R&B Xmas Ball Review: A Heartfelt Journey Back to the Nineties
This yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of artists renowned for their holiday albums. Rather than focusing on seasonal songs, the evening acted as a sentimental excuse for a voyage back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B.
Starting Acts: Timeless Feelings
The group Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s displaying behind them. Following this, a set of primarily ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the main acts.
Toni Braxton's Moving Performance
The beginning of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her show with a live band appeared anchored in the time period of her peak success.
However, deep into her performance, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, 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 emotions. She encored with an flawless, though slightly shortened, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters
Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-way vocals that were both tight and responsive to their live band.
Their performance included covers of influences, such as a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Touch of Christmas Cheer
Towards the end, the concert embraced the Christmas mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a strong finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Overall Thoughts
Although the evening's production had some hiccups, and the sense at times was of stars performing a tribute to their younger selves, the net effect was transformative. The audience was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving dusted with sparkle rather than snow.
