Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you wonderful tunes with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, Philadelphia R&B legends Boyz II Men sing about a long-lost love in their 2014 release, “Diamond Eyes.”
In this power ballad about a man longing to be reunited with the dream girl of his past, the soulful singers croon, “And then the sun rose, our bodies unfroze / And it turned us both gold / Your diamond eyes glowed, yeah.”
Songwriter Coley O’Toole uses the precious metal reference to symbolize the innocent and exciting “goldenness” of youth, an idea first invoked in the 1923 Robert Frost poem, “Nothing Gold Can Stay.” Her diamond eyes connote strength, brilliance and perfection. In the end, the song’s protagonist says he will never lose hope that she will be found.
“Diamond Eyes” was the first single released from the group’s 12th studio album, Collide. The album reached #6 on the U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and #37 on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart.
The four-time Grammy-winning act, which features the sweet harmonies of long-time members Shawn Stockman, Wanya Morris and Nathan Morris, has sold more than 60 million recordings and earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012. The group was named by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) as the most commercially successful R&B group of all time.
Originally known as Unique Attraction, Boyz II Men was founded in 1985 by friends Nathan Morris and Marc Nelson at the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts. The original group often rehearsed in a school bathroom due to its excellent acoustics.
By the early 1990s, Boyz II Men earned international fame with a series of Top 5 releases, including “Motownphilly” and “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday.” The group originated as a quartet, but became a trio when Michael McCary had to leave the group in 2003 due to multiple sclerosis.
In 2017, a section of Broad Street in Philadelphia was renamed “Boyz II Men Boulevard.” That section of Broad Street happens to be the home of the high school where the boys got their start.
Check out the audio clip of Boyz II Men performing “Diamond Eyes.” The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…
“Diamond Eyes”
Written by Coley O’Toole. Performed by Boyz II Men.
When we were young, our hearts were strong,
And they beat as one, till the day had come
When I thought that you were gone
And then the sun rose, our bodies unfroze
And it turned us both gold
Your diamond eyes glowed, yeah, ohhhhh
When we were young, our love was strong
We beat as one, till the day had come,
And I thought that you were gone
And then the sun rose, our bodies unfroze
And it turned us both gold
Your diamond eyes glowed, yeah
I would search near and far
Drag the seas and mine the dark,
Search through every place I think you are
I would search near and far
Drag the seas and mine the dark
And never losing hope that you be found, ohhhh
And then the sun rose, our bodies unfroze
And it turned us both gold
Your diamond eyes glowed, yea,
your diamond eyes glowed,
your diamond eyes glowed,
your diamond eyes glowed, ohhhh
Credit: Image by Lunchbox LP from Culver City, CA, USA / CC BY.
