R&B Christmas Concert Recap: A Heartfelt Journey Returning to the Nineties
The yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a roster of performers renowned for their Christmas records. Rather than focusing on seasonal songs, the evening served as a nostalgic reason for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional style of 90s R&B.
Opening Acts: Timeless Feelings
Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s era playing behind them. Following this, a set of primarily ballads from Joe set the stage for the main artists.
Toni Braxton's Moving Performance
The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her show with a live band appeared rooted in the era of her peak fame.
However, deep into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly emotional moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.
Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the audience's hearts. She encored with an impeccable, though somewhat shortened, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters
Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way harmonies that were both tight and responsive to their accompaniment.
Their performance included interpretations of influences, including a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Touch of Christmas Spirit
Finally, the concert embraced the holiday mood with performances 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.
Overall Thoughts
While the night's production had some hiccups, and the sense at points was of artists performing a tribute to their past selves, the overall result was transformative. The audience was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving dusted with glitter rather than frost.
