Milli Vanilli
Girl You Know It's True

“Echeccazzo,” clarified Robert Pilatus. “I left the stage because, in front of 80,000 spectators and with the track skipping, at the fifth ‘Girl you know-girl you know-girl you know, I decided that enough was enough. It was too much.”

It happened in Duisburg: the best-informed already knew, because you can’t fool those who chew music, but it was on that occasion that the needle started acting up and Rob & Fab, known in the secular realm as Robert Pilatus (r.i.p.) and Fabrice Morvan, more commonly known as Milli Vanilli, were busted. Along with them, the one pulling the strings of the farce: Frank Farian, a long-time producer. He made the outing on behalf of the duo, clarifying that the voices, especially Pilatus’s, were untenable, contrary to the pleasing appearance of the two boys. Rather, the singers were Brad Howell, John Davis, and the sisters Jodie and Linda Rocco, whom Farian re-launched the following year as “The Real Milli Vanilli,” with meager success and limited acclaim.

“Girl You Know It’s True” was cute, fresh. It broke into every chart worldwide. It earned a Grammy, promptly returned four days after the confession.

Moreover, it’s a shame to discuss it now that he's gone, but while Morvan’s voice could be somehow worked on, Pilatus sounded just like a drunk at karaoke. Because, for god's sake, an attempt in the studio was made. See here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QBylIs_lXI

Anyway: Pilatus and Morvan regrouped in 1993 as Rob&Fab, with support from Joss Entertainment, they were funded for a self-titled album in which Morvan sang and Pilatus presumably embodied the role of Mauro Repetto of the sort. 2000 copies were churned out; it was a sensational flop, in short, despite the critics not being entirely opposed, and today you can find it in online stores at exorbitant prices. Needless to say, Joss soon went under.

Over? Not by a long shot. In 1996, Farian revived the project by doing ctrl-alt-delete, covering Pilatus's rehab expenses (he had run into trouble with theft, dealing, and consumption) and called the two boys for a relaunch.

“Back & In Attack” was the proposed title for the resurrection album, scheduled for 1998 and never released because shortly before leaving for the promotional tour, Pilatus took his life, whether accidentally or not no longer matters: the cocktail of alcohol and medication was fatal to him.

Morvan has rebuilt an image with an honest solo career, apologizing at every opportunity and working to improve his voice.

But, to date, of “Girl You Know It’s True” this is what remains: a skipping needle, two returned Grammys, more slag than story, with the world first tearing its clothes and then forgetting.