She’s gifted modern pop music with some of its biggest hits, but now it’s time That Grape Juice gifts Rihanna – with an ode to her greatest performances just in time for her birthday.
Indeed, while some will argue the singer’s inconsistent live acts – featuring their fair share of stage presence shortages and poor vocal displays – make it a difficult task to collect a number of qualitative stage showings, there are a wealth of demonstrations that prove such is simply not the case.
Over the course of 10 years and 7 albums worth of material, Ri has a bevy of memorable moments on stage. With her outstanding 2015 Grammy performance still fresh in our minds as evidence of her growing abilities, tuck in below to see our picks for the birthday girl’s best:
TGJ’s Top 5 Rihanna Performances
(In no particular order)
American Music Awards 2010 ‘Loud’ Medley
‘Where Have You Been’ live at SNL
‘Vogue’ Live at Fashion Rocks
‘FourFiveSeconds’ live at 2015 Grammys
‘Stay’ Live at SNL
Honorable Mentions
‘California King Bed’ live at Country Music Awards
‘Diamonds’ Live at X Factor UK
Sound off on our picks and tell us some of your favorites below:
my thoughts? her 2012 VMA’s performance is better than all of these
Yes, the diamonds performance at X Factor is her absolute BEST performance ever. People that talk crap about her vocals, had to be looking like idiots while watching that performance.
That’s my all-time fav too!!!
Nice list
No it isn’t…. Where are the “We Found Love” Performances that she killed… Grammy’s for example. Or the “Hate That I Love You” or rehab…. Or maybe even performances from hackney and the concert she did for veterans… Those where all better than most of these
My fave is Stay
The AMAs one is most definitely one of my favs. I also like this one
http://youtu.be/6ZLa5IdJdU4
Rihannas superbowl performance SLAYED!!!
OH… WAIT……..
That ‘Diamonds’ performance still gives me chills. I love that one.
I just wish she and Mariah weren’t so hit and miss live. Still love both tho.
#NoShadeNoTea
While you’re wishing on that star, wish for the elasticity in your rectum back.
LMAO!! I live!! Love you boo!! Save some of that hostility for @Slay_Hive, tho. 😉
Lol I love you too
🙂
@Tits Magee
Now what was the purpose in mentioning me? The bobble head h** just got you together! kii SMMFH
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You should have told the b**** that your rectum is tighter than that loose canon hole p**** that pushed out ten b****** welfare children! A gallon of vinegar and ten douches couldn’t solve that problem!
@Slayhive lol. I only metioned you because I thought I read you two going at it on a post yesterday.
I like y’all both so I can’t take sides. Kii.
Also the kids don’t know I can skin a potato from that orifice, so I am unbothered! Lmao!
Love you too boo boo! Kii!
lol oh ok. All I’m saying is you don’t let a pressed senior citizen b**** get you together like that and turn around and tell her you love her. unnnn uhhh *N my Beyonce Video Phone Voice* 😀
Y’all got laughing. All in good fun! Ki!
Xoxo
Rihanna is more consistent these days than Mariah wishes she was…
Her ama performance slayed and she looked so cute!
I think her best performance is when she did Diamonds at the AMAS in 2013…
She come along way vocally i guess
You know damn well that Riri has come a long way from the little girl singing Hero.
Fix It Jesus!!!
She should have never gotten a record deal in the first place. Coming a long way? From what, bad to mediocre? She still has a long way to go before anyone can even consider her an artist. For now, she’s just a model who sings.
@Jefferson Speak for your seething-self and your pressed bottom, RIHANNA IS THE TOP SELLING DIGITAL ARTIST EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There are millions of people in this world who see her as a Visionary, you’re just jealous.
This is also one of my top picks
http://youtu.be/rASxKW64-KE
this one sucks.. she lacked so much stage presence here
DISAGREE AT ALL
Her EMA performance in the LOUD era was great. The biggest Motherfúckin’ pop star in the 21 century.
Looool
I do like Rihanna but live performing and vocal slayage are not her thing. She is at the bottom of the list when it comes to “raw talent” and is the true product of a team. Give her a mic, a stool and a spotlight and its the equivalent of drinking a bottle of NyQuil.. Give her a Carnival outfit, a beat and a dance routine and you might be reminiscent of a deer and head lights. But I know Ri knows her lane and she stays in it:fashion, workout music and ABC/123 harmonies Demi-“ballads”. And for that reason I still f**** with her- when I’m in the gym or bout to turn up!
Girl bye with this essay. You ain’t a blogger bye musty
Awww @KingRih… You mad your fav no good singer? No mad she no voodoo queen? poor dat
DEATH!!!!! lmaoooo
Troll_Hive girl keep it cute, I caught your lil performance at Ms.GLounge last weekend. Miss thing thought she was giving Sasha Fierce but was really giving Mimi Realness
http://youtu.be/AB-8mEDX_NI
Etheredt!!!!! 😆
Shes always better when she sings a well rehearsed ballad. I liked her diamonds performance.
