To be honest, I was a bit bored with this performance from the So You Think You Can Dance finale. The song is a lot more tame than the lead single For Your Entertainment, but this performance just bored me to pieces. And I actually like Adam's album. Check it...

This was one of Mary's best performances of her new single I Am, from her forthcoming album Stronger With Each Tear hitting stores next week. Notice how each of her backup dancers embodies a different signature Mary look from an era in her career. Mary J. Blige is becoming a legend in her own right by continuing to make timeless music after 15 years in the game. Gotta luv that... By the way... CONGRATULATIONS TO Russell, a crumper without formal dance training who won this year's competition! He showed a lot of growth and a lot of versatility which was unexpected from a dancer with a native street style of dance! CONGRATS RUSSELL!!!

This movie AVATAR better be the best thing smoking, because it's EVERYWHERE! Leona Lewis performed the theme song from the James Cameron-directed film which hits theaters this weekend. She sounded pretty good up until the climax of the song where she missed quite a few notes and got a little pitchy. I won't hold it against her though, that voice is solid!

J. Lo has been back on the block - the performing block that is. She's been hitting the circuit with her newest single Louboutins, an ode to the famed shoe designer. In this video, she hits the stage at this year's So You Think You Can Dance Finale with one of the best performance clips of the song yet! Her new album LOVE? is set to be in stores Spring 2010!

Next up out of the DMV is the homie Don Juan. Now, I haven't been up to the DMV to explore the music scene in quite some time, but if this track reached me all the way in NC, then Don Juan must be on his grind hard! Not only that, it's an undeniable hit. After the jump, make sure you download his hot single Lookie Looky and check out the video of him performing it at Chris Brown's GRAFFITI release party at Club Ibiza in DC.

Also featured on the X-Factor results show is the newest pop sensation Lady Gaga performing her hit single Bad Romance. She's vamped out in her outfit performing in a bathtub she says she acquired when she "robbed Simon". In a brief post-performance interview, she expressed her excitement over her Grammy nominations and plans for her 2010 tour. Check it out...

Queen of Pop Janet Jackson took to the stage today on the UK's X-Factor to perform two songs for the results show: the title track from her 2001 album All For You and her newest smash Make Me found on her Number 1's compilation album in stores now. Janet revealed in a recent interview that she plans to tour Europe in 2010. We've got our fingers crossed that she'll bring her moves back to the US for another round...

Melanie Fiona took to the stage on The Monique Show last night to perform her smash single It Kills Me from her debut album The Bridge. Her live vocals give me chills, and the album is certified classic!

In the long line of Michael Jackson songs that have been covered and have yet to be covered, we can now add Maxwell's name to the roster. At last night's Grammy Nominations special, Maxwell delivered this soulful rendition, true to the original in many ways but stylized in a way that only Maxwell can. Let me know what you think...

So I'll admit, Rihanna isn't the best vocalist in the world, I got no problems with that. HOWEVER, you can't tell me she doesn't hold her own. This is the live performance I've been waiting for, to see her perform Russian Roulette. Rihanna belts out the big ones with very few flaws in this performance on the UK hit series X-Factor. Judge for yourself, but I think she did it justice...

Well it wasn't a train wreck like some of the other, less major shows this year. I actually look forward to the AMA's because the performances are always grand and even if I don't agree with the winners, I can always find delight in some of the performances. This year's American Music Awards showed off some of the best new talent in the music industry, but also proved that a comeback is often more enjoyable than a come-up.

Janet Jackson - opening the show, Ms. Jackson rocked the stage and the crowd with a medley of some of her best #1 hits, including Control, Miss You Much, If, Together Again and her new smash Make Me. In slightly less than 8 minutes, the youngest of the Jackson dynasty reminded us what a performance is really about and again cemented her place as an icon.

Kelly Clarkson - took the stage in ballad form tonight for one of my favorite songs by her Already Gone.

Shakira - Give It Up To Me looked like a sorority step show scene from a music video, but it was actually pretty nice. I enjoy watching her move in sync with 60 other women...

Daughtry - These fellas are uber-talented, so simplicity will always work for them.

I'll lump The Black Eyed Peas in with Adam Lambert - LESS is MORE. Both are highly talented acts and should learn something from the seasoned professionals: sometimes its better to let the madness take place around you than for you to actually get lost in it.

Mary J. Blige - Quite simply, Mary better do it! I Am is her best ballad since Be Without You and this performance was elegant. I'm glad she didn't "take it to church", twas no need...

Carrie Underwood - she may have been outdressed by her own dancers, but there aren't too many that can outsing her, as she proved tonight.

Rihanna - I can't front, I wanted to see a dramatic performance of Russian Roulette - would've been killer! Her vocals were good, but it was the overall stage show that won me over: the theme, the energy, the wardrobe (outfitted with bullets containing laser light emitters).

