I opened up for them once as a solo act in a tent in Holland, he could hardly stand up but the girls were very professional and saved the day along with the backing tracks xxx
The producer Frank Farian used the same concept years later when he started a group called Milli Vanilli: the guys ( two dancers from Munich) lipsinked, they became very big even in the US, they got a Grammy. And then it all came down when they found out about it. Rob, one of the dancers died years ago because of drugs. Its a tragic story...Frank Farian once said: the music and singing was done by himself and a bunch of middle aged German/American guys, that nobody wanted to see performing, so he started the concept of letting attractive people lipsink... by the way: the women in Boney M were the real singers, they are from the Caribean, the male dancer Rob was Dutch.
This brings back memories. I was 10 when this came out. This is a song that I would anticipate coming on the radio and when it came on would sing along. Apparently it was a German priducer guy who put it together. It wasn't organic and that's why it didn't last.
Well the Girls actually really sung. Only the dude in the Band lip syncing. Frank Farian did the male voice. He was basically the mastermind behind the Band.
The girls did sing, at least 2 of the 3. It was just him that was mainly a dancer/performer. He didn't have much lyrics anyway. But the 3 women were equal members of the band, not background vocalists. These were the background vocalists 2:52
yeah this is definitely along the Bonnie and Clyde style scenario lol ...theres a movie called the Grissom Gang from 1971 where the family are Al Gangstas lol and the Mom is the Boss ! ...i keep thinking of Ma Baker when i see that movie ! lol
As silly and quirky as the songs were, the dance floors filled instantly the moment the DJ dropped them. The beat was awesome. I didn't know what the band looked like until years later, given there was no internet or on demand TV. In addition, unless you had the record, there was no way to listen old songs until Napster came along.
Where did you hear them? In the US or other countries? If the US, in a disco? Because nobody I knew every heard of them at the time (I didn't hang with the disco crowd). The only way I ever heard them was my girlfriend visited Hong Kong and everyone there thought she knew them because she was American. She brought home a cassette of them (with Rasputin) and we all thought it was ridiculously funny.
@izzonj I heard them in Discos in the US around 1978 to 80, namely New Buffalo Michigan and Chicago. The drinking age was 18 in Michigan, and my friends and I would travel over the state border from Indiana to dance and party. Yes, they were primarily discotheque hits, although they appeared on America Bandstand and Soul Train on Saturday mornings.
It's pronounced Bone-ee, not Bonny. The song is based on Ma Barker and her sons who were real-life criminals in the 1910s through the 30s when their most famous crimes took place. The German producer of Boney M also created the infamous duo Milli Vanilli who had 3 number one and 2 other top-5 songs all on their debut album. They won Grammy award for Best New Artist but were later found to be lipsynching and not the actual singers. They had to give the award back and their career died after that.
Biz,...their Band Name is pronounced Bow knee 'em. Lol Yeah, the Guy was lipsyncing. Similar to the group Milli Vanilli. But that's a whole n'other story. They were really Fun though. Lady Gaga sampled that "ma ma ma ma" part, in Poker Face!
Ok, but he was just 1 member of the group. The women weren't background singers, they were the other 3 (equal) members in the band. And at least 2 of them actually recorded the main parts - the producer didn't replace their voices. So, this band wasn't a sham. It was just the dancer/performer (who didn't have much lyrics anyway) that couldn't sing.
I opened up for them once as a solo act in a tent in Holland, he could hardly stand up but the girls were very professional and saved the day along with the backing tracks xxx
they were something else, weren't they! Grew up to their music, Mom used to play it on cassette for us :)
The producer Frank Farian used the same concept years later when he started a group called Milli Vanilli: the guys ( two dancers from Munich) lipsinked, they became very big even in the US, they got a Grammy. And then it all came down when they found out about it. Rob, one of the dancers died years ago because of drugs. Its a tragic story...Frank Farian once said: the music and singing was done by himself and a bunch of middle aged German/American guys, that nobody wanted to see performing, so he started the concept of letting attractive people lipsink... by the way: the women in Boney M were the real singers, they are from the Caribean, the male dancer Rob was Dutch.
Frank Farian was a genius. He sang the guy's part.
This brings back memories. I was 10 when this came out. This is a song that I would anticipate coming on the radio and when it came on would sing along. Apparently it was a German priducer guy who put it together. It wasn't organic and that's why it didn't last.
Roberto (Bobby) Alfonso Ferrell comes from San Nicholaas, Aruba! My home island. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Farrell
Well the Girls actually really sung. Only the dude in the Band lip syncing. Frank Farian did the male voice. He was basically the mastermind behind the Band.
Man it is impossible to hear this and not bop to the song... i love this band since i was a kid
The girls did sing, at least 2 of the 3. It was just him that was mainly a dancer/performer. He didn't have much lyrics anyway. But the 3 women were equal members of the band, not background vocalists.
These were the background vocalists 2:52
True. The Girls really sung. 2 in Studio and all 3 sung live. Only Bobby lip sync
André 3000 (HEY YA)Dancing...
Groovy Funky
Bravo 👏👏👏
yeah this is definitely along the Bonnie and Clyde style scenario lol ...theres a movie called the Grissom Gang from 1971 where the family are Al Gangstas lol and the Mom is the Boss ! ...i keep thinking of Ma Baker when i see that movie ! lol
Gotta do Rasputin next my funky brother! 💪🏼🕺
He did do Rasputin some time ago.
As silly and quirky as the songs were, the dance floors filled instantly the moment the DJ dropped them. The beat was awesome. I didn't know what the band looked like until years later, given there was no internet or on demand TV. In addition, unless you had the record, there was no way to listen old songs until Napster came along.
Where did you hear them? In the US or other countries? If the US, in a disco? Because nobody I knew every heard of them at the time (I didn't hang with the disco crowd). The only way I ever heard them was my girlfriend visited Hong Kong and everyone there thought she knew them because she was American. She brought home a cassette of them (with Rasputin) and we all thought it was ridiculously funny.
@izzonj I heard them in Discos in the US around 1978 to 80, namely New Buffalo Michigan and Chicago. The drinking age was 18 in Michigan, and my friends and I would travel over the state border from Indiana to dance and party. Yes, they were primarily discotheque hits, although they appeared on America Bandstand and Soul Train on Saturday mornings.
Very interesting, I enjoyed that. Thanks Biz
lol they are fun to watch, good song too
Here
It's pronounced Bone-ee, not Bonny. The song is based on Ma Barker and her sons who were real-life criminals in the 1910s through the 30s when their most famous crimes took place. The German producer of Boney M also created the infamous duo Milli Vanilli who had 3 number one and 2 other top-5 songs all on their debut album. They won Grammy award for Best New Artist but were later found to be lipsynching and not the actual singers. They had to give the award back and their career died after that.
Biz,...their Band Name is pronounced Bow knee 'em. Lol
Yeah, the Guy was lipsyncing. Similar to the group Milli Vanilli.
But that's a whole n'other story.
They were really Fun though.
Lady Gaga sampled that "ma ma ma ma" part, in Poker Face!
Ok, but he was just 1 member of the group. The women weren't background singers, they were the other 3 (equal) members in the band. And at least 2 of them actually recorded the main parts - the producer didn't replace their voices.
So, this band wasn't a sham. It was just the dancer/performer (who didn't have much lyrics anyway) that couldn't sing.
Yeah, I think Ma' Baker was a real character. They were a bank robbing family, from what I understand.