This season of The Bachelorette is already off to a great start, but it’s about to get a whole lot better. Iconic four-time Grammy Award–winning R&B group Boyz II Men will be bringing their harmonies to The Bachelorette during a special two-part episode starting tonight. Singer Shawn Stockman gives us the inside track.
Photo credit: Krupp NYC
SheKnows: We’re big Bachelorette and Boyz II Men fans, so we were pumped to hear you guys would be making a cameo on the show. How did this collaboration come about?
Shawn Stockman: It’s a perfect collaboration because our songs have always been all about love and romance and relationships. So it was definitely a great date idea that the producers on the show wanted to do with us. It was fun to have all of the contestants there with us on stage at our concert. Sharing the music is what it’s all about.
SK: We caught a cute clip online of Wanya singing with Andi and telling her she sucked, ha ha. But it was clear y’all were having fun. What was it like working with the bachelorette?
SS: It was great — all in good fun. Andi was a really good sport. We make it look easy on stage, but it’s not.
SK: The 12 remaining guys get the surprise of a lifetime when they find out they’ll be performing on stage with you. At any point while rehearsing with the bachelors, did you have your doubts they’d be able to pull off the performance?
SS: We definitely had some doubts. It’s hard to get up on stage in front of an audience and not just sing, but put on a good performance. And none of the guys — besides Bradley — are trained vocalists, so we definitely expected some rocky moments.
SK: You probably can’t mention any standout singers beforehand, but did y’all get a sense for any of the guys enough to say who you think might have a shot at getting the final rose? Anybody who just impressed you as a person?
SS: You know, it’s still really too soon to tell. We’re going to have to wait until a little later in the season before picking front-runners.
SK: Andi and the guys will be singing “I’ll Make Love to You,” a total classic. What do you think it is about the song that still makes it so relevant 20 years later?
SS: We’ve always been about making heartfelt, timeless songs for real moments in people’s lives. “I’ll Make Love to You” is just one of those songs that audiences have always connected with, and we love how excited fans still are when we play it now, 20 years later.
SK: We love seeing you guys pop up in TV cameos, like How I Met Your Mother and now The Bachelorette. Any chance we’ll be seeing you on any other shows soon? What are some of your personal favorite shows that you’d love to cameo on?
SS: You never know. I’m a father of three, so when I’m home, I always want to spend as much time with them as possible… I end up watching a lot of kids’ shows with my little ones.
SK: We understand you’ll be performing brand-new songs from your upcoming album Collide as well. What can you tell us about that?
SS: We can’t wait to share Collide with the fans. The album will be out Sept. 30 through our label, BMG. Two of the songs, “Better Half” and “Diamond Eyes,” will actually be showcased on The Bachelorette, so fans should tune in for a little sneak peek of the album.
SK: How would you describe the sound on your new album as compared to your past albums?
SS: It’s a totally new direction for us a group, sound-wise. It has more of a “pop” sound that I think our audience will be excited by.
SK: What does the future hold for Boyz II Men?
SS: In addition to Collide, we always have a residency at the Mirage Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. That has been a lot of fun for us, and we’ll be there on weekends through the end of 2014. I also just opened a new cycling gym, Beatbike, in Los Angeles that I’m really excited about.
SK: On a personal note… true story, my first concert was y’all, TLC and MC Hammer — epic!
SS: We’re a little biased, but that’s a great first concert!
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