R&B Christmas Ball Recap: An Emotional Trip Back to the Nineties
The second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a lineup of performers renowned for their Christmas albums. Rather than centering on carols, the night acted as a nostalgic excuse for a trip back to the sincere and emotional style of 1990s R&B.
Starting Performances: Classic Feelings
The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in matching outfits, with music videos from the 2000s playing behind them. Next, a set of primarily ballads from Joe set the stage for the main artists.
Toni Braxton's Powerful Set
The beginning of the song Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her performance with a live band seemed anchored in the era of her peak success.
However, nine songs into her performance, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never perform live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply heartfelt performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.
Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the crowd's emotions. She finished with an flawless, though somewhat abridged, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos
Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-part vocals that were both tight and responsive to their accompaniment.
Their set included interpretations of inspirations, such as a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Christmas Spirit
Finally, the evening embraced the Christmas theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a powerful finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Final Impressions
Although the evening's production had some glitches, and the feeling at times was of stars paying homage to their younger selves, the overall result was transformative. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving dusted with sparkle rather than snow.
