Motownphilly
"Motownphilly" | ||||
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Single by Boyz II Men | ||||
from the album Cooleyhighharmony | ||||
Released | April 30, 1991 | |||
Recorded | Fall 1990 | |||
Genre | New jack swing | |||
Length | 3:56 | |||
Label | Motown | |||
Songwriter(s) | Dallas Austin, Michael Bivins, Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman | |||
Producer(s) | Dallas Austin | |||
Boyz II Men singles chronology | ||||
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"Motownphilly" is Boyz II Men's 1991 debut single for their debut album Cooleyhighharmony. The single was a success, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Michael Bivins, who co-wrote the song, provides a guest rap during the bridge.
The video for the song was filmed in various locations in Philadelphia, the group's home city in December 1990. Two new jack swing groups, Another Bad Creation and Bell Biv DeVoe (of which Bivins was a member), are mentioned in the first verse: "Boyz II Men, ABC, BBD, the East Coast Family." Both groups appear briefly in the video, as does Sudden Impact, a short-lived, all-white R&B group organized by Bivins.
The song title etymology involves a combination of two of the group's main musical influences: 1960s Motown and 1970s Philly soul.
The song was featured during the 2016 Democratic National Convention, as the convention took place in Philadelphia, the city that the song is named for. The song was featured in the 1991 Full House episode "Gotta Dance".[1] It was also featured in a 2013 episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, "The Gang Gets Quarantined"[2], in which the main characters repeatedly rehearse an acapella version of the song in order to try to win a spot opening for Boyz II Men in concert while an influenza epidemic is sweeping the city of Philadelphia. Kids Incorporated covered "Mowtownphilly" in 1992 in the Season 8 episode "The Commercial".[3] The song made an appearance twice on the show Hangin' with Mr. Cooper: Season 1 episode, Pilot, and Season 4 episode, Talent Show. It is also a featured song in video game radio station CSR on Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004).
Track listing
US Vinyl, 12" [1]
- A1 Motownphilly [12" Version] 4:47
- A2 Motownphilly [LP Version] 3:52
- B Motownphilly [Instrumental] 5:50
US Maxi-CD [2]
- 1 Motownphilly [12" Version Edit] 4:47
- 2 Motownphilly [LP Version] 3:52
- 3 Motownphilly [Quiet Storm] 4:06
- 4 Motownphilly [12" A] 5:50
- 5 Motownphilly [12" Dub] 4:08
UK Vinyl, 7 [3]
- A Motownphilly [7" Radio Version] 3:50
- B Motownphilly [Philly Instrumental] 3:50
UK Vinyl, 12" [4]
- A Motownphilly [12" Extended Club Mix] 5:35
- B1 Motownphilly [7" Radio Version] 3:50
- B2 Motownphilly [Philly Instrumental] 3:50
- B3 Motownphilly [Dub Mix] 4:08
Germany Maxi-CD [5]
- 1 Motownphilly [12" Version] 5:50
- 2 Motownphilly [7" Main] 3:20
- 3 Motownphilly [12" Dub] 4:09
- 4 Motownphilly [Quiet Storm] 4:06
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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References
- ^ Full House Motown Philly
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTqL14T7I8M
- ^ Kids Incorporated - Motownphilly (1992)
- ^ "Boyz II Men Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Boyz II Men Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)".
- ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc (December 21, 1991). "1991 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. 103 (51): YE-14.
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See also
Let's Stay Together by Guy