R&B Christmas Ball Recap: A Emotional Trip Back to the 90s
The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a roster of artists known for their holiday records. Rather than 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.
Opening Acts: Classic Vibes
Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in matching attire, with music videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Next, a performance of mostly slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts.
Toni Braxton's Moving Performance
The beginning of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her performance with a live band appeared rooted in the era of her peak fame.
However, nine songs into her performance, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never perform live again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a deeply heartfelt performance. “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, cementing her command over the audience's hearts. She finished with an impeccable, though slightly shortened, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters
Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way vocals that were both tight and responsive to their accompaniment.
Their performance included covers of inspirations, including a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Touch of Holiday Spirit
Finally, the concert embraced the holiday theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a powerful finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Overall Impressions
While the evening's technical execution experienced some hiccups, and the feeling at times was of stars performing a tribute to their past selves, the overall result was transportive. The audience was temporarily transported to the peak era of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.
