Songoftheday 2/7/21 - You taught me everything everything you've given me, I'll always keep it inside you're the driving force in my life...

 

 

"A Song For Mama" - Boyz II Men

from the albums Evolution and Soul Food (Original Soundtrack) (1997)

Billboard Hot 100 peak: #7 (two weeks)

Weeks in the Top-40: 17

 

Today's song of the day comes from the soul vocal group Boyz II Men, who had returned themselves to #1 on the American pop chart in the fall of 1997 with "4 Seasons Of Loneliness" from their album Evolution.  For the second release from the album they chose a song that also appeared on the soundtrack to the Vanessa Williams film Soul Food, and released as the third single from the record following "I Care 'Bout You" from Milestone and "What About Us" from Total. "A Song For Mama", written and produced by Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, is an ode to the impact of their mother's love in their lives. Now, that could turn out very corny, but Babyface's turn of phrase and simple production really makes this record stand out more than most "mother's day" ballads. It doesn't hurt that Nathan, Shawn, Wanya, and Michael sing this flawlessly, almost like a solemn hymn, without too much flamboyant flourishes...

"A Song For Mama" became Boyz II Men's twelfth (and so far last) top ten pop hit in Febuary of 1998. The single scored the quartet their fifth #1 R&B hit as well. Internationally, the single reached the top-40 in New Zealand (#15), the Netherlands (#33), and the UK (#34). At the Grammy Awards in 1998, "A Song For Mama" was nominated for Best R&B Duo/Group Vocal, which went to Blackstreet for their #1 hit "No Diggity".

Two more songs from Evolution were promoted to radio without being released as commercial singles. "Can't Let Her Go" climbed to #28 on Billboard magazine's R&B Airplay chart, followed by "Doin' Just Fine" which stopped at #33 on that list. However, neither of those would make the Hot 100 Airplay list. 

(7/10)

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Here's the Boyz performing the song on the Oprah Winfrey Show...

and lastly, live in concert in 1997...

Up tomorrow: Another hit from Soul Food, as this soul quartet's romantic well is running dry.