Great grooves from Boyz II Men - SOUNDS FAMILIAR by Baby Gil

Boyz II Men is the foursome behind the big hits Motown Philly, End of the Road, I’ll Make Love to You, On Bended Knee, Four Seasons of Loneliness, A Song for Mama and that incredible duet with Mariah Carey One Sweet Day. This group has sold more than 34 million copies of their albums worldwide. These are Cooleyhighharmony, II, Evolution, and the soundtracks to the motion pictures Boomerang and Soul Food. There is also a wonderful platinum selling Yuletide album titled Christmas Interpretations that you should give a listen to one of these days. Remember there are now only 58 days to go till Christmas.

Anyway, Boyz II Men is made up of Nathan Morris, Michael McCary, Shawn Stockman and Wanya Morris. Pure youthful gumption got them started in the music business when they were still students at Philadelphia’s School for the Performing Arts. They went backstage at a New Edition show and sang a cappella for New Edition member Michael Bivins. Impressed, he helped them land a contract with Motown and several months later Boyz II Men’s debut album Cooleyhighharmony was released to huge acclaim. The record remained in Billboard’s pop charts for over a year and has since sold over 12 million copies.

That was eight years ago and Boyz II Men has since established a reputation as purveyors of impeccably arranged harmonies and lush romantic grooves, qualities present in every recording they produced. This same degree of elegance can be found in the new album titled Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya, where the boys also offer so much more. Musically, particularly, singingwise, this is an album that should make every existing boy band fearfully insecure. As for those Latin idols, they should take time out to listen to how Boyz II Men combined their sugar-sweet vocals with the tempestuous sound of the Spanish guitar. Very innotative. Very cleverly executed. Definitely exciting.

The title of the album comes from the first names of the members of Boyz II Men. This affirms the fact that this album is more theirs than any of the others they made in the past. They present not only their voices but also songs they composed and in some cases also produced. Help came from songwriter-producers She’kspere, Shep Crawford and Mervyn Warren but most of the contents of the album are Boyz II Men ideas. In fact, the first single out, the lovely Pass You By was written by Shawn and produced by all four of them.

Pass You By is cast in the tradition of On Bended Knee and is the sort of love ballad listeners have come to associate with the group. Dreams, another love song, has a great hook and a flowing commercial melody. I Do, is sure to become another staple at weddings. Bounce, Shake, Move, Swing makes you do everything the title says. Beautiful Women is one of those cuts with the unique Latin touch. There are also Step On Up, Good Guy, What the Deal, I Finally Know, Thank You in Advance, Never Go Away, Lovely, Know What You Want and Do You Remember.

Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya entered the album charts at number four when it was released a few weeks ago. It is not yet selling as much as 98 Degrees’ Revelation or ‘N Sync’s No Strings but Boyz II Men is an excellent reminder of what male voices can be capable of.

Teen diva Christina Aguilera stays at number one in the latest Billboard tally of the top singles in the US of A. Here’s the list: Come on Over Baby (All I Want is You) by Christina Aguilera; Music by Madonna; With Arms Wide Open by Creed: Kryptonite by 3 Doors Down; Most Girls by Pink; Jumpin,’ Jumpin’ by Destiny’s Child; Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche) by the 98 Degrees; Bag Lady by Erykah Badu, Incomplete by Sisqo; and Gotta Tell You by Samantha Mumba.

Still on the US charts. The top selling albums are: Rules 3:36 by Ja Rule; Country Grammar by Nelly; Let’s Get Ready by Mystikal; Human Clay by Creed; Revelation by 98 Degrees; Music by Madonna; Who Let the Dogs Out by Baha Men; The Better Life by 3 Doors Down; The Marshall Mathers LP by Eminem; Kid A by Radiohead.