Following Mariah Carey’s impressive showing at the 2013 Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular last week, many of her fans and critics claimed that she had not sounded that good since the 1990s. Yet, the industry’s top diva actually had several other great live performances after the year 2000 and I’ve gathered ten of the best for your review!

As a result of her struggles with vocal nodules and other personal issues that she has yet to reveal, Carey’s voice has suffered some wear and tear, and her recent live performances have been hit or miss. Of course, having set the bar for herself so high during the glory days of her youth, many people still expect perfection and similar to her fellow icon Celine Dion, Carey now often resorts to lip-syncing many of her famous high notes.

However, does that mean that Carey has completely lost her touch and “can’t sing anymore” as many of her detractors claim? Check out ten of her best live performances post-2000 and decide for yourself:

10. “My All” (Melbourne 2013)

Earlier this year, Carey ventured to Australia for a short tour of the southern territory that she had not visited in well over a decade. During the concert series, which most people other then her diehard fans, bloggers and Australians overlooked, she sang several of her biggest hits, including a stunning rendition of “My All” in Melbourne.

Carey’s unique tone and incomparable phrasing were definitely on display as she caressed each member of the Melbourne audience with her flexible voice. What was most notable about this performance was how Carey perfected a singing stye that she adopted in the mid-1990s that relied less on powerhouse belting and more on feeling of every note.

9. “I Still Believe” (Brazil 2010)

Obviously, Carey has a massive global fanbase and in 2010, she performed in Brazil as a special thank you to her international lambs. Her cover of “I Want to Know What Love Is” spent a record-breaking twenty seven weeks atop the local Hot 100 Airplay chart as the most successful song in the history of the lineup, so a very pregnant Carey just had to show her appreciation.

Yet, when Carey asked her Brazilian fans on Twitter to choose the songs for her setlist, another cover, “I Still Believe”, received the most votes and she fulfilled their wish by performing the song live. With a belly full of babies and a head covered in extensions, Carey happily sang the Brenda K. Starr original and even hit the famous closing note, thus proving that she can still communicate with her pack of dogs.

8. “We Belong Together” (MTV Movie Awards 2005)

“We Belong Together” eventually became the biggest hit of Carey’s career in the US but before the song was forever etched in the history books, she plugged it on every possible stage. Among her first performances of “We Belong Together” was at the 2005 MTV Movie Awards where she basically caught a fit while belting the dramatic climax. Yes, Carey occasionally lip-syncs the end of the tune but this time she was live and the audible cracking of her voice at the end is a bittersweet reminder of that.

7. “All I Want for Christmas is You” (Disney Parade 2004)

This wouldn’t be a proper Carey-related countdown if it didn’t include a Holiday-themed performance. In 2004, she headlined the annual Disney parade and she was happy to share the stage with her fairytale friends as she sang a rendition of her signature song, “All I Want for Christmas is You”, and sounded just as good as she did when the song was first released ten years earlier. Who wants to bet that Carey’s living room looks exactly like Disney World on Christmas morning?

6. “With You I’m Born Again” (Vh1 Save the Music 2005)

Carey is a big fan of John Legend and at the 2005 Vh1 Save the Music special, she joined him for a performance of “With You I’m Born Again”. Their duet was nothing short of magical as Carey wafted through her high soprano and Legend handled the lower end with his spine-tingling baritone. In fact, the pair was so good that Chante Moore and Kenny Lattimore have since performed their vocal arrangement, although with less impressive results.

5. “Joy to the World” (BET 2001)

Okay, let’s make that two Holliday performances on the list because Carey loves the season that much. In 2001, she appeared on BET – you know, when the channel still had good programming – and sang several songs, including “Joy to the World”. Powerful doesn’t aptly describe how Carey sounded as her voice resonated over the cheering audience before ending on a brilliant high note well into the seventh octave. Yes, I know a few things about singing.

4. “You & I” (BET Walk of Fame 2002)

Along with Aretha Franklin and Minnie Riperton, Stevie Wonder is one of Carey’s biggest inspirations and at the 2002 BET Walk fo Fame, she honored him with a cover of “You & I”. If you assume that Carey is only famous for her high notes then think again because she sang the majority of this song in her dark lower register and not only matched Wonder’s original note for note, but also took the arrangement to a new extreme. Don’t try this at home, kids.

3. “Never to Far/Hero” (Home for the Holidays 2001)

It’s a shame that Carey’s Glitter soundtrack was slammed by critics simply because it was tied to such an awful film. Honestly, the record entails some of her best vocal performances, such as “Lead the Way” and “Never Too Far”, the latter of which she sang live in a medley with “Hero” at the Home for the Holidays special in 2001.

Carey’s voice almost as good as it was during her mid-1990s prime as she effortlessly soared through the octaves during the Home for the Holidays medley. Sadly, she never sings any of the material from Glitter today but hey, that’s why we have YouTube.

2. Jazz Medley (Belman’s Bar 2012)

Following her less stellar concert at the NFL season kickoff in 2012, Carey and her crew relaxed at Belman’s Bar where she gave us a glimpse of her real destiny as a Jazz singer. It seems that when there aren’t any cameras around, Carey becomes her true self and she playfully showcased her skills as she flirted with the small crowd.

Can you name five other Pop singers who have demonstrated such brilliance? That’s your cue to be quiet Beyonce and Christina Aguilera fans. While you keep thinking, I’ll finish my letter begging Carey to release a Jazz album or a collection of standards.

1. Vision of Love (BET Blueprint 2005)

In 2005, Carey appeared on BET Blueprint to promote The Emancipation of Mimi and left the viewers stunned when she performed one of the few songs in her catalogue that she has never lip-synced – “Vision of Love”. Carey was in fine form as she belted, whistled and flexed her range, and although her voice cracked several times, she didn’t seem to care as she reminded us of the reason she became one of the most influential singers of our time. My favourite part: AJ Calloway saying, “take your time with it!”

What was Carey’s best post-2000 performance? What was the best from those listed above? What performance was missing from the list? Vote in our poll and share your opinion!