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| length = 3:56
| length = 3:56
| label = [[Motown]]
| label = [[Motown]]
| writer = [[Dallas Austin]], [[Michael Bivins]], [[Nathan Morris]], [[Shawn Stockman]]
| writer =
* [[Dallas Austin]]
* [[Michael Bivins]]
* [[Nathan Morris]]
* [[Shawn Stockman]]
| producer = Dallas Austin
| producer = [[Dallas Austin]]
| next_title = [[It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday]]
| next_title = [[It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday]]
| next_year = 1991
| next_year = 1991
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|Rciee-oQLoI|"Motownphilly"}}}}
}}
}}
"'''Motownphilly'''" is a song by American vocal harmony group [[Boyz II Men]], released in April 1991 as their first single from their debut album, ''[[Cooleyhighharmony]]'' (1991). The song was a success, peaking at number three on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]. [[Michael Bivins]], who co-wrote the song, provides a guest rap during the bridge. The song title etymology involves a combination of two of the group's main musical influences: 1960s [[Motown]] and 1970s [[Philly soul]].
"'''Motownphilly'''" is a song by American vocal harmony group [[Boyz II Men]], released in April 1991 by [[Motown]] as the first single from their debut album, ''[[Cooleyhighharmony]]'' (1991). Co-written and produced by [[Dallas Austin]], the song was a success, peaking at number three on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]. [[Michael Bivins]], who co-wrote the song, provides a guest rap during the bridge. The song's title is a portmanteau of two of the group's main musical influences: 1960s Motown and 1970s [[Philly soul]].


The accompanying [[music video]] for the song was filmed in various locations in [[Philadelphia]], the group's home city. 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 R&B group organized by Bivins.
The accompanying music video for the song was filmed in various locations in the group's hometown of [[Philadelphia]]. Two [[new jack swing]] groups, [[Another Bad Creation]] and [[Bell Biv DeVoe]], are mentioned in the lyrics. They appear briefly in the video, as does Sudden Impact, a short-lived R&B group organized by Bivins. Additionally, [[Questlove]] appears briefly as a drummer, due to his previous relationship with the group from high school.


==Critical reception==
==Critical reception==
[[Dele Fadele]] from ''[[New Musical Express|NME]]'' wrote, "Floating on a cloud through the chequered history of [[Soul music|soul]], yet inherently modern, [[Boyz II Men]] are plotting the new musical map. From [[Detroit]] to [[Philadelphia]], this is East Coast style and sass in abundance, mixing and matching [[MFSB]] strings, House synth-bass, raps and the ghost of several songs rolled into one. Somewhere in the ever-shifting mix you learn their tale and, if I were [[Bell Biv DeVoe]], I'd prepare to be usurped."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Dele|last=Fadele|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52486134582/|title=Singles|work=[[New Musical Express|NME]]|date=November 9, 1991|page=22|access-date=May 2, 2023|author-link=Dele Fadele}}</ref>
[[Dele Fadele]] from ''[[New Musical Express|NME]]'' wrote, "Floating on a cloud through the chequered history of [[Soul music|soul]], yet inherently modern, [[Boyz II Men]] are plotting the new musical map. From [[Detroit]] to [[Philadelphia]], this is East Coast style and sass in abundance, mixing and matching [[MFSB]] strings, House synth-bass, raps and the ghost of several songs rolled into one. Somewhere in the ever-shifting mix you learn their tale and, if I were [[Bell Biv DeVoe]], I'd prepare to be usurped."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Dele|last=Fadele|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52486134582/|title=Singles|magazine=[[New Musical Express|NME]]|date=November 9, 1991|page=22|access-date=May 2, 2023|author-link=Dele Fadele}}</ref>


