Boyz II Men:

At the start of a two-year tour, America's top-selling R&B quartet worries that too many songs today are about sex, not romance. Will real love songs return?

In this story:
Advice from Michael McCary
Ask Michael McCary for advice

Boyz II Men: Nathan Morris, left, Michael McCary, Shawn Stockman and Wanya Morris

alfway through a Boyz II Men concert at Pine Knob Music Theatre near Detroit, the stage goes dark. Then the lights rise on four large vases brimming with roses. Harmonizing on one of their trademark ballads for 12,000 fans, the R&B quartet tenderly presents roses to dozens of swooning young women.

Nathan Morris, Michael McCary, Shawn Stockman and Wanya Morris, all in their mid-20s, aren't the first singers to woo the masses, but they fear theirs is a dying art. Many young people don't know about real love songs, they say, and that's a symptom of larger problems in our culture.

"Songs today are about physical relationships, rather than about anything long-lasting," McCary says. "On the radio, you never used to hear 'I want to do this to you, I want to do that to you' in a distasteful way. Now it's blunt, and it'll get worse before it gets better."

"Physical love songs are shallow," Stockman adds. "The music matches the times. We're spoiled in America. Everything is fast and at our fingertips: the Internet, food, remote controls, TV. We hope everyone will slow down and see the physical side is a tiny aspect of love."

Raised on their parents' Motown records, Boyz II Men met at Philadelphia's performing arts high school. Since their 1991 debut album, they've broken sales records with impassioned hits like End of the Road. Recently they began a two-year tour.

While they don't advocate censorship of explicit lyrics and videos, they say it's time for soul-searching. "We have so much freedom in this country," says Nathan Morris. "I think that's why we're in so much trouble. Look at Singapore and Japan, and the discipline of the people ... the way they raise children. Our Constitution is old. There may be points that need to be rewritten."

ADVICE from singer Michael McCary

Stamp out smut:

"The gangsta rap, the sexual content. ... We need more concern from the community. People need to say, 'Let's get this off the radio.' "

Start with the station: "Most radio station owners are parents. They hear what's on the radio. But if they stop playing [lewd] music, their stations get left behind. It's up to listeners. If you're not buying that music, no one will make it or sell it."

"To be a man, you need to keep that boyish part of you."

Solve problems now:"If we have a problem, we go into a room, just the four of us, and kick everyone else out. We don't leave until we iron things out."

Boyz II Men will write or call a reader who seeks advice. By Aug. 2, write to "Straight Talk," P.O. Box 3455, Chicago, Ill. 60654 (fax: 312-661-0375; e-mail: talk@usaweekend.com).