| Lies | |
| Cover: | En Vogue Lies vinyl US 1990.jpg |
| Caption: | U.S. 12-inch vinyl single |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | En Vogue |
| Album: | Born to Sing |
| Released: | June 27, 1990 |
| Recorded: | October–November 1989 (vocals)[1] May 1990 (remix) |
| Studio: | Can Am Studios, CA |
| Length: | 4:16 (LP Mix) 4:14 (Avant Garde Remix Edit) |
| Label: | Atlantic |
| Prev Title: | Hold On |
| Prev Year: | 1990 |
| Next Title: | You Don't Have to Worry |
| Next Year: | 1990 |
"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]
The song is led by Dawn Robinson and Cindy Herron with ad libs from Maxine Jones and Terry Ellis on the ending vamp.
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]
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]
| Chart (1990) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[11] | 156 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[12] | 11 |