🔗 Share this article R&B Christmas Ball Recap: An Emotional Trip Back to the Nineties This yearly R&B Xmas Ball showcased a lineup of performers renowned for their Christmas records. Rather than centering on carols, the evening served as a nostalgic reason for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional sound of 90s R&B. Opening Performances: Classic Feelings Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Following this, a set of mostly ballads from the artist Joe set the stage for the headlining artists. Toni Braxton's Moving Set The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her show with a backing band appeared anchored in the time period of her peak fame. Then, deep into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not sing live again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a profoundly heartfelt 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 command over the crowd's hearts. She finished with an impeccable, though slightly abridged, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart. The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-part vocals that were both tight and responsive to their accompaniment. Their performance included interpretations of influences, such as a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Dash of Christmas Spirit Towards the end, the evening embraced the holiday mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a powerful closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road. Final Impressions Although the evening's technical execution had some hiccups, and the feeling at points was of stars performing a tribute to their past selves, the net effect was transportive. The audience was briefly transported to the golden age of R&B, leaving dusted with glitter rather than snow.