Grammy Award-winning and record-breaking rhythm & blues group Boyz II Men have added their voices to Tokyo's bid for the 2016 Olympics. The group is the most successful male R&B vocal group of all time in terms of sales.
In a letter to the Tokyo 2016 Bid Committee, they declared: “Tokyo is a city we have been fortunate enough to have performed in since 1993. It is a multicultural place full of friendly faces, and we know it is also somewhere our fellow entertainers love to come. From its cutting-edge technology to its people’s hospitality and passion for sport, Tokyo is the perfect stage for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“The Olympic Games is a very special time for people all around the globe. We had the honor of singing 'The Star Spangled Banner' during the closing ceremony of the Atlanta Games in 1996, and it was one of the most fulfilling experiences of our career and our lives. Boyz II Men is writing today to share with the world a very special city that we like to call our second home. Boyz II Men hopes that through the greatest sporting show on earth, the world will be united in Japan’s dynamic capital city for Tokyo 2016.”
Ichiro Kono, Tokyo 2016 Chair and CEO, said, "We are delighted to have the support of a group which has inspired people of all ages and throughout the world for many years. Their love of Japan and our nation’s people is clear and a source of pride for us.
“Music, like sport, is universal, and both have are able to unite people and transcend borders. Our dream is that the entire Olympic Movement gets the opportunity to create treasured memories of Tokyo in the way that Boyz II Men have, and Tokyo 2016 is setting the stage for heroes to ensure that this becomes a reality.”
Formed in 1988, Boyz II Men recorded five #1 R&B successes between 1992 and 1997 and have sold more than 60 million albums. Three of the group’s #1 hits, "End of the Road", "I'll Make Love to You", and "One Sweet Day", set records for the longest period of time a single remained at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. "One Sweet Day" still holds that record.
The group will make their latest visit to Japan later this month for its JAPAN TOUR 2009, during which they will perform with the New York Symphonic Ensemble. The tour includes dates in Osaka on July 28 and 29, Nagoya on Aug 1 and Yokohama on Aug 4.
© Japan Today
24 Comments
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noborito
Now if they knew what the average person thought about African American's would they feel this way? They should try to rent an apartment here. Wouldn't even get 3 sentences in, in most places.
TokyoGas
noborito - spot on mate, spot on.
combinibento
Is this band even relevant anymore? Could this country not get someone with a little more popularity and influence to put in a good word to the IOC? Then again, Japan is still fascinated with Mr. Big so what do I know...
johnnyreb
tokyo is multicultural?
noborito
combinibento, you are joking right. Worldwide Platinum on their latest album in 2 weeks. You are joking right?
McC72
Noborito, You said it all. I have no other words. Ask the average under 30 here in Japan if they even know these boys.
Potsu
"It is a multicultural place full of friendly faces"
Today's comedy line perhaps ?!stirfry
they must be planning another tour here and need to pump up ticket sales
Jigg88
they should now just call themselves "Men"
Outspoken
Quote "It is a multicultural place full of friendly faces, and we know it is also somewhere our fellow entertainers love to come. From its cutting-edge technology to its people’s hospitality and passion for sport, Tokyo is the perfect stage for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games"
Definately Boyz 2 Men made these comments in order to promote their upcoming tour. Just take a ride on a train and see how sad everyone looks.
hoserfella
noborito, ill have to take your word for it about their record sales, but quick, can u hum one of their tunes? Let's face it, they haven't been relevant if at all since the 80's. They are just one more dinosaur group that comes to the Japanese trough to make a few bucks before retirement. And yeah, too bad that they've never experienced life in Japan as ordinary blacks. I doubt they'd be going on about how friendly and multicultural it is.
caribjustice
They obviously made their comments based on their experiences in Japan. And from this comment, "...and we know it is also somewhere our fellow entertainers love to come." others in the entertainment industry have had a positive experience as well. The reality of the matter is that noborito doesn't actually have a clue about what the average Japanese thinks. Only on what he thinks they think.
gogogo
Are you kidding me? They can't get a record deal in America so they sell out and support Japan. What are they doing?
gogogo
noborito: Excellent first post.
Hotbox08
Boyz II Men I know. Who's noborito?
Raja Kumar
Only 74 days to go, for Bid decision day.
Not very long now. Hope the best and most favoured city wins.
rogerbentham
it's about money. yen to-> dollar. paying bills. that's what men and women have to do. just ask girzsIIwomen.
IvanCoughalot
But really - who cares what these hasbeens have to say about anything? If they were former sporting legends, fair enough, they might have a point. But they evidently just got treated quite nicely here once and think that can be extrapolated to the burg being serious competition for the host title, rather than yet another one of Blinky Bill's finger-in-pie set-ups.
Until soap is available in train stations, the Olympics can do better than this place.
usaexpat
gogogo: "Big In Japan" works for a lot of artists. I'm pretty sure Michael Jackson was bigger in Asia at the time of his death then he was back home.
ritalynn
hoserfella, they had lots of hits in the 90's as well. They were a big group, key word being were, I don't think they even put out a album this decade.
And noborito, I have to ask, what did you first comment mean?
soldave
So their last success was 12 years ago? Not really a glowing endorsement from a band of the people.
Blue_Tiger
I'm hoping that Tokyo DOESN'T get the bid, and that Boz II Men coem and see the REAL Tokyo. Well-said, Noborito...
gogogo
usaexpat: The big in Japan concept in dead now, no Japanese label will touch anything unless it's a sure fire bet. You can't take risks on any new unknown talent no matter how good the music is these days because music sales have tanked.
ultradodgy
With any luck they can play, and get arrested in, Roppongi.
Tokyo is a lot of things, multicultural ain't one of them. Talk about shillin' for massa - these guys should be ashamed.