🔗 Share this article R&B Xmas Ball Recap: An Emotional Journey Back to the 90s The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert showcased a roster of performers known for their holiday records. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the evening served as a nostalgic excuse for a trip back to the earnest and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B. Opening Performances: Timeless Feelings The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in matching outfits, with music videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Following this, a set of primarily slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the headlining artists. The Moving Performance The beginning of the song Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her show with a backing band seemed anchored in the time period of her peak fame. Then, nine songs into her set, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never sing on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply emotional performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly. Driving guitar chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's emotions. She finished with an impeccable, though somewhat shortened, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart. Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos Appearing on stage in dazzlingly coordinated all-white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-way vocals that were both precise and responsive to their accompaniment. Their performance included interpretations of inspirations, such as 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 holiday mood 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 Thoughts 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 transportive. The audience was briefly transported to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with sparkle rather than snow.