this National Enquirer issue!"

and on and on...

:D

**buckaroo** · October 27th, 2004, 10:19 AM

Hey!! I bought Michael Jackson's albums when he was black. Now he's white I wanna refund...PDQ!!!
:lol: :lol: :lol:

**BrunoRepublic** · October 27th, 2004, 01:50 PM

IMO, the outcry over Milli Vanilli simply proved what Frank knew all along: that with pop, image matters more than music. The records didn't suddenly change overnight, but when people found out that the hip guys on the cover weren't behind it, they suddenly didn't like it.

**Videoskooter** · November 5th, 2004, 08:15 PM

Interesting article on the contemporary music-scene:

OMG, they are cheatin', all of them!!!

<DEAD LINK REMOVED>

**judydoggie** · November 7th, 2004, 09:25 PM

I'd have thought with the number of pros who post on this site it wouldn't be a surprise that so many artists use tracks.

When Madonna appeared on the bill at the Red Parrot in 1981 with George Clinton, The Parliament Funkadelic, and Planet Patrol, she sang her first big hit, "Holiday." She performed to a track. Her mike was dead 'cept for "hello-goodbye."

I'd hazard a guess that Sir Elton John (mentioned in the article linked above) is right, if she was doing it that early in her career.

Rock and pop singers have it so much easier than jazz singers. Could you imagine Diana Krall doing a show to a track?? But then, her shows aren't choreographed either (breath-taking choreography being the no. 1 reason singers use recordings these days).

Paul - a.k.a. Judydoggie

**Videoskooter** · November 8th, 2004, 02:35 PM

Last week Mr. James Brown gave a big interview here and the man was mad!

He said that most of the artists nowadays don't deliver the goods anymore. They are lazy and don't have respect for their public when they constantly fake it.

Mr. Brown, 70something and still singing, playing and dancing all the way live.

Respect!

**Bernie** · November 8th, 2004, 03:03 PM

Even though James Brown can come across as a little crazy (watch the Barbara Walers(?) interview of a few years back) I only have the deepest of respect for him as a performer. He da man!

**neonlights** · November 12th, 2004, 06:57 PM

I totally agree re: James Brown. Despite some of his recent troubles, I have the greatest respect for him as an entertainer. It blows my mind that he's still out there touring and performing live like he's been doing for 40+ years now... so I can understand his frustration with those people who get away with the live lipsync.

I don't have many of his records, but I've been buying up a few lately. I also got tickets to his show here on Dec. 8th as part of his Canadian tour.. I can't wait to see him!