🔗 Share this article

This yearly R&B Xmas Ball showcased a lineup of artists renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of focusing on carols, the night served as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the earnest and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B.

Opening Performances: Timeless Feelings

Dru Hill presented classic R&B in matching attire, with videos from the 2000s era displaying behind them. Next, a performance of mostly slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main acts.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Set

The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her performance with a live band appeared rooted in the era of her greatest success.

Then, nine songs into her performance, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never perform live again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a profoundly emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely.

Driving guitar chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the audience's hearts. She encored with an impeccable, though slightly abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

Appearing on stage in dazzlingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way harmonies that were both tight and reactive to their live band.

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

A Touch of Christmas Cheer

Towards the end, the evening embraced the holiday mood with performances 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 sense at points was of stars performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall result was transportive. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with sparkle rather than frost.