🔗 Share this article

The yearly R&B Xmas Ball showcased a roster of artists known for their holiday albums. Rather than focusing on seasonal songs, the night served as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the earnest and emotional style of 90s R&B.

Opening Acts: Timeless Feelings

Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in matching outfits, with music videos from the 2000s displaying behind them. Next, a performance of mostly ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the main acts.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance

The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her show with a backing band appeared rooted in the time period of her peak fame.

Then, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform live again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a profoundly heartfelt moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.

Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the crowd's hearts. She encored with an impeccable, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters

Appearing on 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-way harmonies that were both tight and reactive to their live band.

Their set included covers of influences, including a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Christmas Spirit

Finally, the evening turned to the holiday theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a powerful closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Thoughts

While the evening's production had some hiccups, and the feeling at times was of stars performing a tribute to their past selves, the overall effect was transportive. The audience was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than snow.