R&B Xmas Concert Recap: A Heartfelt Journey Back to the Nineties
The yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of performers renowned for their Christmas records. Instead of focusing on carols, the night acted as a nostalgic reason for a trip back to the earnest and emotional sound of 1990s R&B.
Starting Performances: Classic Feelings
The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated attire, with videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Next, 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 cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her performance with a backing band appeared rooted in the time period of her peak success.
However, nine songs into her performance, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not sing on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a deeply emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.
Power chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her grip over the audience's hearts. She finished with an impeccable, though slightly abridged, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters
Appearing on stage in dazzlingly coordinated white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-part harmonies that were both precise and responsive to their accompaniment.
Their performance featured covers of influences, including a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Christmas Cheer
Finally, the concert embraced the holiday theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a powerful finale of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Overall Impressions
While the evening's production experienced some glitches, and the feeling at times was of stars paying homage to their younger selves, the overall effect was transportive. The audience was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than snow.
