ZDF Online: How do you explain from today’s point of view the phenomenal success of Boney M.?

Liz Mitchell: “My explanation for the continuing success is profound, maybe that is not anyone’s business. But I think, we are spiritual human beings and our capabilities result from the light that we carry in ourselves. How good someone did something is proven in the result. Here you can establish if you felt good and were honest and true. The music of Boney M. between 1976 and 1982 shows a big devotion to the heart and soul. Because the energy has the power that comes from the music and is very clear. It is a warm light that I still sense today when I sing these songs. We were the descendants of the Flower Power generation and we took our message of Peace, Love and Harmony into a new era. Disco music stands for happiness and fun.

ZDF Online: How was it for you when the success disappeared in the nineties?

Liz Mitchell: In the ‘90’s hip-hop and rapmusic became very popular. The melodies that move the soul weren’t played anymore. People became mad. They didn’t protest, they attacked. The younger generation of the black community suddenly woke up in a world of injustice. They didn’t want to hold back no longer and keep their mouth shut. The only way to express themselves was through music.  That became very much response and became very popular, and it is still today. Even when disco music has revived among people who want happiness and fun. Because most rap music is about pain and the things that go wrong in the world.

ZDF Online: What kind of feeling did this give you personally?

Liz Mitchell: I didn’t notice the break up very much because in the ‘90’s we were still in the music charts presented. We did notice a difference in the early eighties with the rise of punk/new wave music. People didn’t want to look beautiful anymore, which was a big contrast to disco music. But this trend didn’t last very long, maybe four years. Then disco and dance music made its return.

ZDF Online: Through the years you have become a very religious person. Are there Boney M. songs you don’t want to sing anymore?

Liz Mitchell: Well… not really. Our songs weren’t disrespectful our offensive to God. The only song I refused to sing was in 1985, “Bang Bang Lulu”, a production of Frank Farian. That was a commercial Caribbean song similar like “Brown Girl In The Ring”, but with offensive lyrics for women, so I didn’t want to sing it. I’m grateful though that today I still can sing the songs of Boney M. without compunction. They are all happy songs and free of sin.

ZDF Online: Nowadays you tour the world with a new line up of Boney M. Why did it go wrong with the original line up?

That’s the only thing that I would change if I had the possibility to change. But I don’t regret anything, because the most experiences were good, even the bad. It was an experience for me to work with a group that couldn’t sing. Today I would have been cleverer, but back then I didn’t know better. I was trapped in a contractual connection in which people weren’t able to keep their promises. Because the other band members presented themselves as singers, although they couldn’t sing. This was very hard, because they were signed before we scored our first hit. I couldn’t image that they couldn’t sing, but it proved they couldn’t keep a note.
Our music was a gift of God and reached worldwide the hearts of the fans. But the centre of Boney M. was based on a lie, and that is a shame. I wish I could change this. It’s not fun to talk about this; I’d rather think of my work with Boney M. on something more deep and profound, because for me it felt like that. I gave all I have, and I have a good gift, but sadly there was always a bad one right beside me.  If I could turn back the time I would openly have said; “let the world know that you’re no singers but only dancers”.


ZDF Online: Despite all this you didn’t want to give up Boney M……

If you have a baby, you don’t give up on it. Even when you were untrue during your marriage, it will always be your baby. This is my music. I sang it; not Bobby Farrell, not Maizie Williams. Marcia Barrett did sing, and Marcia’s songs are just as important to her as my songs are to me. They are my soul.

ZDF Online: As Liz Mitchell you just recorded “Let It Be” of The Beatles. Why exactly did you pick this particular song?

I dreamed this song, and I woke up with the melody of this song. I thought, “This is a message, a proposal from the angels or someone who guides someone in daily life”. So I went into the studio and sang this song without accompaniment; that was added later. I think this version became very beautiful.

Interview: Kathrin Hedtke / ZDF Online 2005
Translation: Casper Janssen / Official Liz Mitchell Fanclub 2005