Girl You Know It's True (song)

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"Girl You Know It's True"
Girl You Know Its True.jpg
Single by Milli Vanilli
from the album All or Nothing and Girl You Know It's True
B-side"Magic Touch"
ReleasedDecember 1988
Recorded1988
Genre
Length3:58
LabelHansa
Arista
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Frank Farian
Milli Vanilli singles chronology
"Girl You Know It's True"
(1988) 		"Baby Don't Forget My Number"
(1988)
Music video
"Girl You Know It's True" on YouTube

"Girl You Know It's True" is a song by Maryland-based group Numarx, later made internationally famed by German dance-pop group Milli Vanilli. Released as the lead single from Milli Vanilli's European debut album, All or Nothing, and the duo's American debut album, Girl You Know It's True, the song peaked at number one on the German Singles Chart, number two in the United States and number three in the United Kingdom, becoming one of Milli Vanilli's most successful singles.

Background[]

The song was written by Bill Pettaway Jr., Sean "DJ Spen" Spencer, Kevin Liles, Rodney "Kool Rod" Holloman (often misspelled "Hollaman" on single/album credits)[1][2][3][4] and Ky Adeyemo,[5] most of whom were members of the Baltimore, Maryland-based group Numarx, who first recorded the song.

Started by DJ Spen and featuring Kool Rod as the original MC,[1] Numarx was a collective of local DJs who formed a "crew" in the early 1980s, originally consisting of four members. The group expanded to five in the mid-1980s with the addition of Liles as fellow MC. In 1987, having already released material during their early years, Numarx released the single "Rhymes So Def", which received national airplay at the time.[1] The follow-up single to this minor hit was "Girl You Know It's True".

The idea for the song began when the group (Numarx) wrote a rap to a track composed by local musician/songwriter Bill Pettaway. Liles and Holloman wrote the words and Spencer made the beat. The song was recorded at Studio Records in Oxon Hill, Maryland - just outside of Washington, DC. Bill Pettaway, an Annapolis resident was working as a gas station attendant at the time[5][6] also wrote songs and played guitar on the side.[7] Pettaway, along with Numarx members Spencer, Liles, and Holloman continued to craft the tune. In addition, then-current Starpoint member Kayode "Ky" Adeyemo joined in, co-writing and co-producing the song with Pettaway. Adeyemo played keyboards and wrote the infectious “Ooh Ooh Ooh” hook for the song.[3] Kevin Liles and Kool Rod are the lead vocalists rhyming on the record with Spencer providing some background vocals. However, the most prominent vocalist on the hook and backing vocals of the song is Charles "Ooh Oh Ooh" Christopher. Charles was friends with Pettaway, Adeyemo, and Starpoint keyboardist George Phillips and became the voice that everyone was singing along with. Although the song did not match the success of "Rhymes So Def" in America, "Girl You Know It's True" did connect with audiences on the other side of the Atlantic, becoming a popular hit in the German clubs.[8] It was here that Milli Vanilli producer Frank Farian likely first heard the tune.

Meanwhile, the Numarx would later include their version of "Girl You Know It's True" on their lone album, Our Time Has Come, released in 1988.[9] The group formed a small independent record label, the following year, called Marx Brothers Records releasing several regional hits including “Do It Good”, which was later remixed by Basement Boys and became a dance music hit. The group disbanded in the early 90s. DJ Spen went on to become an on-air radio personality in Baltimore. He later joined the Baltimore-based powerhouse dance music production outfit Basement Boys that produced hit dance music numbers for Michael Jackson, Crystal Waters, Toni Braxton, and Ultra Nate’. He is now a world-renowned DJ that runs an independent dance music label and production company, Quantize Recordings. After working as a local music promoter on the east coast, Liles went on to work for Def Jam Recordings, where he eventually worked his way to the role of President. He is currently CEO of 300 Entertainment in New York, which produces and manages some of the biggest names in R&B and hip hop music. Pettaway was later credited with discovering multi-platinum-selling singer Toni Braxton and has gone on to prominence as a session guitarist for Timbaland[10] and other artists.

Milli Vanilli version[]

The Milli Vanilli version of "Girl You Know It's True", recorded at Frank Farian's FAR studios in Rosbach, Germany in the spring of 1988, started with only a drum track and two female vocalists, Linda Rocco and Jodie Rocco, American twin sisters living in Germany and successful in the music industry. Frank asked the girls to listen to the Numarx version so they would know what to sing. The record was on a turntable in the studio and Frank played the vocal parts for the girls. There was only the drum track to follow, making the Rocco twins were the first vocals on the track.[citation needed][clarification needed]

The New York City subway remix of the song features samples from several pop and R&B artists who were popular in the 80's. These include Flavor Flav's signature "Yeah, boyyy" phrase and a piece from Dennis Edwards' 1984 song "Don't Look Any Further."

Chart performance[]

"Girl You Know It's True" was a massive success in the United States, and peaked at No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending 1 April 1989.[11] It became the first of five Top 5 singles for Milli Vanilli and spent a total of 26 weeks on the chart.

