When you talk about New Edition songs, "Is This the End" usually pops up as that quintessential, tear-jerking ballad that every kid in the 80s tried to harmonize to in their bedroom. It’s raw. It’s a bit messy. It captures that exact moment when a group of teenagers from Orchard Park projects in Boston were becoming the biggest thing in the world while simultaneously dealing with the crushing weight of the music industry.
Most people think of "Candy Girl" as the definitive early New Edition track, but "Is This the End" hits differently. It wasn't just a song about a breakup. For the group—Bobby Brown, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Ronnie DeVoe, and Ralph Tresvant—it felt like a prophecy. They were young, barely into their teens, and already navigating the shark-infested waters of Streetwise Records and Maurice Starr.
Why "Is This the End" Hits Harder Than Other New Edition Songs
You’ve gotta understand the context of 1983. New Edition wasn't just another boy band; they were the blueprint. "Is This the End" appeared on their debut album, Candy Girl, and it stood out because it wasn't bubbly. It was moody. It leaned heavily on that doo-wop influence that Maurice Starr loved, but the vocal delivery from Ralph Tresvant felt older than his years.
Ralph had this specific, high-tenor "whimper" in his voice that made you believe his heart was actually breaking over a middle school crush. But behind the scenes, the group was barely making any money. While "Is This the End" was climbing the R&B charts, the boys were reportedly given checks for $1.87 after their tour expenses were "recouped." Talk about irony. The song asks if this is the end of a romance, but the kids were likely wondering if it was the end of their patience with a bad record deal.
The production is sparse. It’s got that heavy 80s reverb and a drum machine that sounds a bit dated now, yet the soul is undeniable. If you listen closely to the harmonies, you can hear the foundation of what would eventually become Bell Biv DeVoe and Bobby Brown’s solo career. They weren't just singing; they were studying how to command a track.
The Maurice Starr Era and the Sound of Boston
Maurice Starr is a controversial figure in the New Edition lore. He’s the guy who "discovered" them, wrote the hits, and then eventually moved on to create New Kids on the Block using the exact same formula. "Is This the End" is peak Starr. It uses simple chord progressions—the classic I-vi-IV-V structure—that taps into a universal nostalgia.
It’s interesting how "Is This the End" compares to their later Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis produced tracks like "Can You Stand the Rain." While the later stuff is polished and "grown," this early ballad is gritty. It’s suburban basement soul.
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Honestly, the song’s longevity is wild. You can go to any cookout today, drop the needle on this track, and you’ll see 50-year-old men and 15-year-old kids all hitting that same "Is this the e-n-n-n-d?" run. It’s a cultural touchstone. It represents the transition from the Jackson 5 era of "cute" R&B to the more sophisticated, New Jack Swing-adjacent sound that New Edition would eventually pioneer.
The Vocal Breakdown: Ralph vs. Bobby
We have to talk about the vocal hand-offs. Ralph Tresvant was the undisputed lead, the "Michael Jackson" of the group at that time. His voice on "Is This the End" is the anchor. But listen to the ad-libs. You can hear Bobby Brown starting to find his swagger. Even in a sad ballad, Bobby had this huskier, more aggressive tone that balanced Ralph's sweetness.
It’s these nuances that make New Edition songs like "Is This the End" essential listening for anyone trying to understand the evolution of R&B. They weren't just puppets. They were kids with incredible natural timing.
The Legacy of the Ballad
When New Edition eventually left Streetwise Records and signed with MCA, their sound changed. They got "cool." They wore the leather suits. They had the choreography. But "Is This the End" remained a staple in their live sets. Why? Because it’s the emotional core of their origin story.
It’s the song that proved they could do more than just dance to "Cool It Now." It proved they had "the soul."
If you look at the charts from that era, R&B was in a weird place. Disco was dead, and synth-pop was taking over. New Edition managed to bridge that gap by keeping the "street" feel while using the tech of the time. "Is This the End" doesn't feel like a synthetic pop song. It feels like a campfire song for the inner city.
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Breaking Down the Lyrics
The lyrics are simple. "I remember the way we used to be / I remember the way you used to love me." It’s not Shakespeare. But in the hands of five kids from Boston who were literally seeing the world for the first time, it felt profound.
- The realization: The opening lines set a scene of sudden distance.
- The plea: The chorus isn't demanding; it’s a question. It’s vulnerable.
- The acceptance: By the end of the song, the fading out of the vocals suggests a quiet exit rather than a dramatic explosion.
This wasn't the aggressive New Jack Swing of the Heart Break album. This was the sound of innocence being lost.
Real-World Impact and Cover Versions
You don't see many people covering "Is This the End" because it's dangerous territory. How do you recreate that specific, prepubescent ache? Boyz II Men, who were heavily influenced by New Edition (Michael Bivins actually discovered them), took that blueprint and ran with it. You can hear "Is This the End" in the DNA of "End of the Road."
The song also serves as a benchmark for vocal groups. If your group can't harmonize the bridge of "Is This the End" without a backing track, you probably shouldn't be a group. It’s a litmus test for R&B chemistry.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Track
There’s a common misconception that this song was a massive #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. It actually wasn't. While it was a huge R&B hit, it peaked lower on the mainstream charts. This is a recurring theme with early New Edition songs; they were massive in the Black community and on urban radio long before "Pop" America caught on with "Cool It Now."
Another myth is that the group hated these early songs because of the Maurice Starr drama. While they certainly had issues with the business side, members like Ricky Bell have frequently spoken about the "magic" of those early recording sessions. They were just kids in a room making music. There was no pressure yet.
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How to Listen to New Edition Today
If you’re revisiting their catalog, don't just stick to the Greatest Hits. Go back to the Candy Girl album. Listen to the transition from "Popcorn Love" into "Is This the End." It’s a masterclass in pacing.
- Check the 12-inch versions: Often, the extended mixes have vocal runs that were cut from the radio edits.
- Watch the live performances from 1983-1984: The choreography for their ballads was just as tight as their fast songs.
- Compare it to Bobby Brown’s "Don't Be Cruel": You can see how the vulnerability in "Is This the End" eventually turned into the "bad boy" sensitive persona Bobby used to dominate the late 80s.
The story of New Edition is one of survival. They survived bad contracts, internal fights, members leaving, and the changing tides of musical taste. "Is This the End" was a question they asked themselves many times over the last forty years. Every time it seemed like the answer was "yes," they found a way to come back.
To truly appreciate the track, you have to hear it as more than a breakup song. It’s the sound of a legacy beginning. It’s the sound of five kids who had no idea they were about to change music forever, wondering if the dream was over before it even really started.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans and Collectors
If you want to dive deeper into the history of this track and the group's early era, start by tracking down the original vinyl pressing of the Candy Girl album on Streetwise Records. The analog warmth does wonders for the low-end frequencies of "Is This the End."
For a more modern perspective, watch the New Edition Story miniseries. It gives a surprisingly accurate (though dramatized) look at the recording sessions for these early hits. Pay close attention to the scenes involving their choreography rehearsals; it puts the discipline required for these "simple" songs into perspective.
Finally, listen to the "Is This the End" instrumental. Stripping away the vocals allows you to hear the intricate synth arrangements Maurice Starr used to mimic a classic orchestral feel on a budget. It’s a fascinating look at 1980s studio ingenuity.