Boys II Men Blog

By: Brianna Martin

 

Shoulder pads, grotesque patterns, and Keds. If your mind works the way mine does, the horrible fashion fads of the 90s might be stemming a stomach ache. Though the fashion choices in this decade weren’t the most sensible, their taste in music was. It isn’t any secret that boy bands dominated before the turn of the century. Their music was playing in every house, street, and corner store that housed a female. Among many groups, Boys II Men were one of the stand out artists. They were the best of both worlds, a good looking group of young boys, but they had a soulful R&B sound that set them apart from the “normal” boy band.

Boys II Men formed in 1998 and was comprised of 4 young men; Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman, and Michael McCary. They were an instant hit, winning a Grammy and nominated best new artist within three years of their beginnings. “They surpassed everyone’s expectations, one of them shattering the record that Elvis Presley set in 1956, by keeping their single, “End of the Road” #1 on billboards for a whopping thirteen weeks”(Levy, 26). This didn’t happen by chance, in an era dominated by lip syncing, the world couldn’t get enough of their raw talent. Boys II Men continued releasing hit after hit throughout the 90’s, and well into the 2000’s. Boys II Men may not be topping the charts anymore, but their charisma, charm, and talent are a legacy that will never be forgotten by those who were apart of that decade.

Boys II Men are still influencing R&B to this very day. They are commonly referred to the group that “spearheaded the renaissance of the R&B genre”( Watrous).Many R&B songs today contain the layered harmonies that this group delved out. But not only did they influence R&B forever, they provided a link to the past. With styles resembling Bell Biv DeVoe’s, they put their own spin on it, exposing younger generations to their musical ancestry. But, Boys II Men’s influence went much farther than their music. Their dress style was much cleaner and presentable than those of other R&B artists of the time. They were suitable role models for children, by keeping their image classy.

Boys II Men are still the most successful R&B group that ever existed, and to me they always will be.

 

                                                                   "End Of the Road"

 

                                                                   "On a Bended Knee"

                                                                                     

                                                                   "A Song For Mama"

 

 

 

 

 

Levy, Frederick. “The Ultimate Boy Band Book”. New York: Pocket Publishing, 2000. Print.

 

Watrous, Peter. “POP REVIEW; Boyz II Men, the Gentlemen Lovers for the 90's”. New York Times: The New York Times Company. Web. 2012 Nov. 19.