Bobby Farrell is no more
December 30, 2010 4:27 AM   Subscribe

One of the 'Dutch' (actually from Aruba and the band from Germany) most prided disco icons, Bobby Farrell, frontman of Boney M., passed away in st. Petersburg. A Crazy Dancer who arguably never got any real money for his success which was the story for this commercial. Most recent appearance of Boney M., a creation of Frank Farian (previously) was probably Ma Baker's sample in Lady GaGa's Pokerface.
posted by stFire (24 comments total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
Euro disco!

Farewell Bobby.
posted by joost de vries at 4:37 AM on December 30, 2010


Another roadside diner on the highway of my childhood, gone.

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posted by New England Cultist at 4:52 AM on December 30, 2010 [3 favorites]


Here he is in 2005: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaOKJ38VRTQ showing he still had the moves.
posted by titus-g at 4:56 AM on December 30, 2010 [1 favorite]


Bummer, I was recently enjoying the 100 different versions of Rasputin.
posted by beerbajay at 5:04 AM on December 30, 2010 [1 favorite]




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posted by Marla Singer at 6:41 AM on December 30, 2010


Is it the "Ma-ma-ma-ma?" Is that the sample? Huh. I had no idea that was from something else.
posted by arcticwoman at 7:03 AM on December 30, 2010


RIP Daddy Cool
posted by PenDevil at 7:28 AM on December 30, 2010


The "freeze I'm Ma Baker, now put your hands in the air 'n gimme all your money" opening bit was on an 808 state tape I had ages ago, I can't remember if it was the full song or if 808 state (& whomever else I had on that tape) actually sampled it. It is, and always will be, my favorite song-opening.

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posted by dabitch at 7:33 AM on December 30, 2010


Boney M (along with ABBA) were the only two bands my mom listened to that weren't singing in Tamil. I listened to Boney M so much when I was small.

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posted by chunking express at 7:33 AM on December 30, 2010 [3 favorites]


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posted by seawallrunner at 8:12 AM on December 30, 2010


oh god what no

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posted by elizardbits at 8:25 AM on December 30, 2010


I'm still surprised when I see black people speaking in German accents.
posted by I_pity_the_fool at 8:30 AM on December 30, 2010


Boney M and Abba were the first two bands I was aware of growing up in the early 70s as an expat in Libya, and I always thought Boney M were way cooler. Their simple and super catchy tunes still sound quite attractive to little children.
posted by Dragonness at 8:36 AM on December 30, 2010


Correction, late 70s.
posted by Dragonness at 8:41 AM on December 30, 2010


One of my first and fondest memories consists of listening to Boney M whilst taking a bath after a long day at the beach in Valencia, Spain in the late 70's.

Rest in peace Daddy Cool.
posted by elmono at 10:08 AM on December 30, 2010


As part of a radio station promotion, I spent 48 hours in London in 1977. One of the most interesting things I discovered in my few non-working non-sleeping moments was Boney M. After reassuring myself that it was not a side-effect of jet lag, and their music actually did exist, I held out hope that US radio would discover it for a few years after. It would've made the American Top 40 so much more fun. Sigh.

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posted by oneswellfoop at 10:26 AM on December 30, 2010


Boney M made great, great dance music.

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posted by wemayfreeze at 11:11 AM on December 30, 2010




Boney M and Abba were some of the first bands I was aware of growing up in the mid-70s (76-79) as a USAF brat living in England. Loved 'em both. Surprised (still) that Boney M never made it in America.
posted by davidmsc at 7:34 PM on December 30, 2010


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Rasputin was the first and greatest of many disco-fabulous come-from-behind wtf victories for my karaoke league team. We were all sad to hear of his passing and will have to sing soon in his honor.
posted by immlass at 8:30 PM on December 30, 2010


Crazy like a fool.
posted by Wolof at 11:04 PM on December 30, 2010


I don't see it mentioned here, but the story's going around work how he died on the same date as Rasputin... in the same city as Rasputin!
posted by evilcolonel at 10:56 AM on December 31, 2010 [2 favorites]


A knife, a fork, a bottle and a cork
That's the way they spell New York


Too right, Bobby.
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posted by bwg at 4:53 AM on January 2, 2011


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