During Destiny’s Child‘s ground-breaking reign, the ladies firmly established themselves as a “supergroup”.
By no means editorial rhetoric, each member brought a brand and strand of unique that, when fused together, delivered dynamite results.
Yet often under-valued is the fact that each of Destiny’s divas are also solo forces in their own right.
Of course the blockbuster success of a certain mononymously named member has cemented this in some regard, however the abilities of the trio’s remaining pillars are rarely spotlighted or celebrated.
As such, in kicking off our new Top 5 series, That Grape Juice present…Kelly Rowland’s Top 5 Solo Performances…
5) Gotsta Go (Live At MTV Japan Awards 2006)
Initially prepped as the lead single from Rowland’s sophomore album, ‘Gotsta Go’ was paired with this sass-filled performance that oozed all sorts of diva.
With its edgy barbie theme (which we’d love to see her re-visit), army of dancers, and a swagged-out dance-break, the performance reminds us of the hit that this could have been. Indeed, as some may remember, ‘Gotsta’ was scrapped, as was its parent album ‘My Story’. Rowland was re-appear a year later with new “lead” single ‘Like This’ and a renamed LP, ‘Ms. Kelly’. Still, we’ll have the memories…
4) Medley (X Factor UK, 2011)
Kelly’s run as a judge on The X Factor UK generated headlines aplenty back in 2011. From show-stopping outfits, to witty charm, to a rift with fellow judge Tulisa, the singer’s tenure on the ITV hit was anything but dull.
While the casting of some panelists on the show was “questionable”, Kelly proved her worth with this show-stopping performance in support of then-new album ‘Here I Am’.
3) Commander (BBC Radio Live Lounge, 2010)
Like a lot of artists, Kelly’s more recent releases have pandered more to radio in terms of their sing-along-song ability. While a smart move given the competitive climate of today’s chart, it has arguably seen the power in her vocal delivery diluted so as to appeal to the masses.
This acoustic rendition of dance-floor classic ‘Commander’ helps remind what the 33-year-old is working with!
2) ‘Gone’ (BET Black Girls Rock 2013)
Though ‘Gone’ was never given the video treatment, the ‘Talk A Good Game’ number was tattooed into the minds of the masses when Rowland, co-writer Sevyn Streeter, and Eve delivered this delicious rendition at BET’s Black Girls Rock 2013.
Watch the trio thrill with the titillating showing…
1) ‘Motivation’ (BET Awards 2011)
Too grand a comparison, perhaps, yet Kelly’s electrifying performance of ‘Motivation’ at the BET Awards 2011 easily serves as her Motown 25 moment.
Whereas her 2007 solo BET effort was respectable, it was this showing that saw all the stars align in the best of ways.
The diva-dom, the choreography, the vocals, and the all-round energy were on a max, resulting in her most action-packed performance yet.
**********
Do you agree with our picks? As ever, sound off below!
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Slow news day…
Indeed! Who cares!?
She f****** sucks
You f****** suck loads of c***!
I love that you always focus on the performances instead of the messiness.
Bad habit live should be on here
Tbh shes just as basic as Rihanna and Katy Perry as a singer and performer.
http://youtu.be/oggdh6nWg4M
LMAOOOOOOOOOOOO..I’ve never seen this before…After watching this..ANYTHING else a Ciara fan says is an ABSOLUTE JOKE!!
Awww, y’all are so sweet for this.
Good performances but she definitely needs to work harder with everything else. Where is her world tour? Where is her national tour?
I thin one of her performances of When Love Takes Over should of made the list but whatever shes still basic as far as vocals
You stan for one note Adele….
B**** don’t try Adele
Dead @ one note Adele. Its true though. She is as basic of a singer as they come. No range at all. I think even Ciara has more range than her.
Retarded people. Adele´s voice is extremely beautiful. Range doesn´t mean s*** if it doesn´t come with a whole package. Not to mention the music itself. Kelly Rowland is a f****** joke compared to Adele. Be serious.
Adeles voice is overrated just like her music.
Very basic singer
Looks at Mariah’s performances from 2000-now
WHO?
A non factor with very little stage presences.
Someone more relevant and coined down than Cierror
Lmao relevant my asss
Where are Zzzz-ara’s endorsements?
Yikes
http://youtu.be/8u22sqiX3gY
This b**** was the real grinch that year.
Yaaaaasssssssss Kelly keep the b****** pressed. You are a FORCE and the haters and stans of lessors are seething! Lmao
Y’all hate this girl for no apparent reason. Her tone and vocal ability is unmatched. I’ve witnessed her live, and her presence alone is mesmerizing.
Look who these strange f*** stan for? Ciara of all people is the biggest lessor in the music industry right now. Only her pregnancy is keeping her afloat haha
It’s really sad. Like, there’s absolutely no comparison. Smh
What!!!….Is this post real or i’m just having a nightmare?
