14 DAY TRIAL // Perched high on a stylized tree, Rihanna opened this year’s American Music Awards, held on Sunday night at the Los Angeles’ Nokia Theater, kicking off a gorgeous and energetic 3-song set that once more confirmed why she was such a huge superstar at a relatively young age.
For starters, Rihanna sang “Love the Way You Lie (Part 2),” the follow-up to this summer’s smashing hit by the same name, a collaboration with Eminem that was included on his most recent album.
As MTV News underlines, nothing about the a cappella version seemed to indicate that Rihanna would unleash a frenzy of beats, drums and sassy moves only seconds later.
“After plummeting from the ‘tree,’ which was actually a glowing spiked set piece, she emerged from plumes of fog and busted into ‘What’s My Name?’” MTV says.
“A lightning-quick costume change revealed her in a black-and-white bra top and boy shorts, her red hair twisted into tight curls as she gyrated to the beat of the calypso-tinged jam. She belted the track solo until dancers in fringed skirts invaded the stage for a dancehall-themed breakdown,” the publication further says.
But there was more of the island flavor coming: as she neared the end of “What’s My Name?” more drums were heard, fires started burning bright in the background and Rihanna was again surrounded by dancers, right before going into “The Only Girl (In the World).”
“Rihanna then kicked up the island theme, as drummers pounded away and more dancers rocking tribal-themed garb hit the stage for ‘Only Girl in the World.’ The drummers encircled the Ri and the strobe lights kicked on as she rocked the bridge, jamming alongside the musicians with sultry abandon,” says MTV.
Rihanna danced, sung and swirled around to the beat, proving that it’s not for nothing that she’s currently among the biggest selling female artists, because she’s the complete package.
For a more dramatic ending, she went a cappella once more.
“All the characters left the stage to allow Rihanna to return to the large spiky set-piece and end as she began, crooning the final notes solo. The star-packed audience rose for a standing ovation,” MTV notes.
Below is the video of Rihanna performing a 9-minute 3-song set at the 2010 American Music Awards. Enjoy.