R&B Xmas Ball Review: A Heartfelt Journey Back to the Nineties
The second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of performers known for their Christmas albums. Instead of centering on carols, the evening served as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B.
Opening Acts: Classic Feelings
Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in matching outfits, with music videos from the 2000s displaying behind them. Following this, a performance of primarily ballads from Joe set the stage for the headlining acts.
The Moving Set
The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her show with a backing band seemed anchored in the time period of her greatest fame.
Then, nine songs into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.
Power chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's hearts. She encored with an impeccable, though slightly shortened, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos
Taking the stage in strikingly matching white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way harmonies that were both precise and responsive to their live band.
Their performance featured covers of inspirations, including a standout solo on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Christmas Spirit
Finally, the evening turned to the Christmas mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a strong finale of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Overall Impressions
Although the evening's production experienced some hiccups, and the feeling at times was of artists paying homage to their past selves, the net effect was transformative. The crowd was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than snow.
