For the first time all evening, Michael McCary spoke.
"Let's do this thing," said the slightly winded, but more relaxed Boyz II Men bass-man. The soft-spoken McCary had just re-entered the Coca-Cola Star Lake Amphitheatre backstage area, after taking a quick pre-show run through more than 22,600 fans in attendance at his show Wednesday night.
It is obvious by merley being in the same room with Philly's favorite sons that a personality change occurs before the public version of the Boyz takes the stage.
With the exception of Shawn Stockman, the rest of the group, McCary, Wanya Morris, and Nate Morris, seem uncomfortable in one-on-one sitiuations with fans and members of the media.
But when super-stardom hits a group as quick as it hit the Boyz, bouts of shyness should be excpected.
"None us ever expected this in our wildest dreams," Stockman said. "We are real happy with the success, but it is hard to cope with it sometimes."
Many talented musicans and actors have had their share of problems coping with the rapid rise to the top. The key to the world that is Boyz II Men could be the ability to seperate the on-and-off-stage personas.
"In the beginning we had Michael Bivins acting as our big brother and shielding us from a lot of the hype that surrounds all of this madness," Nate Morris said. "Thankfully, that kind of mentality has stuck with us."
"In this business, patience is the best trait to have," Stockman said. "If you are destined to stardom, then eventually it will come.
"You have to be patient and prepare. Prepare for the life and prepare for the success. If you don't, it can be overwhelming."
In a world surrounded by friends, security guards, and 10-foot high stockade fences, it is plain to see the Boyz striving to get some sense of normaley out of the "madness." Privacy, however, is a hard commodity to come by in a world where some people would trade their bodies or even their self-respect for a glimpse or a quick "hello."
The Boyz lapse into a totally different world off-stage.
It is a time when they can be themselves, laughing, and joking with one another without being worshiped or watched.
Probably the true gift given to Boyz II Men members is the ability to look just as comfortable in front of thousands of screaming fans as they do in shorts and a T-shirt, trying to grab a quiet moment in the middle of the insanity.
"God has given us this vehicle to get where we are now," Wanya said. "This whole thing has truly been a blessing."
But while the life may be chaotic, it is a dream the four long-time friends have chosen, accepted and are surviving-together.