This story was reported for San Diego News Network on November 5, 2009.
Disclaimer: I sang and danced at the concert. I had to. It was Boyz II Men!
One member short? No problem.
Swine flu? No way, no matter what CNN says.
Flu? Well, as the wise theater folks say, the show must go on.
Nothing fazes these Men.
It was a typical Wednesday afternoon until SDNN’s music editor Chris Nixon mentioned Boyz II Men were in town.
A couple hours, e-mails, phone calls, text messages later – I got media passes to the sold out concert. A couple hours after that I found myself, unabashedly, attempting to catch a rose (I don’t even like roses) from one of the Men during one of its passion-filled ballads.
That’s right: I spent my Wednesday night singing my heart out/along to sappy, romantic, tear-jerking love songs with Boyz II Men.
It wasn’t easy to get there though, as I already had two events to attend that night. I had to make an appearance at a local business mixer, support a friend’s art benefit for COMPASS and then haul ass to the House of Blues. And as my friend/fellow unembarrassed Men fan, and I drove to the HOB, I secretly contemplated what type of crowd would show up.
Would it be tons of 30-something women donning attire from the hey-days like the NKOTB concert I attended?
Or would I see a room full of late-30 to early-40 something feminists like at the Bangles concert?
Neither. I would end up in a room full of 20- to 30-something women and men, who clearly joyfully relived their graceless adolescence the entire duration of the hour long concert, many of whom had undoubtedly left the offices as they, like me, were still wearing biz attire. I also overheard a man talk about how much work he had to do for his one-year-old son’s birthday party and another man would mention that he had “On Bended Knee” on a mixed tape – both of whom sang along to the classics.
Needless to say, the experience of Boyz II Men, live in concert 20 years after its first CD, was one in a million.
The three remaining men in the group — Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman and Wanya Morris proved they still had IT. The fourth, Michael McCary — a.k.a. the one with the deep, talking voice (see this video) — unfortunately left the group six years ago, which is a shame, because a part of me really wanted to hear him say “Baby. I’m sorry. Please, forgive me for all the wrong I’ve done. Please, come back home, girl.”
The Men still have the swagger, class and the old school Motown appeal that forces any sane woman to raise her expectations of the opposite sex. They still know how to rock the stage as they smoothly glide from end to end and as they relinquish their charming, soulful vocals in matching suits and dark shades. It was 1994 all over again!
And they can still draw a crowd as the Blues venue was more packed than I had ever seen it and as the clock struck nine, and there was still no sight of the group. The crowd began chanting relentlessly, “Boyz II Men.” That’s right, those early-30-something year old men, I spoke of before, demanded the three men to step out on stage, too.
Minutes later, the beats of “Motownphilly,” filled the subversive scene and the next hour of flashbacks seem to last only minutes.
The ever so classic “Motownphilly,” forced the crowd to sing along and dance in ways we haven’t seen since the early ‘90s. (Although, I believe SDNN sports editor Jason Owens still dances that way).
The rest of the night was filled with more sing-along-type songs for deep rooted B II M fans. Tunes like “On Bended Knee,” “Four Seasons of Loneliness,” “Doin’ Just Fine,” and “Water Runs Dry,” – all had concert-goers drown out the sounds of the Men during the chorus. But the three obviously fully enjoyed it as they encouraged attendees to sing along and thank them for coming at least a dozen times.
To top it off, when the Men sang the abiding “I’ll Make Love to You” long stem red roses were thrown out to women in the crowd while couples gave each other kisses.
A little more interaction was seen with the audience when Stockman asked fans (I think it’s safe to say everyone at the Blues’ venue, all of whom dropped at least $40 for a ticket, are fans) to call their “mamas,” to say “I love you and this next song that Boyz II Men is about to sing is dedicated to you.”
Yes. The Men sang the heartfelt and sugary, “A Song for Mama,” as some fans held up their phones with moms on the other ends.
Songs were complete with sleek, minor dance moves (Hey, they’re in their late 30s), and the same passion that we saw when we were in our tweens and teens.
The only small downer was the amount of covers the Men performed – at least 40 percent of the songs were covers, which although the Men sang beautifully, didn’t resonate with some fans who began talking during those moments.
Covers included Edwin Starr’s “War, What is it Good for?” (We were asked to wave peace signs in the air during this song) and Pink Floyd’s “Money.” The time could have been better completed with other hit songs from the Men like, “Pass You By” or “I Will Get There.”
Not coincidentally, Boyz II Men’s new album titled “Love,” is a series of covers of popular love songs, by artists as diverse as Bonnie Raitt, to Lonestar, to Journey, to Chicago. The new album, produced by American Idol’s Randy Jackson, drops on Nov. 24.
The show was completed with the most appropriate Men jam – “End of the Road,” with fans singing the chorus more than three times at the end.
Despite the mass number of covers and the missing bass voice of McCrary, Stockman and both Morrises, clearly attested their love for music and the talent they had years ago during their peak.
So even if you’re not listening to AOL’s ‘90s R&B station, Boyz II Men songs still ring true and still demonstrate themselves to be timeless.
The water still runs dry sometimes, there is an end of the road and the Men still bring that East Coast swing.
Hoa Quach is the political editor for the San Diego News Network and she wants her mama to know she loves her – that loving her is like food to Hoa’s soul.