EP114: Phil Yu on Boyz II Men’s “II” (1994) redux

Episode notes

This episode originally ran 07/26/2018

The Album: Boyz II Men: II (1994)

Phil Yu is better known to most as Angry Asian Man…except that he isn’t actually all that angry (though he is Asian and a man). Phil started his titular site nearly 20 years ago and since then, it has become an indispensable news resource about Asian American culture, politics and related issues. Phil, along with Jeff Yang, also hosts his own Asian American culture podcast, They Call Us Bruce.

Phil wanted to revisit one of the big hit albums of his youth: II by Boyz II Men. By ’94, the group was already one of the biggest acts in all of R&B and expectations were beyond high for the follow-up. The quartet of crooners from Philly didn’t disappoint as II continued the group’s reign at the top, especially thanks to smooth ballads like “Water Runs Dry,” “On Bended Knee” and of course, “I’ll Make Love To You.” (The three of us couldn’t stop laughing when we were discussing the majesty that was the video for that single. Shout out to sexy finger wags. And if anyone knows the identity of the woman in the video, get @ us about it!).

More on Phil Yu

• Interview with KoreAm Magazine.
• “Becoming Angry Asian Man” (Profile on NBC Asian America)
• They Call Us Bruce podcast
• Website | Twitter

More on II

• “Boyz II Men at the Head of the Class” (New York Times, 1994)
• “Boyz II Men Talk Incredible 1994 Run” (Billboard, 2014)

Show Tracklisting (all songs from II unless indicated otherwise):

• Thank You
• I’ll Make Love To You
• Damar Jackson: No Protection
• Thank You
• Boyz II Men: End of the Road
• I Sit Away
• LL Cool J: Hey Lover
• Khalil – Interlude
• Yesterday
• Water Runs Dry
• On Bended Knee
• I’ll Make Love To You
• On Bended Knee
• Boyz II Men: A Song For Mama
• Jezzebel
• Jazmine Sullivan: Round Midnight
• Water Runs Dry

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