2012 Vma performance slayed. She can be a hit and miss vocalist sometimes but she is better than people like Miley,Katy,Lana, and Taylor Swift vocally.
Miley. Taylor, Katy and Lana are not vocalists. Vocalists refer to those with above average vocals with a big emphasis on their voice: Whitney, Jennifer Hudson, Mariah, Beyonce, kelly Price, Faith Evans, Ariana grande, pink, Christina aguilera… Those are what are considered vocalists
She’s not better than Miley vocally. I would put her on the same level as Katy Perry. The only reason people think Rihanna isn’t as bad as she is, is bc her team is smart and hired a back up singer with the same voice as hers but with more control. She’s the one hitting those notes while Rihanna mimes.
This one too, I really liked this one
http://youtu.be/IkftWwT4r_c
yes! she slayed that stage
Can’t forget about this one of course
http://youtu.be/2u4LJGHV4lU
I’ve never been slayed by one Rihanna performance. Her good performances are just that, good. I think people mistake managing to sing in pitch and tune as slaying. Shes just not a class act performer. But she has a lot of charisma as a pop star and fits her role as an it girl well.
And this one too
http://youtu.be/T7tzkt80t0Y
1. 2010 AOL Sessions
2. Stay on UK X Factor
3. Rated R Launch Party in London
4. Brits 2011
5. Grammys 2015
This one too
http://youtu.be/rSE2SOjDCN0
I liked this one too
http://youtu.be/NOF_SXvXNTo
Of course can’t forget about this one
http://youtu.be/gij5ffY5qUk
Girl give it up she is so boring live.
I love this one too
http://youtu.be/o4NPfnYQrwA
And this one
http://youtu.be/DZFehonE47E
Any Rihanna album that’s not Rated R… Or possibly GGGB… https://t.co/Zy8xCSThZ7
And of course cannot forget about this
http://youtu.be/D4uc1zKvJXw
When she brought the house down in Japan
http://youtu.be/jOkB8Kr_jDI
And this one, I really like this one too
http://youtu.be/DQJ4g01vioQ
How can you leave this one out Rashad?
http://youtu.be/DKLvvZ9Zxf0
I like Russian Roulette at AOL, Stay at the Grammys, Diamonds at X-Factor, and Pour it Up at the Diamonds Ball.
@Sam. Clearly you aren’t making enough coinage from all those recycled Lady GaGa posts, now u trying to use Riherpes. Where is the news? We don’t care what you and your squad of phaggots at TGJ think are Riherpes best performances, we only come here for the news. Give us the news and keep it moving, stop this madness, really!!
Go purchase one of Fadgas flop albums #Artflop #AssToMouth
Don’t come for gaga when those flop albums have sold more than my everything and yours finally gold after one year
This is definitely one of my favorite performances
http://youtu.be/nqohHE_zu6g
And not the schizophrenic Botswana so-called “bisexual” who has a different fave every week, occupying this post more than Wall Street. Which thot would allow a fairy that stans hard for Riherpes and katy perry to be on top of her? Not even the cheap prostitutes from Hillbrow in Jhb would allow that. I don’t know who it thinks its fooling
Well your mom wasn’t complaining so…
Like when your dad doesn’t complain after u blow him?
Yessss! As soon as I saw this post, my mind went immediately to her X Factor performance. Not only is ‘Diamonds’ my favorite song by her, but it’s also her best live sounding song.
Is UltraTrash gold yet? I thought her only stan said she was the queen of interscope? How can u be a queen and get outsold by a supposed “fad”? Not at Cheek to Cheek passing UltraTrash and getting that gold status, when it was released 8485421564 months after UltraTrash. The Lana stan is delusional, the only fad here is Lana Fad Rey.
Kiii Llama came and went. Rosie is her last fan standing
nice try b****, worry about gaga going from the MOST recognised household names to a complete and utter flop, and after just her 3rd album, as for ciara >>>>>
I just can’t watch her live performances or videos. She just doesn’t do anything for me! Her singing is basic, she struggles horribly with live vocals and she can not perform to save her life! I couldn’t name one performance by her that I like! lmao ForuFive Seconds grammy performance was the only performance I’ve seen from her in YEARS and that’s only because it was a live taping and I was waiting on Beyonce. 😀
She has no talent sis. A waste of space & she’s fugly
Yes hun, I agree!
Is anybody shocked by this multiple email account having rimmed high school dropout fág’s comment?
Is anybody shocked that your irrelevant illiterate pressed for attention ass is bothered by my comment? Stay out of my reply box b****! No one uses you not even your fellow rihtards! CHOW!
Where is prismatic – you know – your other name under a different email account? I heard from Rodriguez that you created Prismatic during the 4Lop era. 😆
LMAO ZzZzZzZzZzZ I’m so over this Prismatic bull! It is so Tired!
