Boney M was a German disco band, popular during the late 1970's and early 1980's. The band members were Jamaicans and Arubans, but the real mover behind Boney M was the German producer Frank Farian, who actually sings (uncredited) on many of the tracks. Indeed, many of the "band members" were actually dancers and photo models who didn't really sing on the actual albums. Belatedly, I also realized that many Boney M songs are covers. Others have melodies or lyrics pilfered from traditional folk music. But then, who cares? Boney M is sheer entertainment.
Still, I'm intrigued by this band. Many of their songs have unusual lyrics, at least for disco music. What are we to make of "Rivers of Babylon", based on two psalms in the Psalter? Or "Ma Baker", which is about an (apparently fictitious) female robber in the Wild West. Then there's the bizarre song "Rasputin", with the equally bizarre line "Ra-ra-rasputin, Russia's biggest love machine, it was a shame how he carried on". And yes, the song is about *that* Rasputin. When Boney M performed in Moscow, they were explicitly prohibited from singing this particular tune.
And while Boney M weren't religious, as far as I know, they also recorded religious songs about the Virgin Mary or the Fall of Man. It seems Farian was experimenting with different styles and concepts, anything but the usual love-and-heartbreak formula.
I must say I somehow like the result...
This isn't particularly deep music. Indeed, the constant up tempo beat (almost no ballads on this CD!) might get you really annoyed after a while. Still, the strange lyrics and weird choices of subject at least make it possible to pretend that this is something out of the ordinary.
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