R&B Christmas Concert Recap: A Emotional Trip Back to the 90s

This yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday records. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the evening served as a nostalgic reason for a trip back to the earnest and emotional sound of 1990s R&B.

Starting Acts: Timeless Feelings

Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of primarily slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance

The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. Initially, her performance with a backing band appeared anchored in the time period of her peak success.

Then, deep into her performance, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform live again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply heartfelt moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.

Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the audience's hearts. She encored with an flawless, though somewhat shortened, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

Appearing on stage in strikingly matching all-white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-part harmonies that were both tight and reactive to their live band.

Their performance featured covers of influences, such as a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Holiday Cheer

Towards the end, the evening embraced the Christmas theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a powerful closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Thoughts

While the night's production had some glitches, and the feeling at times was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall effect was transformative. The crowd was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with sparkle rather than frost.