Billboard Music Awards 2011 performance review: Beyonce wins, Nicki Minaj loses Continue reading on Examiner.com: Billboard Music Awards 2011 perform

It’s called the “Billboard Music Awards,” but clocking in at a hefty three hours (come on, ABC, we have jobs), this show is all about the on-stage performances. And as expected, we got a ton of them.

From Rihanna to Beyonce, Cee Lo Green to Nicki Minaj, let’s break down the best and worst performances of the night.

THE BEST

3) Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo: A fun, party song classed-up thanks to Pitbull’s tux and Ne-Yo’s trademark hat. The performance wasn’t flashy (we’ll get to that later), but it was a solid, enjoyable effort.

2) Cee Lo Green: The man rotated 360 degrees while never leaving his seat at the piano. ‘Nuff said. Had it not been for the person who snatched the No.1 slot, Cee Lo’s three song performance of “Crazy,” “Bright Lights Big City,” and “Forget You” would’ve easily been the best of the night.

1) Beyonce: The biggest pop star in the world always puts on a show, but this was even more unique than we’re used to. Aided by a large screen blasting graphics and shapes, Bey danced in rhythm to styles, colors, and dozens and dozens of animated Beyonce’s. She then brought out what looked like 50 female dancers, all dancing in unison to “Run the World (Girls).”

THE WORST

3) Rihanna: It’s not so much that Rihanna was bad, but when you trot out a lip-synching Britney Spears, one who grabs a stripper pole mid-song and half-heartedly gyrates like a depressed stripper bogged down by student loans, it ultimately hurts your entire performance of “S&M.”

2) Far East Movement f/Snoop Dogg: Can we put an end to songs that seem written by 13-year-olds? In “If I Was You,” we get FEM yelling “OMG” and spelling out simple words like “C-O-N-D-O.” Even Snoop, with his hair beads, dangling earrings and bright red gloves, looked ridiculous.

1) Nicki Minaj: How long would it have taken you to demand your money back from that performance had you paid to see it in concert? Performing “Super Bass,” Nicki Minaj looked lazy, performing half-hearted dance steps and, quite literally, growling and grunting her words like a motha f----- “Monster.” Yeah, we all get that Minaj is “different,” which is part of what makes her fun. But that performance was embarrassing.