In popular culture[]

Milli Vanilli made a cameo appearance performing the song in an episode of NBC's Saturday-morning cartoon The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, based on the video game. The episode, entitled "Kootie Pie Rocks", aired on 27 October 1990. After the lip-syncing scandal broke out the following month, the episode was edited to replace the Milli Vanilli songs featured in the episode ("Girl You Know It's True" and "Blame It On The Rain") with a generic pop instrumental, and specific references and jabs at these songs were removed. However, the group themselves are still mentioned by name.[citation needed]

In 2018, the song was featured in an advert for Fridge Raiders.[12]

Impact[]

South Korean singer Seo Taiji cited that Milli Vanilli is one of his influences. The melody of Seo Taiji and Boys' 1992 signature hit, I Know is strikingly similar Seo briefly rapped Fab Morvan's part in the demo version of the song, the similarities between the two songs led to the accusation of alleged plagiarism.[citation needed]

Track listings[]

12" maxi - Australia, New Zealand, UK
  1. "Girl You Know It's True" (NY Subway Mix) - 8:07
  2. "Girl You Know It's True" (Balearic Mix) - 6:24
  3. "Magic Touch" - 3:47
12" maxi - Canada, U.S.
  1. "Girl You Know It's True" (Super Club Mix) — 8:33
  2. "Girl You Know It's True" (G Spot Remix Beats) — 6:22
  3. "Girl You Know It's True" (Single Version) — 3:48
  4. "Girl You Know It's True" (NYC Subway Mix) — 8:07
  5. "Magic Touch" — 3:47
12" maxi - Germany, UK
  1. "Girl You Know It's True" (Super Club Mix) — 8:49
  2. "Girl You Know It's True" (Radio Mix) — 4:14
  3. "Magic Touch" — 3:47
7" single
  1. "Girl You Know It's True" — 4:14
  2. "Magic Touch" — 3:47
7" single - UK 2nd issue, Sweden
  1. "Girl You Know It's True" (NYC Subway Mix Edit/Summer '88 Mix) - 4:00
  2. "Magic Touch" - 3:47

Charts and certifications[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c Numarx biography @Fifthelementonine.com Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  2. ^ Rod Holloman@Twitter (spelled "Holloman" here) Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  3. ^ a b Numarx- "Girl You Know It's True" (1987) single credits. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  4. ^ Rodney Hollaman (sic) @Discogs.com Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  5. ^ a b Milli Vanilli: Baby Don't Forget My Number
  6. ^ Corey, Mary (1990). "Bill Pettaway: A gas station attendant hanging out with..." The Baltimore Sun December 16, 1990. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  7. ^ Bill Pettaway @yourockguitar.com Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  8. ^ "Girl You Know It's True" by Milli Vanilli @Songfacts.com Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  9. ^ Numarx - Our Time Has Come @Discogs.com Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  10. ^ "Timbalands (sic) Secret Weapon: Bill Pettaway" Retrieved 16 August 2015
  11. ^ "Billboard Hot 100 Archives". billboard.com. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  12. ^ "Protein-Snacking Woman Gets a Taste for Power in Bold Fridge Raiders Ad | LBBOnline".
  13. ^ "Milli Vanilli – Girl You Know It's True" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  14. ^ "Milli Vanilli – Girl You Know It's True" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  15. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  16. ^ "Milli Vanilli – Girl You Know It's True" (in French). Les classement single.
  17. ^ "Top 3 Singles in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. 1 January 1989. p. 34. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  18. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 10 (25. nóvember 1988)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir. Retrieved 23 July 2018. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  19. ^ Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie Archived 3 June 2009 at WebCite (Retrieved 26 February 2008)
  20. ^ "Hit Parade Italia - Indice per Anno: 1988".
  21. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Milli Vanilli" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  22. ^ "Milli Vanilli – Girl You Know It's True" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  23. ^ "Milli Vanilli – Girl You Know It's True". VG-lista.
  24. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  25. ^ "Milli Vanilli – Girl You Know It's True". Singles Top 100.
  26. ^ "Milli Vanilli – Girl You Know It's True". Swiss Singles Chart.
  27. ^ UK Singles Chart Official Charts Company (Retrieved 5 August 2008)
  28. ^ "Milli Vanilli Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  29. ^ a b c d Billboard Allmusic.com (Retrieved 26 February 2008)
  30. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Milli Vanilli – Girl You Know It's True". GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  31. ^ "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 2014-06-17". Imgur. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  32. ^ "Milli Vanilli – Girl You Know It's True". Top 40 Singles.
  33. ^ 1988 Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at Archived 22 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved 5 August 2008)
  34. ^ "1988 Belgian Flanders Singles Chart" (in Dutch). ultratop.be. Archived from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  35. ^ "Top Singles - Volume 51, No. 8, December 23, 1989". RPM. 23 December 1999. Archived from the original on 7 September 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  36. ^ "1988 Year End Eurocharts" (PDF). Music & Media. 1 January 1988. p. 30. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  37. ^ 1988 Swiss Singles Chart Hitparade.ch Archived 7 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved 5 August 2008)
  38. ^ "1989 The Year in Music: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 101 no. 51. 23 December 1989. p. Y-22.
  39. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1989".
  40. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mount Martha, Melbourne, Victoria: Moonlight Publishing.
  41. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Milli Vanilli – Girl You Know It's True". Music Canada. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  42. ^ "InfoDisc : Les Certifications depuis 1973". Institut français d'opinion publique (in French). Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  43. ^ InfoDisc : Les Meilleures Ventes "Tout Temps" de 45 T. / Singles / Téléchargement at the Wayback Machine (archived 7 March 2020)
  44. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Milli Vanilli; 'Girl You Know It's True')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  45. ^ Scapolo, Dean (2007). The Complete New Zealand Music Charts: 1966–2006. Maurienne House. ISBN 978-1-877443-00-8.
  46. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  47. ^ "British single certifications – Milli Vanilli – Girl You Know Its True". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 6 January 2021.Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Girl You Know Its True in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  48. ^ "American single certifications – Milli Vanilli – Girl You Know Its True". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
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