ROMANCE seemed a lot simpler back in the 90s - or at least rhythm and blues made it seem that way.
It was the sensual combination of dexterous vocal acrobatics (plus glass shattering key changes) and amorous licks of the lips from those oily chested R&B boys that helped sell women dreams of endless romance and even more endless love-making.
You don’t hear many songs with bridges or changes. It’s not an industry I would say I’m proud of.
Of course, most remember Boyz II Men flying the flag for romance, with songs such as End Of The Road and Down On Bended Knee. Twenty-three years since their first release, they are still the most successful R&B vocal harmony group of all time having sold over 60 million albums worldwide. Boyz II Men became only the third artists ever (after The Beatles and Elvis Presley) to replace themselves at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. It’s also easily argued that Boyz II Men are one of the last few remaining R&B groups left.
Boyz II Men in the 90s
“Every day in the industry is a highlight, considering all the groups that came out the same time we did and are not here anymore. So it’s a blessing to be here now, every day going forward is a highlight,” said Nathan Morris, the group's barritone, speaking from Philadelphia.
Boyz II Men , with remaining members Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris and Shawn Stockman, are heading to Manchester Academy on 9 May following a tour of the United States, a weekend residency in Las Vegas and release of new album Collide.
Two decades since their widely-celebrated ballad End Of The Road was released, the genre they once dominated has changed since. Synth-laden, auto-tuned R&B now rules the pop charts (thanks David Guetta).
"Do you like what you hear on the radio now?" I ask.
“No, I’m not a big fan of it,” says Morris abruptly. “I mean, there’s a couple of artists that still trying to keep the true essence of R&B alive but for the most part I don’t like the cookie-cutter industry where everybody sounds the same.”
Boyz II Men nowCompared to the days when the likes of Mariah Carey shared the group’s reign of the charts and Michael Jackson was still moonwalking his way around stages, today’s R&B charts lacks some of the Boyz II Men charm and soul - which Morris defines as R&B's 'true essence'. 2015's charts currently boasts lyrics like 'I'mma take her ass down when she bring her friend around' and Rihanna's Bitch Better Have My Money. It’s gravely different to Boyz II Men ’s Down On Bended Knee...
“The essence of R&B has gone out of everything that we hear today. It’s more repetitive. You don’t hear many songs with bridges or changes. It’s not an industry I would say that I’m proud of.
“You can’t have romance without romantic music,” he adds. “Today it’s about having sex and partying. That’s the society we’re living and that’s what our kids think about when it comes to R&B – they don’t think about making love at all.”
Boyz II Men aim to keep R&B alive with latest project Collide.
Morris vouches that their album has progressed as the group has. Boys becoming men in the music industry, as it were, has meant rejecting new-school age of production. There’s no big time producers on this record (the group worked with Babyface and more in previous records) and they've decided to go their own route.
“We chose not to on this record. We wanted to prove a point to the music industry that it’s not always about the producer that you put on your record it’s about how good the song is. Song stays and the producers don’t.”
Nathan Morris: "You can't have romance without romantic music"Yet as the group embark on the tour, it’s their all-time big-hitters that the fans will certainly want to sing-a-long too. After the umpteenth rendition of I'll Make Love To You, do the group still enjoy singing the old tunes?
“I mean we love to play our old stuff, it’s a part of who we are,” says Morris. "As far as growing as a band, you’ll see in the show – we’ll be doing some things that we don’t normally do."
Most notable difference for fans of the group, is the quartet are now three since health issues forced original band member Michael McCary to leave the group in 2003 (although the group publically admit that there may be more to the story).
The remaining members, who formed the group in high school and were then discovered and managed by NEW EDITION’s Mike Bivins, count their longevity down to a simple love of music.
"We stayed together because we all love music, that’s how it all starts and that’s where we’re coming from. We’ve been together since we were fifteen, sixteen, seventeen years old so we’re family more than anything."
"We love to get on stage, feel the crowd and jam out."
Boyz II Men perform at Manchester Academy with a live band on 9 May. Find tickets here
