How the Fly Girls Lost Their Pop

the beat EXCERPT How The Fly Girls Lost Their Pop Opp In David Peisner’s book on Keenen Ivory Wayans’ ’90s sketch show In Living Color, key players recount how a chance run-in with Paula Abdul may have dashed the Fly Girls’ aspirations in music N WAYANS’ MANAGER of a Thin Me,” mocked her Eric Gold’s telling, the troubles, her struggles with Fly Girls had a meeting her weight and her romantic I with Virgin Records relationship with Arsenio co-founder Jeff Ayeroff at Hall. Perez says she begged Virgin’s Beverly Hills offices. off choreographing the At the time, Paula sketch, which Abdul was one featured a few of the label’s top Fly Girls, handing artists: Her 1989 the work to her album Forever assistant. Your Girl had “It was kind of spawned four No. 1 cruel,” she says. “I singles, the 1991 Abdul respected Paula so Some of the Fly Girls, from left: Jossie Harris (now Jossie follow-up Spellbound much. Keenen was like, ‘Get Thacker), Diedre Lang, went triple- platinum, and over it. It’s comedy. It’s not Jennifer Lopez and Lisa she’d become a national personal.’ But I was like, ‘If Thompson, with DJ Twist. spokesperson for Diet that was me, I’d die.’ ” Coke. Most of the Fly Girls The irony, of course, was knew her personally, at that the transition Abdul Paula Abdul. “Out of the about us signing another they would’ve likely had a least in passing, as did their had made — from dancer stall comes Paula, who walks girl group she would’ve discussion with Abdul before choreographer Rosie Perez. to pop star — was exactly into Jeff Ayeroff’s office and been pissed,” says Corfield. finalizing a deal with the Fly Despite Abdul’s huge and the one the Fly Girls were says, ‘They go or I go.’ Virgin “Certainly, when we signed Girls, “because you don’t somewhat unlikely success, attempting. As Gold recalls, dropped them.” Janet Jackson, we had to want to kill the goose who’s recently she’d been beset by during a break from their Though Gold swears by give Paula her own label.” laying the golden egg.” bad PR. In April 1991, one meeting with Ayeroff, some it and Keenen somewhat To Ayeroff, the idea of of her backup singers sued of the Girls went to the confirms it, neither Fly Girl Abdul freaking out about Excerpted from HOMEY Virgin, saying it was actually bathroom. members Lisa Marie Todd the Fly Girls being on the DON’T PLAY THAT!: The her voice, not Abdul’s, singing “The girls go into the nor Cari French has any label is completely plausible. Story of In Living Color the lead on several of her bathroom and start talking memory of the incident. Nor “That makes total sense. and the Black Comedy hits. In Living Color, as the shit about Paula Abdul,” does Ayeroff or Virgin A&R The fact she was in the Revolution by David show was wont to do, piled says Gold. As karma would Gemma Corfield. But like bathroom while they were Peisner. Copyright © 2018 by on. A vicious musical parody have it, at that very moment, most myths, there might be at talking smack, that’s like David Peisner. Reprinted by of Abdul’s hit, “Promise of a in one of the other bathroom least a grain of truth in it. something from a bad Jon permission of 37 Ink, a division New Day,” retitled “Promise stalls, was none other than “I’m sure if Paula heard Cryer movie.” He says that of Simon & Schuster. What inspired you to and how they haven’t. Girls would perform video. What do you THE SHOW write Homey Don’t to, it was in the make of that timing? Play That!? Why was the show’s show’s DNA. In Living It was pretty THAT KEEPS Around 2015 — In relationship with Color was a road map fortuitous for me. Living Color’s music so defining? that showed people The song dropped two 25th anniversary — There was no other that this whole world weeks before the book ON ‘LIVING’ I thought about how place on primetime was out there. came out. That video Author David Peisner it was an important network TV with an is a tribute to the chronicles In Living show and moment audience of 15 to Bruno Mars and show and an era that Color’s legacy — and that hadn’t been 20 million people for Cardi B recently people are starting explored much. I was a rapper. Hip-hop paid homage to to recognize was a hip-hop’s vital role in it — thinking about how wasn’t just showcased the show with the big turning point. with a new book things have changed — in the songs the Fly “Finesse (Remix)” —JOHN KENNEDY FLY GIRLS:FLY © 20TH CENTURY FOX FILM/EVERETT COLLECTION. ABDUL: JIM SMEAL/WIREIMAGE. 38 BILLBOARD | FEBRUARY 17, 2018.

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