R&B Christmas Ball Recap: An Heartfelt Trip Returning to the Nineties
The second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of artists renowned for their holiday records. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the night acted as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and heart-rending style of 90s R&B.
Starting Acts: Classic Feelings
The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in matching outfits, with music videos from the 2000s era playing behind them. Following this, a set of mostly ballads from the artist Joe set the stage for the headlining acts.
The Powerful Performance
The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her performance with a backing band appeared rooted in the time period of her peak fame.
However, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never sing on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply emotional moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.
Power 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 shortened, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos
Appearing on stage in dazzlingly matching all-white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-part vocals that were both tight and responsive to their accompaniment.
Their performance included interpretations 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 Holiday Cheer
Towards the end, the concert embraced the Christmas theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a powerful 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 hiccups, and the feeling at points was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the net effect was transportive. The audience was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than frost.