==Track listings==
==Track listings==
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{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Weekly chart performance for "Motownphilly"
|+Weekly chart performance for "Motownphilly"
!Chart (1991–1992)
!Chart (1991–1993)
!Peak<br />position
!Peak<br />position
|-
|-
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|-
|-
!scope="row"|Canada Retail Singles (''[[The Record (magazine)|The Record]]'')<ref name="Lwin">{{cite book|last=Lwin|first=Nanda|author-link=Nanda Lwin|date=2000|title=Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide|publisher=Music Data Canada|page=49|isbn=1-896594-13-1}}</ref>
!scope="row"|Canada Retail Singles (''[[The Record (magazine)|The Record]]'')<ref name="Lwin">{{cite book|last=Lwin|first=Nanda|author-link=Nanda Lwin|date=2000|title=Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide|publisher=Music Data Canada|page=49|isbn=1-896594-13-1}}</ref>
|38
| 38
|-
|-
!scope="row"|Canada Contemporary Hit Radio (''[[The Record (magazine)|The Record]]'')<ref name="Lwin"/>
!scope="row"|Canada Contemporary Hit Radio (''[[The Record (magazine)|The Record]]'')<ref name="Lwin"/>
|34
| 34
|-
!scope="row"|Europe ([[Eurochart Hot 100]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-01-16.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=10|issue=3|date=January 16, 1993|page=15|access-date=March 24, 2024}}</ref>
| 48
|-
|-
{{single chart|Ireland2|16|artist=Boyz II Men|rowheader=true|access-date=May 16, 2023}}
{{single chart|Ireland2|16|artist=Boyz II Men|rowheader=true|access-date=May 16, 2023}}
Line 89: Line 97:
|-
|-
!scope="row"|[[UK Dance Singles Chart|UK Dance]] (''[[Music Week]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-12-26.pdf |title= Top 60 Dance Singles |magazine= [[Music Week]] |date= December 26, 1992 |page= 24 |access-date= September 30, 2020}}</ref>
!scope="row"|[[UK Dance Singles Chart|UK Dance]] (''[[Music Week]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-12-26.pdf |title= Top 60 Dance Singles |magazine= [[Music Week]] |date= December 26, 1992 |page= 24 |access-date= September 30, 2020}}</ref>
|28
| 28
|-
|-
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|3|artist=Boyz II Men|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|3|artist=Boyz II Men|rowheader=true}}
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|-
|-
!scope="row"|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite magazine |title=1991 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles |magazine=Billboard |volume=103 |issue=51 |page=YE-14 |date=December 21, 1991}}</ref>
!scope="row"|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite magazine |title=1991 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles |magazine=Billboard |volume=103 |issue=51 |page=YE-14 |date=December 21, 1991}}</ref>
|11
| 11
|-
|-
! scope="row"| US Hot R&B Singles (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1991/BB-1991-12-21.pdf |title=The Year in Music: 1991 – Top R&B Singles |magazine=Billboard |volume=103 |issue=51 |date=December 21, 1991 |page=YE-18 |issn=0006-2510 |accessdate=October 24, 2020 |via=World Radio History}}</ref>
! scope="row"| US Hot R&B Singles (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1991/BB-1991-12-21.pdf |title=The Year in Music: 1991 – Top R&B Singles |magazine=Billboard |volume=103 |issue=51 |date=December 21, 1991 |page=YE-18 |issn=0006-2510 |accessdate=October 24, 2020 |via=World Radio History}}</ref>
|23
| 23
|}
|}
{{col-end}}
{{col-end}}
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!scope="row"|United States
!scope="row"|United States
|April 30, 1991
|April 30, 1991
|rowspan="2"|{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|12-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}}
|{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|12-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}}
|rowspan="2"|[[Motown]]
|rowspan="3"|[[Motown]]
|{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}
|{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}
|-
!scope="row"|Japan
|August 21, 1991
|Mini-CD
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/154394/products/58695/1/|title=モータウンフィリー {{!}} ボーイズ・II・メン|trans-title=Motownphilly {{!}} Boyz II Men|publisher=[[Oricon]]|language=ja|access-date=August 30, 2023}}</ref>
|-
|-
!scope="row"|United Kingdom
!scope="row"|United Kingdom
|December 7, 1992
|December 7, 1992
|{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|12-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}}
|<ref>{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=25|date=December 5, 1992}}</ref>
|<ref>{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=25|date=December 5, 1992}}</ref>
|}
|}

