R&B Christmas Ball Review: A Heartfelt Trip Returning to the Nineties
This second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of artists renowned for their Christmas records. Rather than focusing on carols, the evening served as a sentimental excuse for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B.
Starting Acts: Timeless Vibes
The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of primarily ballads from Joe set the stage for the main acts.
The Powerful Performance
The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. Initially, her show with a live band seemed rooted in the era of her peak success.
Then, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never sing on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly heartfelt performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.
Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her grip over the audience's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though slightly abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters
Taking the stage in strikingly matching all-white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way vocals that were both tight and responsive to their accompaniment.
Their performance featured interpretations of inspirations, including a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Christmas Spirit
Towards the end, the concert embraced the Christmas theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a strong closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Overall Thoughts
Although the night's technical execution experienced some glitches, and the feeling at times was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the net effect was transformative. The audience was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with sparkle rather than snow.
