To keep it brief, after the show I updated my personal Facebook with this:

“On a high from Kelly Clarkson’s show. She was bloody amazing! I especially loved her cover of Florence + The Machine’s ‘Heavy In Your Arms’ — goosebumps! Vocally the best show I’ve seen in quite some time. Oh yeah, and Fancy herself (Reba McEntire) was in the audience. I will definitely be seeing her again. Unf*ckingbelievable!”

That pretty much sums up the show, except I did leave out the fact that besides her huge pop records, she also performed a cover of Etta James’ hit I’d Rather Go Blind (as a tribute to the iconic singer’s recent passing), and a wonderful rendition of My Man, taken from the huge Broadway favorite Funny Girl.

But since Kelly’s ballads have always hit home runs in my eyes, those particular numbers stole the show in my opinion. Below you will find an acoustic, stripped-down version of the angst-ridden Never Again, the beautiful rendition of Florence + The Machine’s Heavy In Your Arms, and a lovely ballad that Kelly wrote to help the children of Africa entitled You Still Won’t Know What It’s Like.

Get ready to feel your heart skip a beat.

Can’t wait to see Kelly kick it live in January, here in the Big Apple!

In the meantime…

Paramore’s new single In the Mourning is definitely picking up right where the band left off. They really know how to make hits and gets one’s energy flowing. I found this stripped down, acoustic version of the tune done by Miss Hayley Williams, and had to share it.

Feel free to eat this up!

Love Song, taken from her 2003 album Try This, is probably one of the most beautiful and understated songs of her career. Real talk though, I still blame the album cover for this album not doing as well as her other efforts. Nonetheless, this track is flawless and I’m in reminiscent mode lately.

Watch. Tear up. Repeat.

It’s a cleansing process!

This picture was snapped with my iPhone in Hell’s Kitchen in Manhattan. From a distance, the first thing that caught my eye was Gaga’s overexposed horn-face. But then I looked closer…

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I thought this photo would stand the test of saying something heartfelt and lasting; something powerful.

It’s time we all give a little more. Be a little more. Feel a little more.

Count your blessings while your stuffing your face with pumpkin pie. And remember that not everyone has the option.

Real talk.

JAW DROPPINGLY BEAUTIFUL.

Do yourself a favor and see this movie. One of the best films of the year in my opinion. The story, cinematography, acting; all brilliant.

And to everyone posting about J.Lo’s performance from the AMAs last night: THIS is what REAL music sounds like. No props, audio backing or shirtless male props required.

Song (live version) + trailer below.

Last week, passengers on a Southwest Airlines flight were given an extra scrumptious treat (damn them!) when singer/songwriter/uber-cutie, Mat Kearney, busted out an impromptu performance mid-air. Apparently this has been on Mat’s bucket list for quite some time.

Says Mat: “I’ve always actually wanted to pick up my guitar in the middle of a flight and just walk down the aisle and play songs, but this is the first time I’ve ever actually gotten the chance to do it.”

Here’s the proof!

One of my favorite alternative rock duos, The Kills, are back with a smashing new single entitled Baby Says. This is by far one of the strongest tracks off of their fourth album release, Blood Pressures. Not to focus on the whole album, but it is indeed a fine work in a progressive discography.

There is just something about The Kills’ Jamie Hince and Alison Mosshart that gets my heart pounding. In order for a two piece band to work, there has to be a certain magic between the two performers and these two certainly get a passing mark.

Check out this rare acoustic performance of Baby Says below.

So this past weekend I saw Footloose. Yeah yeah, judge me all you want, you pretentious boneheads. For the record, I actually liked it! I thought it was a cute movie. That’s saying something considering the fact that I went into the show very skeptical. Anywhoosie, during the film I was captivated by the remake of Bonnie Tyler’s Holding Out For A Hero. Except unlike the original fast-paced dance version of the song that appeared in the original film, this version was stripped down beautifully in an acoustic manner that felt painfully heartfelt.

Upon further research (AKA when the movie ended I googled that shit), I discovered this version was performed by South Carolina country singer-songwriter and rising star Ella Mae Bowen. But wait, there’s more. The shocker was finding out that she’s only 15! Yup. Crazy!

The good news for Ella (and for us new fans) is that she’s signed to Taylor Swift’s record label (Big Machine). So hopefully that means they throw some dough in her direction with regards to production and promotion and we hear much more music from her soon.

Her voice is incredible!

Find out for yourself…

Ira Perez is one heck of a one woman show. Her voice is jazz, candlelight dinners, quiet secrets, smoky nightclubs. Another element of YouTube that makes me stop scorning the internet for a millisecond. She’s real talent, and I bless cyberspace for making her known to me.

Glad to say her talent has not gone unnoticed. She’s been picked up by a legit indie label and won the Houston Press award for Best Female Vocals in 2010. Her album is on the way, and for now she’s honouring our ears with original pieces and sundering covers.

One such cover is her rendition of Bruno Mars’ Grenade. Her low-key crooning makes the concoction all the more pensive, sensitive.

She’d catch a grenade for ya. Would you do the same?