R&B quartet Boyz II Men were still basking in their massively successful single “End of the Road” when their first-holiday album, Christmas Interpretations, hit stores in the fall of 1993. The first single from the album was “Let It Snow,” and while the group could have gone the pop route and just covered the Vaughn Monroe standard, the four gents from Philly delivered a holiday slow jam classic.
“Let It Snow” found the group working with Brian McKnight, who produced the song with BIIM and co-wrote it with group member Wanya Morris. Wanya opens the song with his signature lush vocals crooning:
“It’s another Christmas holiday
It’s a joyous thing, let the Angels sing
‘Cause we’re together
We got a thing, can’t let it slip away
Go outside, it’s raining sleet
When our bodies meet
I don’t care about the weather
Let it snow, let it snow, outside it’s cold
But the fire’s blazin’ so, baby, let it snow
Let it snow, yeah
Let it snow, let it snow”.
Brian McKnight comes in on the second verse with a simple line, “Come over here and help me trim the tree “which sounds heavenly. Boyz II Men then come back to finish the song for the remaining running time. The song’s appeal is that the lyrics from Wanya and McKnight showcase the writing ability of both men.
Twenty-eight years later, “Let It Snow” still sounds fresh and is part of my annual Christmas playlist.
Final Grade : A
Christmas Interpretations is available on all streaming platforms.
Growing up in the nineties, movies aimed at a melanin audience often featured soundtracks that had to be just as flavorful as the films themselves. This week, for Slow Jam Saturday, I want to take a trip back to 1993 and highlight one of the slow jams from the soundtrack of “Menace II Society”.
Last week marked two significant anniversaries for one of the greatest artists of all time, Mr. Prince Rogers Nelson. It’s only fitting that I show him some love for Second Listen Sunday. The first anniversary was on the 21st, commemorating nine years since his passing. The second anniversary was on the 22nd, celebrating the 40th anniversary of his seventh studio album, “Around the World in a Day.”
One of my most significant decisions late last year was to pledge to Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. At the time of this writing, I am in Atlantic City for my fraternity’s Regional Conference, where I will represent my chapter, Beta Alpha Omega. In that regard, I believe the perfect song for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday is “The Best Man I Can Be.”