🔗 Share this article R&B Xmas Ball Recap: An Heartfelt Journey Back to the 90s This yearly R&B Xmas Ball showcased a lineup of artists renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the evening served as a nostalgic excuse for a trip back to the sincere and emotional sound of 90s R&B. Starting Acts: Classic Feelings Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in matching outfits, with music videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Following this, a set of primarily ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the main artists. The Powerful Performance The beginning of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her performance with a live band seemed rooted in the time period of her greatest fame. However, deep into her performance, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not sing on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly. Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the crowd's emotions. She finished with an impeccable, though slightly shortened, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart. The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters Taking the stage in strikingly matching white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-part vocals that were both tight and responsive to their accompaniment. Their set featured interpretations of inspirations, such as a standout solo on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Dash of Holiday Cheer Finally, the concert embraced the holiday mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a strong closing run of hits 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 glitches, and the sense at times was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the overall effect was transformative. The audience was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with sparkle rather than frost.