R&B Christmas Concert Recap: A Heartfelt Journey Back to the Nineties
The yearly R&B Xmas Ball showcased a lineup of artists known for their holiday albums. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the night served as a nostalgic reason for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional sound of 90s R&B.
Opening Performances: Classic Feelings
The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s displaying behind them. Next, a set of mostly ballads from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main artists.
The Powerful Performance
The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her show with a backing band appeared anchored in the time period of her peak fame.
Then, deep into her performance, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply heartfelt performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.
Power 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.
The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters
Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-part harmonies that were both precise and responsive to their live band.
Their performance included interpretations of inspirations, including a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Holiday Spirit
Finally, the evening embraced the Christmas mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a strong finale of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Final Thoughts
Although the evening's technical execution had some hiccups, and the feeling at times was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the net result was transformative. The audience was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving dusted with glitter rather than snow.
