Shontelle did a little of each, offering up “Say Hello to Goodbye’’ as her next single, singing “T Shirt’’ from yesteryear, and delivering the smash “Impossible.’’
Selena Gomez exuded confidence fronting a sharp pop band and belting out both ballads (“A Year Without Rain’’) and dance tracks (“Naturally’’).
B.o.B, whose colorfully produced songs sound great on the radio, came across a little thin live. Without the guest vocals from Hayley Williams on “Airplanes’’ or Bruno Mars on “Nothin’ On You,’’ B.o.B had simply his charisma to carry him through.
Perry emerged from a sparkly package set in the center of the stage amid snowmen and Christmas trees. Wearing a second skin outfit designed to look like a candy cane, Perry opened with “Hot and Cold’’ establishing the pace and mood of her performance. No holiday songs here, just one hit after the next leading to a rowdy “California Gurls.’’
Taio Cruz had the unenviable task of singing alone on a bare stage after Perry laid waste to the place. While Cruz’s signatures “Dynamite’’ and “Break Your Heart’’ are undeniably catchy songs, there was nothing about his performance that suggested he will outlast his current chart run.
Enrique Iglesias fared better, fronting a thumping band as he poured on the charm through “Escape’’ and “Hero’’ before uncorking the frenetic “I Like It.’’
Jay Sean closed the show with a string of upbeat dance tunes of the sort that keeps Top 40 radio and its fans cheerful throughout the year.
Scott McLennan can be reached at smclennan1010@gmail.com.
