R&B Christmas Ball Recap: A Emotional Trip Back to the Nineties
This yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a lineup of artists renowned for their Christmas records. Rather than centering on seasonal songs, the evening served as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional sound of 1990s R&B.
Opening Acts: Classic Feelings
Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in matching attire, with music videos from the 2000s era displaying behind them. Next, a set of mostly slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the main acts.
The Moving Performance
The beginning of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her performance with a backing band seemed anchored in the era of her greatest fame.
However, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not sing on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly emotional performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.
Driving guitar chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the audience's emotions. She finished with an impeccable, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos
Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated all-white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-way harmonies that were both tight and responsive to their accompaniment.
Their performance featured covers of influences, including a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Holiday Cheer
Finally, the evening embraced the Christmas theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a powerful finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Final Thoughts
While the evening's production had some hiccups, and the feeling at points was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the overall result was transportive. The audience was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than frost.
