How does one go about raising Russia’s birth rate? Vladmir Putin’s answer, allegedly, was to hire Boyz II Men to croon until Russians start to feel romantic enough to make more babies.
No denying that the group responsible for hits like “I’ll Make Love To You” and “On Bended Knee” produces some seriously sexy tunes, but recruiting the singers and their “powerful voices” is all reportedly part of Putin’s fertility campaign, according to The Moscow Times.
The publication interviewed members Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman and Nathan Morris ahead of their visit to the Russian capital. They write, “The stylish trio of Boyz II Men, the most successful R&B group of all time, is coming to Moscow on Feb 6. The group will perform a selection of their classic and new romantic ballads, hopefully giving Russian men some inspiration ahead of St. Valentine’s Day.” It is unclear if the Russian prez personally hired the performers.
Russia has faced a long term decline in the population. Current birth rates in Russia show an average of 1.7 children born to each woman.
“The norm in Russia should be three children,” said the 60-year-old president in a December speech reported by The Times to urge Russian mothers to multiply.
There are signs that the fertility campaign is working and that Russia’s birth rate is back up. He used the same speech to announce the country’s birth rate was “at last above the mortality rate.”