Buzz
The legacy of Milli Vanilli, the iconic duo who captivated audiences by lip-syncing to others' voices, has recently been revisited. A heartfelt Paramount+ documentary and a new biopic from Germany, titled Girl, You Know It’s True, have brought their story back into the spotlight. Starring Elan Ben Ali and Tijan Njie, the film, releasing on August 9, delves into the duo's rise and the dark consequences of their deal with a manipulative producer. Rob Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan aren’t alone in their deceptive success—here’s a dive into other Billboard Hot 100 hits that weren’t what they appeared to be.
“He's a Rebel” // The Crystals
The idea of faking success isn’t new. In 1962, the legendary producer Phil Spector deceived both fans and his own group, The Crystals, by taking their track “He’s a Rebel” to the No. 1 position on the charts.
Originally penned by Gene Pitney for The Shirelles, the song was swiftly claimed by Spector for The Crystals after The Shirelles declined. With Vikki Carr’s version already recorded, Spector was determined to release The Crystals’ rendition first. However, The Crystals were touring the East Coast, leaving Spector in California. To solve this, he enlisted The Blossoms, led by Darlene Love, to record the vocals.
The Crystals first discovered the deception when an Ohio radio station played “their” new single. Singer Mary Thomas recalled, “[O]ur mouths fell open. I mean, goodness gracious, but what could we do?” They promptly learned the song to perform it live during their tour.
“Ça Plane Pour Moi” // Plastic Bertrand
Punk, a genre known for its authenticity, seems an unlikely place for lip-syncing. Yet, Roger François Jouret, aka Plastic Bertrand, defied expectations. His 1977 hit “Ça Plane Pour Moi,” a quirky parody of punk, reached No. 47 on the Billboard charts and was even championed by Joe Strummer. For years, Jouret claimed to have sung the track, but a 2010 court case revealed producer Lou Deprijck was the actual vocalist. Jouret argued, “I'm the victim. I wanted to sing, but he wouldn’t let me into the studio.” Despite this, Jouret later showcased his real talent, including representing Luxembourg at the 1987 Eurovision Song Contest.
“Back to the ’60s” // Tight Fit
The second version of Tight Fit dominated the UK charts for three weeks with their rendition of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” Their sole appearance on the Hot 100 came with the 1981 medley “Back to the ’60s,” which blended hits like The Rolling Stones’ “Satisfaction” and Manfred Mann’s “Do Wah Diddy Diddy,” peaking at No. 89. However, when performing on Top of the Pops, the actual session singers remained offstage, while actors like Robert Pereno took the spotlight. Ironically, Emperor Rosko, the DJ behind the song’s voiceover, was the least believable performer.
“Girl, You Know It’s True” // Milli Vanilli
Milli Vanilli’s 1988 debut, “Girl, You Know It’s True,” didn’t quite reach the chart-topping success of their later singles (it peaked at No. 2), but it remains their most infamous deception. During a live performance on the Club MTV tour, the track skipped, exposing their lip-syncing and leading to their Grammy being revoked. The duo later admitted, “[We] made a deal with the devil,” after producer Frank Farian revealed their vocals were performed by studio musicians. Their attempt to rebrand as Rob and Fab failed, and Pilatus tragically died from an overdose in 1998.
“Pump Up the Jam” // Technotronic
Technotronic’s 1989 hit “Pump Up the Jam” (which reached No. 2 on the Hot 100) is a cultural landmark, but many don’t realize the face of the song wasn’t its voice. Rapper Ya Kid K, a group member, was replaced by model Felly Kilingi in the music video and album art. However, creator Jo Bogaert soon revealed Ya Kid K as the true vocalist, just as the group prepared to support Madonna on her Blonde Ambition tour.
“Strike It Up” // Black Box
Black Box’s debut album, Dreamland, exploited two legendary soul singers. They sampled Loleatta Holloway without permission for their hit “Ride on Time” and used Martha Wash’s vocals—known from The Weather Girls—on six tracks, including U.S. hits “Everybody Everybody” and “Strike It Up,” both reaching No. 8. The Italian group not only failed to credit the singers but also presented model Katrin Quinol as the vocalist, despite her not singing a note. Wash, who thought she was recording demos, sued, as did Holloway, and both won compensation.
“Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)” // C&C Music Factory
Martha Wash faced another injustice in the early ‘90s when C&C Music Factory used her demo vocals for their U.S. No. 1 hit without crediting her. In the music video, Zelma Davis lip-synced to Wash’s powerful voice. Wash later recalled the song’s challenging notes, saying, “It was like I was reaching for the ceiling trying to hit the notes.” She pursued legal action, securing a settlement and prompting MTV to add a disclaimer to the video. Her lawsuits led to federal legislation requiring proper vocal credits.
“The Rhythm of the Night” // Corona
Most session singers would likely be upset if their vocals were taken over by someone with little singing ability, but Giovanna Bersola felt relieved. She experienced intense stage fright while recording the 1994 hit “The Rhythm of the Night,” which reached No. 11 on the Hot 100. This made her comfortable with Olga Souza, the lead singer of Corona, stepping in. “It allowed me to remain anonymous,” said Bersola, who later conquered her fears and built a successful career under the name Jenny B. Souza also led “Baby Baby,” the follow-up track at No. 57, originally performed by Sandy Chambers, a Welsh singer in Italy who gained fame after Sunblock’s 2007 version of the song.
“Another Night” // Real McCoy
Founded by German rapper Olaf Jeglitza, Real McCoy debuted in 1989 with a rendition of Technotronic’s “Pump Up the Jam.” By 1994, they achieved international success with their original track “Another Night,” a vibrant dance anthem influenced by Captain Hollywood Project and disco artist Roni Griffith. The song, which climbed to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, combined Jeglitza’s rough vocals with smooth melodies, reportedly sung by Patsy Petersen. However, Petersen was actually lip-syncing to the voice of session singer Karin Kasar.
“Castles in the Sky” // Ian Van Dahl
Ian Van Dahl’s 2001 hit “Castles in the Sky” became a defining trance track of the early 2000s. However, the original vocalist, Martine D. J. Theeuwen, known as Marsha, was absent during performances due to disagreements with band members Erik Vanspauwen and Christophe Chantzis. Instead, dancer Cindy Mertens mimed the vocals in the music video, and later, Annemie Coenen took over as the permanent replacement. Coenen re-recorded the song for the album Ace, adding her unique touch. The track peaked at No. 91 on the Hot 100.
