R&B Christmas Ball Recap: A Heartfelt Journey Back to the Nineties
The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday records. Rather than focusing on carols, the evening acted as a sentimental excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional style of 1990s R&B.
Starting Performances: Timeless Feelings
The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with music videos from the 2000s displaying behind them. Following this, a performance of primarily slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main acts.
Toni Braxton's Moving Performance
The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. Initially, her show with a backing band appeared anchored in the era of her peak success.
Then, nine songs into her performance, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might not perform on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a profoundly emotional performance. “For 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 grip over the crowd's hearts. She encored with an flawless, though slightly shortened, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters
Appearing on stage in dazzlingly coordinated white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-part vocals that were both precise and responsive to their accompaniment.
Their set featured covers of influences, such as a standout solo on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Holiday Spirit
Finally, the evening embraced the holiday theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a strong finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Final Thoughts
While the evening's technical execution experienced some hiccups, and the sense at times was of artists performing a tribute to their past selves, the overall result was transportive. The crowd was temporarily transported to the golden age of R&B, leaving dusted with glitter rather than frost.
