The Chainsmokers Talk 2016 VMA Performance: “It Sounded Like Shit”

Rachel Sonis | September 15, 2016 10:27 am

The Chainsmokers‘ latest hit “Closer” with Halsey might be sitting comfortable atop the Billboard Hot 100, but their performance of the track at the 2016 VMAs was anything but. The electronic duo (composed of Andrew Taggart and Alex Pall) know it, too, addressing the debacle in their latest Billboard cover story.

“It sounded like shit,” said Taggart told the magazine. “We were told my voice was going to be mixed well, but there was no reverb and it was way louder than the track for the broadcast.”

He continued, “I was set up to fail. Nearly every other person lip-synced it, and we knew because we had them in our ears. So now I know why you lip-sync.”

Not to mention, this was only Taggart’s second time singing live ever. Ouch.

Reach the full cover story here, and see the performance below.

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