R&B Christmas Ball Recap: An Heartfelt Journey Returning to the Nineties
The yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of performers known for their Christmas records. Rather than focusing on carols, the night acted as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the earnest and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B.
Opening Acts: Timeless Vibes
Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s displaying behind them. Following this, a set of primarily ballads from the artist Joe set the stage for the main artists.
Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance
The opening of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. Initially, her performance with a live band appeared rooted in the time period of her peak success.
However, deep into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not sing on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a deeply heartfelt performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.
Driving guitar chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the audience's emotions. She encored with an impeccable, though slightly abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters
Appearing on stage in strikingly matching all-white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-part harmonies that were both tight and responsive to their accompaniment.
Their set included interpretations of inspirations, such as a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Touch of Holiday Spirit
Towards the end, the concert embraced the Christmas mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a strong finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Final Impressions
While the night's production experienced some hiccups, and the sense at points was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the net effect was transportive. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.
