Harmonising in their usual well-coordinated style, the Boyz evoke memories of yesteryear. The members of Boyz II Men have visited The Bahamas several times, but this was their first stage performance here.
They said they especially enjoy our wonderful food and beautiful beaches and are very fond of the Bahamian people. Commenting on their entitled ‘Remedy,’ they said, “We put a lot of attention to this new album because we have been away for so long. So we wanted to come back with something strong. The thing about this album is that before every song we met with a forum of about eight people and we discussed various topics. There were topics such as love, lovemaking, intimacy happiness, sadness that music is lacking. Each time we got on a particular topic, it became so important that we felt that we had to write about it. This album is a ‘realist’ one because we’re older and more mature now. The quality of the lyrical content is so much higher and is at a different level than it was at before.
“It’s been 15 years now so we’ve learnt a lt. After travelling the world and performing to sold-out concerts, we’ve learnt a lot. But now we’re at an age where we’re raising families so we’re a really a part of the society. I don’t want to say that we’re role models but people do watch us.”
In reference to the departure of their fourth member, they said, “Fifteen years is a long time to be together so after a while, he decided that he no longer wanted to continue. There were other aspirations that he wanted to pursue and he also has a chronic back problem, which made it difficult for him, especially as we do a lot of touring. ”
They said that in reference to promoting their new album, they’ve been on the road for the past year, highlighting it. So right now, there’s hardly a week that goes by where the Boyz are not performing at two to three shows.
In reference to staying away from the negative forces such as drugs and other activities, the Boyz said it has been relatively easy for them because of their own belief systems and just by the things that they see other fellow entertainers go through. They said they have been able to stay on the right track because of the support of their families and friends and their strong spiritual background. And, also just through common sense. “We don’t want to smoke crack, we’ve seen how it has destroyed other people. We don’t want to be crackheads and we’ve never seen a crackhead with a long-standing career.
The funny thing about music is that it is subjective. Obviously you have the demands of the majority that control the music. Many people would want to switch but, unfortunately, are not being given the music that they want so they have to compromise. If you don’t know, you can’t really ask. There are a lot of kids today who listen to R&B music or what they think is R&B but they never knew The Temptations, The Four Tops or Marvin Gaye so they’ve never really heard a true R&B song. So now, when they hear some of these songs, they think it’s new but that’s the way it is. It’s just a matter now of funnelling the music in their direction at home because that’s where it starts.
“We believe that we bridge the gap between young and old because we’re still young men, and we still represent what was, what is and what is to come with our music, how we carry ourselves, the way we dress. We let everybody know that we live in the present time but we also know of the times of the past, that is the artists before us. Most kids don’t know who these artists are but this is where we come in. Through our music, we also represent them. The thing is that if they like us, then they will like their music. ”
Boyz II Men is an American R&B/soul singing group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1988 as a quintet, Boyz II Men found fame as a quartet, with members Wanya Morris, Michael McCary, Shawn Stockman, and Nathan Morris, on Motown Records during the early 1990s.
Based on sales, Boyz II Men is one of the most successful R&B groups of all time. It has recorded five No. 1 pop hits between 1992 and 1997 and has since sold more than 25 million records. Three of its No.1 hits, ‘End of the Road,’ ‘I’ll Make Love to You,’ and ‘One Sweet Day’ (a duet with Mariah Carey), set and broke records for the longest period of time a single remained at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Boyz II Men was originally signed to Motown Records from 1990 to 2000, at which point it was moved to parent label Universal Records. After the 2000 album Nathan Shawn Michael Wanya, Boyz II Men moved to Arista Records. In 2003, Michael McCary left the group because of chronic back problems resulting from scoliosis. As of 2005, Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman, and Nathan Morris continue to tour and record as a trio.
By: Betty Vedrine, The Nassau Guardian
