🔗 Share this article R&B Christmas Concert Recap: A Heartfelt Journey Returning to the 90s The second annual R&B Xmas Ball showcased a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday records. Rather than focusing on carols, the evening served as a nostalgic reason for a trip back to the sincere and emotional style of 90s R&B. Opening Performances: Timeless Vibes The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in matching outfits, with videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Following this, a set of primarily ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the main acts. The Moving Set The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical heritage. At first, her show with a live band appeared anchored in the time period of her greatest fame. Then, deep into her performance, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might not perform on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a deeply emotional performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely. Driving guitar 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, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart. Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos Appearing on stage in dazzlingly matching all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-part vocals that were both tight and responsive to their live band. Their set featured interpretations of inspirations, including a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Dash of Holiday Cheer Finally, the concert turned to the holiday mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a powerful finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road. Final Impressions Although the night's technical execution had some glitches, and the feeling at points 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, going home dusted with glitter rather than snow.