Keith Urban Plays ‘Long Hot Summer’ at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards

Keith Urban gave one of the best, and least gimmicky, performances of the night at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards with a straight-ahead reading of his recent song 'Long Hot Summer.'

Without guest stars, electrified dresses, explosions or any trace of the choreography that's overloaded some of the pop music appearances across this star-studded night, Urban and his band simply stood in front of some bright lights and played a good song well. Eureka!

The song, from his current album 'Get Closer,' delighted the crowd, who jumped up and down while clapping the whole time. Maybe they were paid to do so, maybe they pumped laughing gas into the arena -- it IS Vegas after all -- but their response was certainly deserved, and it seemed legit.

Watch Keith Urban Perform 'Long Hot Summer' on the 2011 Billboard Music Awards