R&B Christmas Ball Recap: An Heartfelt Trip Back to the Nineties
The second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of performers known for their Christmas albums. Instead of centering on carols, the night acted as a nostalgic excuse for a trip back to the sincere and emotional style of 90s R&B.
Opening Performances: Classic Vibes
Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s displaying behind them. Next, a performance of primarily slow jams from the artist Joe set the stage for the headlining artists.
Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance
The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. Initially, her performance with a live band appeared anchored in the time period of her greatest fame.
Then, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might not sing on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.
Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's emotions. She finished with an flawless, though slightly abridged, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters
Taking the stage in strikingly matching white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.
Their set featured covers of inspirations, including a standout solo on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Touch of Christmas Spirit
Towards the end, the evening embraced the Christmas theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a strong closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Final Thoughts
Although the evening's technical execution had some glitches, and the feeling at times was of stars performing a tribute to their past selves, the overall result was transformative. The crowd was temporarily transported to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than frost.