Why? Respect the icon, the legendary performer and musical genious that is Kelly Rowland.
I love Kelly
Ciara fans are the biggest joke. I guess they don’t get to drag very much, so they hate on Kelly for no reason. lmao
I love Jay Leno performance of “Motivation”.
there is a better live performances for WLTO and COMMANDER also she killed this is love on Katie show. Anyway Kelly is just amazing in every way it’s possible.
Here’sthe one that sold me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f2utdGa3ro
Ciara would never see this size audience in lifetime
she slaaaaaaaaaaaaayed such a diva. Europe loves her.
I wish people would give Williams half of the attention they give this lazy b****. MW music is pretty good.
Should’ve did a Ciara top 5, now say what you want about her current sales, but 9 times out of 10, Cici kills the stage. For SOME reason, she tries to sit and sing ballads Vs doing what only a few could do, dance.
Kelly has always been the weakest vocalist in DC3 Michelles vocals are everything shes underrated.
Your mad that Ciara isnt getting any attention? …aww poor baby
Wow that X factor medley was a disaster.
I love Kelly. This was good. Bad Habit Live in Atlanta should’ve definitely made the list. The only thing I have to say is I would like more choreography from Kelly in her live performances.
Side note: Why do y’all hate Kelly so much? Are you really that bored? Why not spend the extra time you have to hate on Kelly and use that time to support whoever is your favorite artist? Go call/tweet a radio station to have their song played or something. I never understand why y’all spend time clicking on posts of someone you “hate”. Shut the f**k up and have a seat.
This post needs some corrections. Sam definitely needs an editor because I see some grammatical errors.
I agree; BAD HABIT from ATL should have made the cut, tho. SHES SO BEAUTIFUL!
Greatest love of all tribute to whitney? This top 5 sucks only thing belong is motivation. You’re missing white Christmas, her and Lionel Richie endless love, fantasy tribute, and even when love takes over at star floor
I was scrolling down to say the exact same thing. Thank you for sparing my time. At least someone on this blog knows how to discuss music and knows an artists good performances!
She’s very basic as a performer and a HUGE FLOP as an artist.
This is Kelly’s best performance…. Period! Energy and FLAWLESS vocals of an EXTREMELY vocally challenging song for anyone to perform. Especially most of the girls today. And why are the Ciara fans- NEVERMIND.. Ciara (drag in itself) .
http://youtu.be/KafcQLdkQ7U
Stop it, Kelly is a s*** performer.
If you put Kelly and Katy Perry on the same stage, there’s no difference.
LMAO i see lovebird is PRESSED today…hey boo! How many times have you posted here..10 and counting? Keep it up!!
Anyway I’m glad Sam is discretely shading Kelly by posting her top 5 struggle performances.
Really if this is the best Kelly can do, I can see why she’s LABEL-LESS.
Keep the comments rolling
Yeah Yeah Sam, Kelly Rowland is an icon and musical genious and Mariah Carey is a flop… 🙂 No shade to Kelly though.
What? Who is this trolling under JOHNVIDAL account? John would never say something like this.
Oh wait, never mind. I re-read it and saw what you did there. Forget what I said before.
I’m screaming at that X Factor medley though, and she was a “judge” on that show.
I now see why she was fired.
Anything else?
Sarah honey,
You clock more hours on me than you do listening to Kelly’s boring discography.
Yesssssssss..thats a good one!! Keep em coming sweetie
You go kelly. The irony thay Ciara fans are hating on her vocals and Rihanna fans are hating on her performances.
death
lol that’s true.I like rhianna , just not live.
Until Kelly can slay the stage like this, Kelly fans cannot come for Ciara. Hell Kelly fans can struggle to even come for Katy Perry since they are on the same level performance wise.
http://youtu.be/Ozja2js4MBA
Rihanna said it best..when Ciara can book a stage..then we can talk.
But Kelly also can’t book a stage. The self drag though.
So your admitting Ciara can’t even book a stage other than 106 & park..Kiiii
This is lipsynched though. Kelly doesn’t usually rely on faux vocals to push dancig, Ciara and Chris brown usually do. Almost 100% of the time. I’ve seen drag queens do the same
How can you be judging aspiring singers when you giving s***** performances on X factor. smh
she was singing and dancing live baby she killed it.
