R&B Xmas Ball Recap: An Emotional Trip Back to the 90s
The yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of artists renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of focusing on carols, the evening served as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the earnest and emotional style of 90s R&B.
Starting Performances: Timeless Vibes
Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main acts.
Toni Braxton's Powerful Set
The opening of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. Initially, her show with a backing band appeared anchored in the time period of her peak fame.
However, deep into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never perform live again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a profoundly heartfelt moment. “For 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 audience's emotions. She encored with an impeccable, though slightly shortened, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos
Taking the stage in dazzlingly coordinated white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way harmonies that were both tight and reactive 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 Touch of Christmas Cheer
Finally, the evening embraced the holiday mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a powerful closing run 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 had some glitches, and the feeling at times was of stars performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall result was transformative. The crowd was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving dusted with sparkle rather than frost.
