Boyz II Men “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” hit #1 on R&B chart

It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday Boyz II Men

Writer(s): Freddie Perren, Christine Yarian (see lyrics here) Released: August 20, 1991 First Charted: August 17, 1991 Peak: 2 US, 12 CB, 6 GR, 11 RR, 11 RB, 36 CN, 100 AU, 3 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 0.5 US Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 20.9 video, 16.58 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Boyz II Men formed as an R&B vocal harmony quartet in Philadelphia in 1988. They signed to Motown Records and released their debut album, CooleyHighHarmony, in 1991. It was a success right out of the gate when the lead single, “Motownphilly,” was a platinum seller that reached the top 5 on the pop and R&B charts. The follow-up single, “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday,” was an even bigger chart success, going all the way to #1 on the R&B chart and spending four weeks at #2 on the pop chart behind Michael Jackson’s “Black or White.” It was not, however, the song’s first appearance on the charts. G.C. Cameron, another Motown artist who’d previously been with the Spinners, took the song to #38 on the R&B chart in 1975. It was featured in the movie Cooley High. Boyz II Men named their debut album after the film. WK In the context of the movie, the song was framed as a reflection of “the powerful emotions many students feel when high school eneds and they must move on.” SF However, the a cappella recording by Boyz II Men brought the song a new level of seriousness that made it popular for funerals. It is the second biggest a cappella song of all-time behind Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry Be Happy,” a #1 song from 1988. SF They had to push to get the single released because Motown didn’t think radio stations would play it. SF Boyz II Men went on to have some of the biggest hits in pop history. In 1992, they released the song “End of the Road” from the movie Boomerang and it spent thirteen weeks at #1, the biggest hit since Elvis Presley’s “Don’t Be Cruel” / “Hound Dog” double-A-sided single. They outdid themselves with “I’ll Make Love to You,” the lead single from their 1994 sophomore album, II. It spent fourteen weeks on top. Then they pulled off the feat again in 1995 when “One Sweet Day,” a pairing with Mariah Carey, spent sixteen weeks at #1. Resources: SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 12/26/2022.