R&B Xmas Ball Recap: An Emotional Trip Returning to the 90s
The second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of centering on seasonal songs, the evening acted as a nostalgic excuse for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B.
Starting Performances: Classic Feelings
The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in matching outfits, with videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Next, a performance of mostly ballads from Joe set the stage for the main artists.
Toni Braxton's Powerful Set
The beginning of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her performance with a live band seemed anchored in the time period of her peak success.
However, nine songs into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never perform on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a profoundly heartfelt performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.
Driving guitar chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, solidifying her grip over the audience's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though somewhat shortened, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos
Appearing on stage in strikingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way vocals that were both precise and responsive to their accompaniment.
Their performance included interpretations of inspirations, such as a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Holiday Cheer
Towards the end, the evening embraced the holiday theme 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 glitches, and the sense at points was of artists performing a tribute to their past selves, the net result was transportive. The crowd was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving sprinkled with sparkle rather than frost.
