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Motownphilly
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Wikipedia article
"'Motownphilly'" is a 1991 song by American vocal harmony group Boyz II Men, released as their first single from their debut album, 'Cooleyhighharmony'. The single was a success, peaking at number three on the 'Billboard' Hot 100. Michael Bivins, who co-wrote the song, provides a guest rap during the bridge.
The accompanying music 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 has also been featured in several films and television series including 'House Party 2', 'Full House' (in the 1991 episode "Gotta Dance"),[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLaSH7o986M&index=1659&list=FL2szkDC_smXOK_JYUXknxPw Full House Motown Philly ] 'Kids Incorporated' (covered by the titular group in the 1992 episode "The Commercial"),[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbHAvi9d9to Kids Incorporated - Motownphilly (1992) ] 'Hangin' with Mr. Cooper' (in both the 1992 pilot episode and the 1995 episode "Talent Show"), and 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' (covered in the 2013 episode "The Gang Gets Quarantined",Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/OTqL14T7I8M Ghostarchive] and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20150814182207/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTqL14T7I8M Wayback Machine]: 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 flu epidemic is sweeping Philadelphia).
It is also a featured song in video game radio station CSR on 'Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas' (2004). The song was sampled by contemporary hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest for their penultimate album 'The Love Movement' on the track "Give Me".
The track was covered by The Trammps for their "Disco Inferno" compilation.
Track listing
* 'US vinyl, 12"' [http://www.discogs.com/Boyz-II-Men-Motownphilly/release/414571]
:A1: "Motownphilly" [12" Version] 4:47
:A2: "Motownphilly" [LP Version] 3:52
:B: "Motownphilly" [Instrumental] 5:50
* 'US CD maxi' [http://www.discogs.com/Boyz-II-Men-Motownphilly/release/1443202]
# "Motownphilly" [12" Version Edit] 4:47
# "Motownphilly" [LP Version] 3:52
# "Motownphilly" [Quiet Storm] 4:06
# "Motownphilly" [12" A] 5:50
# "Motownphilly" [12" Dub] 4:08
* 'UK vinyl, 7' [http://www.discogs.com/Boyz-II-Men-Motownphilly/release/246736]
:A: "Motownphilly" [7" Radio Version] 3:50
:B: "Motownphilly" [Philly Instrumental] 3:50
* 'UK vinyl, 12"' [http://www.discogs.com/Boyz-II-Men-Motownphilly/release/345039]
: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 CD maxi' [http://www.discogs.com/Boyz-II-Men-Motownphilly/release/1000897]
# "Motownphilly" [12" Version] 5:50
# "Motownphilly" [7" Main] 3:20
# "Motownphilly" [12" Dub] 4:09
# "Motownphilly" [Quiet Storm] 4:06
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
See also
Let's Stay Together by Guy
References
Category:1990 songs
Category:1991 debut singles
Category:Boyz II Men songs
Category:Culture of Philadelphia
Category:Motown singles
Category:New jack swing songs
Category:Song recordings produced by Dallas Austin
Category:Songs written by Dallas Austin
Category:Songs written by Michael Bivins
Category:Songs written by Nathan Morris
Category:Songs written by Shawn Stockman
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