When will y’all understand that Kelly Rowland is The Queen of R&B Ciara could never do what Kelly does she can’t sing she just makes up for it by dancing okay so stop it y’all know , People hear Kelly Rowland they think icon when people hear Ciara they so who’s that ? When any of the R&B girls Net worth is 45 Million and has sold over 90 million records and
has a star on the walk of fame then and only then can y’all talk s*** The Queen is Winning
Icon? So is that why Kelly was fired from 2 different versions of X-Factor, dropped from like 2-3 different labels, has never had a platinum album and still has to rely on DC medley’s at her concerts to get the audience hyped. A true icon would never be a embarrassment like Kelly. She even let Letoya’s debut and Michelle’s Broadway plays receive more acclaim and recognition than all 4 of her solo albums, who’s WW sales only total 4 mil while Ciara’s debut album alone is pushing 6 mil WW. DC has a Star on the Walk of Fame, NOT Kelly. Kelly’s biggest hits are being featured on other artists’ songs (see Dilemma, WLTO, Here We Go)… Ciara has earned praise from the likes of Diana Ross, Patti Labelle, Prince, Mariah Carey and Michael Jackson. Ciara was Billboard Woman of the Year in 2008, has won 4 ASCAP Awards and is still a staple at awards shows and on the red carpet even with 3 flop albums in a row while the most Kelly can so is host red carpets. When Kelly can headline concert outside of the US and UK (which is NOT Europe, but a part of Europe) then talk. P.S., Kelly’s net worth solo is only 15-20 mil, the same as Ciara, that extra $20-30 mil is from DC. Kelly had to rely on a song about Beyoncé to sell her last album.
To the person who said Ciara will never see venues that big… Ciara headlined 40k seat stadiums in Africa in 2011…
LMAOOOOOOOO the DELUSION of these Ciara fans..now they are referring to Kelly’s SOLO net worth to make Ciara look relevant..CHILD CHEESE!! LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO..That is the FUNNIEST comment i’ve seen all day..Kelly’s Networth is $45 million my dear..solo or not..its in her bank account…the STRUGGLE is REAL!!!!
Bunches of lies over here^^^^
The one that stand out the most is this b*******: «Kelly’s net worth solo is only 15-20 mil, the same as Ciara, that extra $20-30 mil is from DC».
Then why Michelle Williams doesnt have those $20-30 mil you are talking about illiterate, yet not even $10 mil (No shade intended to the greatest that is Michelle)
I understand that you trying to defend your fan for the shame your others Ci stans brought to her by comparing her to Kelly. But while doing so try to sound a lil smart…NOW SIT
I really liked her performance on Wendy Williams.I think that performance showed her personality and her vocals were on point
Please check out my new blog urbanmusicgenius.b*******.com
People (fans and celebs alike) love and care more about Kelly than Ciara thirsty dumb ass. #FACT Kelly has more longevity and respect than Ciara. I mean, look at her collab list. Ain’t nobody checking for no scarce/non-existant vocal Heara.
I beg to differ with this list, but then again what do you classify as best when Kelly lip-syn some of those performances. Kelly has much better performance than these. Another thing, Kelly has one of the most versitile voice in the industry but as a vocalist she is tooooooooo lazy! She can do better with her live performances by 1. Getting a serious vocal coach so as to execute flawlessly, its not that she cannot do it but she is too comfort and satisfy with medicore-smh!!!! Also, Kelly talks too much when performing live and uses the crowd as her back up singer. If Kelly starts to challenge herself more than john public will appreciate her more. GRAPE JUICE GIVE KELLY TOO MUCH SLACK BUT BE REAL WITH KELLY FOR HER OWN GOOD!!!!! Not because she has an awesome personality she can get away with murder!!!!
I do agree with you on certain parts..I would love to see her use her vocal abilities more..like u said she has one of the most versatile voices in the industry..I have been saying for years that she needs a better vocal coach..HOWEVER i must admit that during this TAGG era her vocals/live performances have improved TREMENDOUSLY!! Also in reference to “talking too much” I think that’s just her nature..she was doing it from DC days..perhaps that is a habit she just cant let go..
That is so so try. I cannot argue with you on that.
PS When(IF) Sam makes a post about Ciara’s best Vocal Performances (If there are any)..I hope to see all of you Ciara fans there..instead of lurking on a Kelly Rowland post…Ciara’s career is done…thank God for the life within her..She will be happy…
I’m sorry but I still don’t like her. I tried to get into her music and performances but she just leaves me empty to be honest. Her vocals are average, her music is basic, and she is a mediocre performer. I still respect her though, I just can’t take her as an artist seriously. Sorry.
Love kelly! The only complaint i have about her performances is she wants audience participation to soon some times and to often at times! She is so beautiful and mezmerizing to watch its like she could just stand there and sing moving only a little bit and that’d be just fine! Go kelly!
Y’all people are lying so hard for Ciara right now and y’all need to use Google Ciara net worth is not no damn 20-30 million the s*** is 15 million honey and Kelly’s first and second solo album simply deep and miss Kelly are platinum simply deep sold 1.2 million worldwide in this Kelly so 2.5 million worldwide
that’s Platnum you dumb ass
Kelly was never fired from Xfator she lift one to work on
an album here I am to be exact and then the other
one got canceled so she never got fired
get your facts straight in the UK Kelly is like the
Beyoncé over in the UK and in the US Ciara is on the same level basic