The Chainsmokers Blast MTV VMAs Over Failed Performance: 'Nearly Every Other Person Lip-Synced'

By
Billboard

The Chainsmokers are not afraid to call it like they see it!

Drew Taggart and Alex Pall -- aka the team behind the hit singles "Closer," "Don't Let Me Down" and "Roses" -- are breaking their silence on that less-than-stellar MTV Video Music Awards performance, and name-dropping artists who turned down opportunities to collaborate in Billboard's latest cover story. 

"It sounded like s**t," Taggart said of the duo's "Closer" performance with Halsey at the VMAs last month. "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. 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."

(Presumably, by "nearly every other person," Taggart is making an exception for Queen Beyonce's flawless set.


WATCH: Beyonce Literally Drops the Mic With Epic VMAs Performance -- Relive the Flawlessness!

Billboard

Elsewhere in the interview, the pair called out Weezer as being "thirsty" after the band previously passed on an appearance during The Chainsmokers' 2016 Coachella set.

"They were like, 'Yo! We should do a track together,' and I'm like, 'Oh, really?'" Pall told the mag. "I can't blame somebody for saying no early on, but it depends on how you said no and how you came back to us. If you own it, like, 'I didn't see the vision, but it's clear now and it's super sick,' I get that. It feels good when those people are like..."

"Thirsty," Taggart chimed in.

Big Sean is among the other artists mentioned in the article, as the 28-year-old rapper reportedly blew off his management to confirm a session.


RELATED: The Chainsmokers Take On Kanye West With 'Kanye'-Inspired Single 

The Chainsmokers aren't afraid to put themselves on blast, either. At one point, Pall refers to their 2013 breakout song, "#Selfie," as "our stupid novelty song" and "an annoying-ass record."

But, they're OK with that. Pall also calls the track "perfect for its time."

Today, The Chainsmokers are sitting pretty atop the Billboard Hot 100 with “Closer” at No. 1 for the fourth week in a row. The song is on track to become their third consecutive hit to be certified double-platinum in 2016.


WATCH: 7 Behind-the-Scenes 2016 MTV VMAs Moments Viewers Missed From the Broadcast