==In popular culture==
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 has also been featured in several films and television series including ''[[House Party 2]]'', ''[[Full House]]'' (in the 1991 episode "Gotta Dance"),<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLaSH7o986M&index=1659&list=FL2szkDC_smXOK_JYUXknxPw Full House Motown Philly <!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ''[[Kids Incorporated]]'' (covered by the titular group in the 1992 episode "The Commercial"),<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbHAvi9d9to Kids Incorporated - Motownphilly (1992) <!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ''[[Hangin' with Mr. Cooper]]'' (in both the 1992 [[television pilot|pilot episode]] and the 1995 episode "Talent Show"), and ''[[It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia]]'' (covered in the 2013 episode "The Gang Gets Quarantined",<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/OTqL14T7I8M Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20150814182207/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTqL14T7I8M Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTqL14T7I8M| title = It's Always Sunny - The Gang sings "Motown Philly" by Boyz II Men | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> in which the main characters repeatedly rehearse an [[a cappella]] version of the song in order to try to win a spot opening for Boyz II Men in concert while an [[Influenza pandemic|flu epidemic]] is sweeping Philadelphia).


==References==
==References==
Line 162: Line 173:
[[Category:Songs written by Nathan Morris]]
[[Category:Songs written by Nathan Morris]]
[[Category:Songs written by Shawn Stockman]]
[[Category:Songs written by Shawn Stockman]]
[[Category:South Street]]

Latest revision as of 13:57, 20 October 2024

"Motownphilly"
US 12-inch vinyl single
Single by Boyz II Men
from the album Cooleyhighharmony
ReleasedApril 30, 1991
Genre
Length3:56
LabelMotown
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Dallas Austin
Boyz II Men singles chronology
"Motownphilly"
(1991) 		"It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday"
(1991)
Music video
"Motownphilly" on YouTube

"Motownphilly" is a song by American vocal harmony group Boyz II Men, released in April 1991 by Motown as the first single from their debut album, Cooleyhighharmony (1991). Co-written and produced by Dallas Austin, the song was a success, peaking at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100. Michael Bivins, who co-wrote the song, provides a guest rap during the bridge. The song's title is a portmanteau of two of the group's main musical influences: 1960s Motown and 1970s Philly soul.

The accompanying music video for the song was filmed in various locations in the group's hometown of Philadelphia. Two new jack swing groups, Another Bad Creation and Bell Biv DeVoe, are mentioned in the lyrics. They appear briefly in the video, as does Sudden Impact, a short-lived R&B group organized by Bivins. Additionally, Questlove appears briefly as a drummer, due to his previous relationship with the group from high school.

Critical reception

[edit]

Dele Fadele from NME wrote, "Floating on a cloud through the chequered history of soul, yet inherently modern, Boyz II Men are plotting the new musical map. From Detroit to Philadelphia, this is East Coast style and sass in abundance, mixing and matching MFSB strings, House synth-bass, raps and the ghost of several songs rolled into one. Somewhere in the ever-shifting mix you learn their tale and, if I were Bell Biv DeVoe, I'd prepare to be usurped."[2]

Track listings

[edit]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for "Motownphilly"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[16] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Release history for "Motownphilly"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States April 30, 1991
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 Motown [citation needed]
Japan August 21, 1991 Mini-CD [17]
United Kingdom December 7, 1992
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [18]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Pitchfork Staff (September 27, 2022). "The 250 Best Songs of the 1990s". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 21, 2022. ...the track, which features classic soul harmonies over a new jack swing beat, as well as a totally gratuitous doo-wop showcase at the end.
  2. ^ Fadele, Dele (November 9, 1991). "Singles". NME. p. 22. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  3. ^ "Boyz II Men – Motownphilly". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Lwin, Nanda (2000). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Music Data Canada. p. 49. ISBN 1-896594-13-1.
  5. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 3. January 16, 1993. p. 15. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  6. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Boyz II Men". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  7. ^ "Boyz II Men – Motownphilly" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  8. ^ "Boyz II Men – Motownphilly". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  9. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  10. ^ "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. December 26, 1992. p. 24. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  11. ^ "Boyz II Men Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  12. ^ "Boyz II Men Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  13. ^ * Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  14. ^ "1991 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 51. December 21, 1991. p. YE-14.
  15. ^ "The Year in Music: 1991 – Top R&B Singles" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 51. December 21, 1991. p. YE-18. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved October 24, 2020 – via World Radio History.
  16. ^ "American single certifications – Boyz II Men – Motownphilly". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  17. ^ "モータウンフィリー | ボーイズ・II・メン" [Motownphilly | Boyz II Men] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  18. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. December 5, 1992. p. 25.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Motownphilly&oldid=1252244817"