Musicians “with opinions that don’t fit into mainstream media narratives” – based on this self-description, all sorts of candidates spring to mind, but perhaps not the British duo first and foremost Right Said Fred. Fred and Richard Fairbrass, two English brothers of masterly proper looks, had a huge hit in 1991 entitled “I’m Too Sexy”, the lyrics of which listed everything singer Richard said he was too sexy for (including his shirt , his hat, Milan and Japan). “Don’t Talk Just Kiss” and “Deeply Dippy” were also quite successful. It wasn’t political or anything remote from the mainstream, although it was quite funny.
Unfortunately, anyone who has followed the statements made by the two in recent years will understand better why they define themselves as lateral thinkers: before the EU referendum, Richard Fairbrass, who is now 69, made a name for himself with pro-Brexit tweets. Since the beginning of the corona pandemic, he has distinguished himself as a vaccine and mask skeptic. Even after being hospitalized for a severe Covid infection, he continued to rail against restrictions on public life. Right Said Fred recently attracted attention by sharing conspiracy theories by British neo-Nazi Mark Collett on their Telegram channel and by allowing Brexit mascot Nigel Farage to interview them on his show on right-wing populist TV channel GB News.
They only found out about a sample of their song on Beyoncé’s album afterwards
Against this background of largely non-musical publicity, it’s arguable that Right Said Fred just reacted to the use of a sample from “I’m Too Sexy” in “Alien Superstar,” a new song by Beyoncé Knowles.
The Fairbrass brothers said on the sidelines of the London Broadcast Music Inc. Awards that this had happened without consulting them. “Usually the artist comes up to us, but Beyoncé didn’t do that because she’s such an arrogant person,” they told the tabloid The Sun. They would only have found out about the sample afterwards.
Normally, the song would be submitted to them for approval and if they agreed, they would be listed as co-writers, the musicians said. But with this song there are “22 authors, that’s ridiculous, so we would get about 40 pence”. There is little profit from music sales anyway, and everyone wants a share: “Friend, golf partner, technician, booker and the guy who brings the coke”. (They still have a sense of humor despite everything.) A lawsuit is hopeless because Beyoncé has “much more presence and power and money”.
Singer Beyonce Knowles.
(Photo: Jimmy Morrison/dpa)
Beyoncé’s management has since stated that Right Said Fred are actually listed as co-authors and refers to a tweet from the duo’s official Twitter account, in which the duo expressly thanks them for being named. The complaint that has now been made is “incorrect and incredibly derogatory”. So not that far removed from the usual publicity.