Boyz II Men have several hit songs that I could dig into but, since this blog is about greatness, I want to settle once and for all what the greatest Boyz II Men song is. I'm going to look at the two classic ballads, On Bended Knee and I'll Make Love to You. Both are from the 1994 album "II," and both topped the Billboard charts. Bended Knee is the underdog, having spent a mere 6 weeks at #1, although it ended I'll Make Love's 14-week reign, making Boyz II Men the third group after Elvis and The Beatles to usurp their own song from the top spot.
Now I know what you're thinking: what about End of the Road? I know, I considered it. For some reason, despite it spending more time at #1 than Bended Knee (13 weeks!), it just doesn't do as much for me. It has a couple things going for it: a nice minor-11 voicing on the vi chord, the extra long talking section by the bass in the middle, and the a cappella ending. But this is the heavyweight championships; there can be only one winner, and I'm afraid End of the Road didn't make the cut.
With that out of the way, let's fight!
ROUND ONE
On Bended Knee comes out swinging hard with a top-to-bottom glissando in the synth bass at :07. I could listen to that all day. It's interesting that the intro and interludes are in Ab, then the verse moves to Eb - it's a nice compositional touch. Another, deeper synth gliss brings into the chorus at :52. Great chords in the chorus, especially the Db9 with the low bass note. Nice harmonies and unisons, and I appreciate the patient tempo...a solid beginning for the contender.
The first thing I notice is that I'll Make Love to You doesn't sound quite as good; that is, it's a little more reliant on synthesizers. Bended Knee has a nice acoustic piano and some nylon string guitar. Even if they're fake, they sound real enough and I think they warm up the sound a lot.
That aside, there's a lot to like. What at first sounds like a very uninspired I-vi-ii-V song keeps surprising me, with the bVII chord in the intro, the A/G (third chord of the verse) and the chromatic approach to the ii chord at :40.
The chorus is nice - harmonies are a little obvious but it's definitely catchy. I'm just starting to lean toward Bended Knee when WHAT? The singer brings us into the second verse at 1:29 with a high "girl, relax" over the break as the bassist plays a sweet descending lick way up the neck. That's a real bass, not a synth. I am reminded why I'll Make Love is the reigning champ. This is going to be good fight, folks.
ROUND TWO
Bended Knee's second verse and chorus offer few surprises, but there is plenty to enjoy: variations on the melody, falsetto, great synth bass parts and lots of vocal riffing over the chorus. It's a solid second act that ensures that you don't get bored.
Next comes the bridge...or does it? The bridge can be the best part of the song - a chance for variety, sometimes a very catchy different idea to give your ears a rest, offer a new lyrical perspective and send you off to the end of the song with new excitement.
But Bended Knee doesn't really have a bridge. At least, not at first. Instead, they start with bass Michael McCary talking over the verse chords. "Baby." It's a move borrowed from End of the Road and, while I don't dislike it, I worry that it is a lost opportunity for a great bridge.
Shortly there after they move to Cm, in what could be considered the bridge, although it feels like more of a pre-chorus section. There's nothing special in the chords, but the backup harmonies and synth bass continue to be excellent. The round ends with an outstanding, if predictable, modulation to the final chorus. If you're going to move the song up a half step, that's how it's done.
I'll Make Love gets increasingly kinkier, as any of us who has ever listened to the song in an uncomfortable car ride with their mom can attest. The second verse and chorus are serviceable, again keeping it interesting with some vocal riffing. Nothing too exciting happens, and I would argue that Bended Knee does a bit more with this part of the song.
But the bridge is where the champ really flexes its muscles. The singer is up in his head voice and he's not leaving. The bassist is killing it, playing a nice arpeggio at 2:44 followed by - OH SNAP - are those power chords? In the bass? Yep. Listen carefully, it's E5, D5, C5, in the bass. You don't hear that every day. Then we build the V chord, the singer is way up high, the bass slides down and we're in the final chorus. It's going to be close one.
ROUND THREE
Bended Knee is just coming off a big modulation, and I find myself wondering whether it helped itself. While it was done well, it's also such a cliche writing device that I'm left feeling more impressed that I'll Make Love didn't modulate.
The final chorus sounds a lot like the second one, and there's nothing wrong with that. Things appear to be winding down around 4:25, and just as it seems Bended Knee has played all of its cards - ARE YOU KIDDING ME? It's a second modulation. I did not see that coming. With the singer up on some high Cs, this is fantastic. It's like he had finally given up on the girl, walking away, then decided no, I CAN'T GIVE UP. I'm going for it. Bravo.
There is a melisma at 5:54 that doesn't really fit the chord (Eb9), but it happens so quickly that I won't deduct much for that. I like that they play the intro to finish and end up closing the song in Bb, despite the fact that no other part of the song was in Bb. Somehow it works. It's a solid finish. Now let's see what I'll Make Love has left.
We just coming off the huge build from the bridge, and the first thing I love is that the singer carries his note over from the bridge into the chorus. This also happens in Bended Knee, but what really makes it special is it turns into a kind of descant over the chorus. It's a nice touch, and all of the ensuing vocal riffs are excellent. There's not much to dislike in the final chorus, but also no big surprises. It kind of wraps up after a couple quick iterations, then fades out instrumentally, as though the song feels it has nothing more to prove.
DECISION
This is a really tough call. Both songs have some really strong points and both deserve a prominent place in your "Lotion Music" mix tape. By a hair, I think I have to give it to the underdog, On Bended Knee. Compositionally it just feels like a better song. While I'll Make Love is harmonically a bit generic, Bended Knee has a clever intro and nice chords throughout. While I appreciate the real bass in I'll Make Love, the synth bass is just so well done in Bended Knee that it comes out ahead. Add to that the epic second modulation, contrasted by the phoned-in ending of I'll Make Love and I think it's clear who the winner should be.
Ultimately, I think my first impression was the right one. To me, Bended Knee just sounds better. The arranging, mixing and mastering seem to have been given more attention, and that can make all the difference. Still, both are solid songs and a strong case can be made for either. Just know that, if you are deciding which to listen to in the car with your mom, On Bended Knee is always the better choice.
