This yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of artists known for their holiday records. Rather than centering on carols, the night acted as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional style of 1990s R&B.
Dru Hill presented classic R&B in matching attire, with videos from the 2000s era displaying behind them. Following this, a set of mostly slow jams from the artist Joe set the stage for the main artists.
The opening of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. Initially, her show with a backing band appeared rooted in the era of her peak fame.
Then, nine songs into her set, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never perform live again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a profoundly emotional moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.
Power chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the audience's emotions. She encored with an flawless, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated all-white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-part vocals that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.
Their performance featured covers of inspirations, including a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
Towards the end, the concert embraced the holiday theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a strong closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
While the evening's technical execution had some hiccups, and the feeling at times was of stars paying homage to their past selves, the overall result was transportive. The crowd was briefly transported to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than snow.
Lena Hoffmann is a seasoned journalist with a passion for uncovering stories that matter, specializing in German current affairs and digital media trends.
