Boyz II Men Hired by Russian President to Help Boost Birth Rate
Russian President Vladimir Putin is on a mission to increase birthrates in his country, and he may be receiving a little help from R&B trio "Boyz II Men," for a musical concert designed to boost sex drives, according to The Moscow Times.
The group, responsible for making hits like "I'll Make Love To You" and "On Bended Knee" has been allegedly recruited by the Russian government in hopes of persuading Russian men to be more romantic and affectionate, so that women could push out more babies. The show take place on Feb. 6, a week before Valentine's Day. The Moscow Times called this "no coincidence."
According to the Daily Mail UK, Russia is facing a decrease of 25 million people from 142 million to 116 million-- by 2050, if the current rates of childbirth and early deaths from alcoholism, heroin addiction, pollution and poor health continues. In 2011 as Prime Minister, Putin announced plans to invest $53 billion to help raise reproduction rates by 2015.
Putin, who assumed office in May 2012, recently encouraged Russians to have at least three children and even lauded cash payments for mothers having a second child. "Demographers affirm that choosing to have a second child is already a potential choice in favour of a third," Putin added. "It's important that families make that step...I am convinced that the norm in Russia should become a family with three children," he said in a December speech reported by The Telegraph.
The Moscow Times interviewed Boyz II Men band members Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman and Nathan Morris in January about their upcoming concert and the possibility of writing a song for Moscow. They confessed a "special love" for their Russian fans. "Russian audiences have always shown us a lot or love. It's amazing for us to see fans across the world who know every lyric to our songs. We really appreciate all the support they have given us over the years," the group said.
"We bring 100 percent energy each and every night we're out on the tour-and we love seeing the fans react to that," they added.
