🔗 Share this article R&B Christmas Ball Recap: A Emotional Journey Back to the 90s This yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of performers known for their Christmas albums. Instead of centering on seasonal songs, the night served as a nostalgic reason for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B. Starting Acts: Timeless Feelings Dru Hill presented classic R&B in matching attire, with music videos from the 2000s era displaying on screens behind them. Next, a set of primarily slow jams from Joe set the stage for the headlining artists. Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance The opening of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her performance with a backing band appeared rooted in the time period of her greatest fame. However, nine songs into her set, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might not perform on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly heartfelt performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely. Driving guitar chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's hearts. She finished with an impeccable, though somewhat abridged, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart. Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos Appearing on stage in dazzlingly matching white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way harmonies that were both tight and reactive to their live band. Their performance featured interpretations of inspirations, such as a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Touch of Christmas Cheer Towards the end, the evening embraced the Christmas theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a powerful closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road. Overall Thoughts Although the night's production experienced some hiccups, and the feeling at times was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the net result was transportive. The audience was briefly transported to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with glitter rather than snow.