R&B Xmas Ball Recap: A Emotional Trip Returning to the Nineties
The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of performers renowned for their Christmas records. Rather than centering on carols, the evening served as a nostalgic reason for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B.
Starting Performances: Classic Feelings
The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in matching outfits, with music videos from the 2000s era displaying on screens behind them. Next, a performance of primarily ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the main acts.
Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance
The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. At first, her performance with a backing band seemed anchored in the time period of her peak success.
Then, nine songs into her set, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform live again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly emotional performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.
Driving guitar chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the audience's hearts. She finished with an impeccable, though somewhat abridged, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos
Taking the stage in strikingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way vocals that were both tight and reactive to their accompaniment.
Their set featured interpretations of inspirations, including a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Touch of Christmas Cheer
Towards the end, the concert embraced the holiday mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a strong closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Final Thoughts
Although the night's production had some hiccups, and the feeling at points was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the net result was transportive. The crowd was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving dusted with sparkle rather than frost.
