🔗 Share this article R&B Xmas Concert Recap: A Emotional Journey Returning to the Nineties The second annual R&B Xmas Ball showcased a lineup of artists known for their Christmas albums. Instead of focusing on carols, the night acted as a nostalgic excuse for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B. Opening Acts: Classic Feelings Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in matching outfits, with music videos from the 2000s era playing behind them. Next, a performance of mostly ballads from Joe set the stage for the headlining acts. The Powerful Performance The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her performance with a backing band seemed anchored in the time period of her greatest success. However, deep into her performance, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a deeply emotional moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely. Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her grip over the audience's hearts. She encored with an impeccable, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart. The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters Appearing on stage in strikingly matching white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-part harmonies that were both precise and responsive to their accompaniment. Their performance included covers of inspirations, such as a memorable guitar piece 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 evening turned to the holiday mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a powerful closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road. Overall Thoughts Although the evening's technical execution had some hiccups, and the feeling at points was of stars performing a tribute to their younger selves, the net result was transportive. The audience was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than frost.