Lies (En Vogue song)

"Lies" is a song from American R&B/pop group En Vogue. It is the second single from their debut hit album, Born to Sing. Written and produced by Thomas McElroy and Denzil Foster, it became the group's second single to top the Billboard R&B singles chart. It peaked at number thirty-eight and was also their second US Billboard Hot 100 top 40 hit.^[2]

"Lies"
U.S. 12-inch vinyl single
Single by En Vogue
from the album Born to Sing
Released	June 27, 1990
Recorded	October–November 1989 (vocals)[1] May 1990 (remix)
Studio	Can Am Studios, CA
Genre	R&B dance-pop new jack swing
Length	4:16 (LP Mix) 4:14 (Avant Garde Remix Edit)
Label	Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Denzil Foster Thomas McElroy En Vogue
Producer(s)	Denzil Foster Thomas McElroy
En Vogue singles chronology
"Hold On" (1990) "Lies" (1990) "You Don't Have to Worry" (1990)
Music video
"Lies" on YouTube

The song is led by Dawn Robinson and Cindy Herron with ad libs from Maxine Jones and Terry Ellis on the ending vamp.

Critical reception

Matthew Hocter from Albumism noted Robinson’s "incredible vocals coupled with the group’s brilliant interplay and that fresh new jill swing sound of the ‘90s."^[3] AllMusic editor Jose F. Promis stated that the song "proved that all members of the quartet were equally adept at handling lead vocals."^[4] Bill Coleman from Billboard wrote that it "continues to emphasize sparkling harmonizing, though swinging instrumental base grooves hard." He noted that it "sounds like another major hit."^[5]

David Giles from Music Week deemed it "a more commercial track", adding, "far much of the time it sounds like a Diana Ross record, until an almost angry rap cuts in towards the end."^[6] A reviewer from The Network Forty described it as a "sophomore" single.^[7] Edward Hill from The Plain Dealer noted that it "shuffles with the Soul II Soul technique."^[8] William Shaw from Smash Hits said the track has "a brilliant, wriggly funk rhythm made up of a great chunky mixture of parping sounds and chugging guitars and it's also got those trademark En Vogue warbling harmonies."^[9]

Music video

A black-and-white music video was produced to promote the single, directed by David Kellogg. It was later published on En Vogue's official YouTube channel in April 2015. The video has amassed more than 597,000 views as of October 2021.^[10]

Track listings and formats

US 12"Vinyl Single "Lies" (The Extended Avant Garde Remix) — 5:55 "Lies" (LP Mix) — 4:16 "Lies" (Extended Funky Remix) — 5:59 "Lies" (Kwame's Bonega Remix) — 4:40

Germany CD Maxi-Single "Lies" (The Avant Garde Funky Remix) — 4:15 "Lies" (Extended Funky Remix) — 5:59 "Lies" (The Extended Avant Garde Remix) — 5:42 "Lies" (LP Version) — 3:50

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1990) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[11] 156 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[12] 11 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] 42 UK Singles (OCC)[14] 44 US Billboard Hot 100[15] 38 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[16] 1 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[17] 18 US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[18] 7

Year-end charts Chart (1990) Position US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[19] 15

See also

• R&B number-one hits of 1990 (USA)

References

1. En Vogue "Lies": Producers: Denzil Foster, Thomas McElroy. Copyright Encyclopedia
2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 189.
3. Hocter, Matthew (April 2, 2020). "En Vogue's Debut Album 'Born To Sing' Turns 30: Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
4. Promis, Jose F. "En Vogue - Born to Sing". AllMusic. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
5. Coleman, Bill (August 18, 1990). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 77. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
6. Giles, David (July 21, 1990). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 19. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
7. "Top 40: Music Meeting" (PDF). The Network Forty. August 10, 1990. p. 30. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
8. Hill, Edward (May 4, 1990). "En Vogue can wail with best girl groups". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
9. Shaw, William (July 11, 1990). "Review: Singles". Smash Hits. No. 303. p. 45. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
10. "En Vogue - Lies (Official Music Video)". YouTube. April 8, 2015. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
11. "En Vogue ARIA chart history". ARIA. Retrieved July 20, 2024 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
12. "En Vogue – Lies". top40.nl. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
13. "En Vogue – Lies" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
14. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
15. "En Vogue Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
16. "En Vogue Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
17. "En Vogue Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
18. "En Vogue Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
19. "R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1990". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2018.