R&B Xmas Ball Recap: A Emotional Journey Back to the Nineties
This yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of performers renowned for their Christmas albums. Instead of centering on carols, the evening served as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the sincere and emotional style of 90s R&B.
Starting Acts: Classic Feelings
Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in matching outfits, with music videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Following this, a set of primarily ballads from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the headlining artists.
The Powerful Performance
The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her show with a live band seemed anchored in the era of her greatest success.
However, nine songs into her performance, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a deeply emotional moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.
Driving guitar chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the audience's emotions. She encored with an flawless, though slightly abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos
Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed 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 performance included covers of influences, such as a standout solo on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Touch of Christmas Cheer
Finally, the concert turned to the holiday theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a strong finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Overall Impressions
Although the evening's technical execution had some glitches, and the sense at points was of stars paying homage to their younger selves, the overall result was transportive. The audience was temporarily transported to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than frost.