Lady Gaga - Rihanna was good. Lady Gaga was better. Again, Gaga proved that she's just better. Her performance just had a stronger vibe, more energy and pushed harder than mostly anyone else's. Next to Janet, hers was the second best of the night.

Jay-Z and Alicia Keys - 100% Swagger. Jay epitomizes it. So does Alicia. Nuff' said.

Alicia Keys - still not feeling the superhero vibe for Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart, the message speaks more than that to me. She sounded good, but the performance got a bit random and hard to follow at some points. Not her best.

Whitney Houston - Ya know, Whitney wasn't too bad. I think she chose a ballad because she had a better chance at hitting all the notes, though I was praying for Million Dollar Bill. She made me proud of her, but I also realized that old school Whitney=gone forever. 

Timbaland - Without a doubt the worst performance of the night. Timbaland looked sloppily dressed and barely able to move. Nelly Furtado made the performance bearable, but not by much. Two types of leather tho Timbaland?

Green Day - rock band performances have been few lately, but Green Day managed to rock out very enjoyably

J. Lo - I liked the theme for her performance, it was very creative, and the performance was pretty good -- minus the fact that her vocal track was turned up late (making her lip synch obvious) and that unfortunate fall on her bum. 

Eminem and 50 Cent - Well first, 50 served no purpose. Eminem totally owned Drake's song Forever and proved that fact to the world by performing his verse alone, without assistance from Drake, Wayne, or Ye. 


Adam Lambert - again... WTF?

In case you didn't know, Empire State of Mind is currently the #1 single in the country, taking Jay and Alicia to the top of the Billboard's Hot 100 once again. However, Alicia reworks their new classic anthem into a slower but very beautiful rendition. I'm amazed...check it out and tell us if you're feelin this...

Alicia Keys delivered a stirring performance of her new hit single Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart on last night's episode of Dancing With The Stars. I gotta say, I love this song, and I love this live version even more. Kinda makes me wish we can get another MTV Unplugged episode out of Ms. Keys...

In case you haven't noticed, Melanie Fiona has given you almost her whole album in this series of videos, and here is the final chapter in the Subway Series where Melanie Fiona takes The Bridge to the streets of London. Here, she performs one of my favorites from the album Ay Yo as well as Walk On By. Extremely talented woman, and her album The Bridge is in stores TODAY! If you missed the rest of the series, check out Part 1 here and Part 2 here. And don't forget to check for the Sound-Savvy review of The Bridge.

The first thing that came to mind after watching this video: "Was that outfit as heavy as it looked?" I mean, she looked great, but it looked like that top was kinda weighted... I love Shakira, but this performance was lacking the energetic vibe that I get from the song. It was just okay to me, but I know can she do better, we've all seen her do it...

The Queen of the wind machine is red hot in this performance of Sweet Dreams for the MTV Europe Music Awards. Though it was very theatrical and titillating, I was hoping she'd do the whole song, as it's one of my favorites from the I Am...Sasha Fierce album. Vocals were on point though B, another one knocked outta the park!

In the second edition of Melanie Fiona's Subway Series, we find her in her native Canada re-creating You Stop My Heart alongside a street-side harmony quartet, and It Kills Me with a concert cellist. This Subway Series is the epitome of unplugged, to be able to take your music anywhere in the world and re-create it with musicians from all walks of life. The Bridge, the classic debut album from Melanie Fiona is now available on iTunes, and you can read the Sound-Savvy Review as well.

Kelly Rowland is not a forgotten child of destiny... She's been making crowds roar overseas performing her #1 hit single When Love Takes Over with UK DJ David Guetta (from his One Love) album. In this clip, she gives the crowd 20 minutes of performance hits including Work, Dilemma, and a Destiny's Child medley that includes Say My Name, Independent Women, Bootylicious, Survivor and Jumpin Jumpin.

Now... I love Ciara, but everything about the performance of Love, Sex and Magic screams Janet Jackson. From the outfit, to the accentuated synchronized dance moves, to the way she struts the stage and works the crowd. No hate on my part, she always acknowledges Miss Jackson as one of her influences. It's good to see her throw it back to Goodies and 1,2 Step. Nice performance...

If you think I praise Melanie Fiona too much or show her too much love, it's obvious you haven't heard what she has to offer. Besides, if Gucci Mane and OJ Da Juiceman can 50-11 song features, then a REAL musician can get some love on Sound-Savvy!! In this new Subway Series, Ms. Fiona brings The Bridge to the streets, teaming up with street musicians all over New York City to remix and perform music from her forthcoming album. You could only do something like this with real music. Only real music can make random musicians vibe to it any and everywhere. The Bridge, her debut project, will be available everywhere November 10th. YOU. MUST. BUY. THIS. ALBUM!!!