Doo-wop and the boy band got a dose of adrenaline in 1991, thanks to Boyz II Men’s “Motownphilly.”
Today is their founder Nathan Morris’ birthday, so ABC HBD to him, because where would our music be without them? The 80s and 90s were primarily the playground of African-American soloists (of both genders) and girl groups. Rap was the mens’ group game back then. New Edition and Bell Biv Devoe were a little too “urban” for mainstream listeners, but with their fluid 4-piece harmonies, a wholesome, throwback sound, and clean-cut varsity image, Boyz II Men became universally beloved.
The song’s title and theme center around the group’s clear musical influences of 1960’s Motown and 1970’s Philadelphia soul groups such as The O’Jays and The Spinners. “New Jack Swing” is the name for the combination of those influences modernized with hip-hop/R&B and jazz inclusions along with drum machines, and of course demonstrated in “Motownphilly.” The song also paid tribute to a contemporary renaissance in Philly’s role in African-American music. You’ll notice the video is packed with other Philly musicians like Another Bad Creation, Bell Biv Devoe, and even a VERY young Questlove on drums.
There are tons of obvious Philly shoutouts in the video, but watch for a few cultural references too, like 80’s NBC sitcom “A Different World,” and HBCU fraternities. Boyz II Men did a lot of work to position themselves as acceptable to the mainstream, but true to the culture. Building on the foundation Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers established, they revolutionized with a little something of their own: the funk. Early on in the video, there’s some major thrusting that might still make you blush today, and daring vocal runs that neither the Backstreet Boys nor BTS ever held a candle to. So lighters up for Nathan Morris, because Boyz II Men brought back a sound pioneered by African-American musicians, and simultaneously blazed a whole new path that unsurprisingly went worldwide.
𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘:
“Doom doom doom da da, doom doom doom da da
Da di da di da da, da da, daa daa oh oh”