🔗 Share this article Rhythm and Blues Christmas Ball Recap: A Emotional Journey Back to the 90s The yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of artists known for their holiday records. Instead of focusing on carols, the night served as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the earnest and emotional style of 1990s R&B. Starting Performances: Classic Feelings The group Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Following this, a set of primarily ballads from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the headlining artists. Toni Braxton's Powerful Set The opening of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her show with a live band seemed rooted in the era of her peak success. Then, deep into her set, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not sing live again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply emotional moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely. Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the crowd's emotions. She finished with an flawless, though slightly abridged, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart. The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters Taking the stage in strikingly matching all-white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-way harmonies that were both precise and responsive to their accompaniment. Their set featured interpretations of influences, such as a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Dash of Christmas Spirit Finally, the evening embraced the Christmas theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a powerful closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road. Final Impressions While the evening's production had some glitches, and the feeling at points was of stars paying homage to their past selves, the overall result was transformative. The crowd was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving dusted with glitter rather than snow.