.
BTW how the hell could I Have created Prismatic during 4(2011) when Prism didnt come out until 2013? kii Further proving how dumb and illogical you are.
.
During the 4 era my name was @Rihject on here and before that Love4Bey. Sit the f*** down h**, you’re embarrassing yourself! smmfh
READ HA @ Slay_Hive
Calm down Prismatic. Breeeeeeeathe. LOL. Do not shy away from your trolling ways. Did you not get any díck last night? Have those men in your ghetto slum of a neighborhood get tired of you grotesquely stretched a*** that is wider than the Hudson river?
Yes b**** getting d*** has never been a problem of mine. Maybe if you got some you wouldn’t be such a pressed thirsty for attention d**** shoving ass bottom! It must be difficult being the only white washed charcoal black bottom in a predominantly white little d*** trailer park community, where even they pay you dust. Sounds like you want to come to the ghetto! You gets no play where you’re from and sadly ugly fat b****** are only good for sucking d*** and swallowing in the “ghetto”. Sowry for you! BWAHAHHAHAHA
Um didn’t BEYONCÉ heavily promote songs from 4 flop for her 4 s**** tour? She was touring for a little bit in 2013 no? prismatic came out when? 2013? So Isnt that little rebuttal void now?
“I heard from Rodriguez that you created Prismatic during the 4Lop era.”
.
Flop Ivy Rod. Clearly your pea brain missed that statement. Beyonce may have toured in 2013, but the 4 ERA was in 2011. I also don’t see the connection between that and “Prismatic” being that I’ve never trolled under that name before. I bought receipts, shut that ish DOWN and all ya’ll can do is constantly “accuse”. You should be the last to even come for trolling SLAYRIAH! BYE!
All of her performances suck h***** c*** f*** that b****
Like when your dad doesn’t complain after u blow him?
That’s just vile and disgusting. Your mom was right about you. Oh and we borrowed one of your condoms, I hope you don’t mind.
You borrowed my condoms so that your dad doesn’t infect you with h***** when he f**** u? Its too late tho, u already have H.IV from all those nights of unprotected sodomy from ur dad. So I don’t mind u taking my condoms.
Diamonds @ X Factor UK, Grammys and Stay @ SNL, yes! *applauds* I like her Hard performance too for the stage presence. And S&M @ BBMA just for the giggles and the epicness of her and Britney miming together and having fun ha
HAPPY BIRTHDAY RIHANNNA, WE ALL LOVE SOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH, WISH YOU MANY MORE BLESSINGS AND THANK THE ALL MIGHTY FOR YOUR TALENT!!!!!!!
*Vomits* http://thatgrapejuice.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/beyonce-photoshopped-loreal-that-grape-juice.png
Gladys Knight @MsGladysKnight:
@Beyonce is self made, hard working, and beautiful. Those who criticize need a life and a mirror so they can take a good look at themselves!
10:16pm – 19 Feb 15
Lol all basic
her x factor uk russian roulette performance was amazing…and she did it all while sitting…adele been taking classes. Lol
They are all forgettable performances… Shes a SnoozFest on stage when she is by herself… She either needs 317893271327618 dancers by her, Or a legend on stage with her to add some spice to her stage presence.
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You know im telling ZERO lies!
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None The Less, I prefer her performing low energy songs and ballads, So that way she doesnt have to embarrass herself by trying to catch the fast beat with choreo, leaving her resorting to patting her vaginaa on stage. Atleast I can put up with that over the other struggle.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOrCz3ydBhU
At least we can hear her! Ciara’s voice is used as a dog whistle so they could find lost dogs. Finally putting her “talent” to use. Still love her though!
Where’s I bet?
Sorry sis, But Ciaras whisper has improved over the years, and her vocal ability SLAYS Marijuanna’s!
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Nice try though!
@Future the LIES!!!!…Ciara sounds like Ma Petite and her dancing has not evolved she is still doing that tired matrix back bend and hunging her shoulder like a damn caveman, she has no femininity with her movements and her choreography isn’t as appealing to the eye like a Janet or Beyoncé.
everytime she pulls out unfaithful i melt… And that vogue performance was epic,
She has not one iconic or mezmorising performance so you could have kept this post.
noone claimed she did, all they said was that she did have great performances and it being her bday and all…
#hatingisadisease
Stfu already. Its an open forum and I can express however I feel its not hating just stating it as it is.
She sings better than Ciara so c squad should shut up. Ciara is as bad as Lana.
Coming from a S****** “Auto Tune” Spears stan… I totally take your comment seriously…
funny all this pressed b****** in here, talking about iconic performances when your favs cant even claim one either…and dont confuse great performances for iconic ones or those that are iconic to your fav as iconic to the music industry…
Why are the UglyYonce stans and the Cedric stans, who is 4-5 seconds from being axed at RCA , all up in arms? What’s wrong fleas?
She a Nocalist huney so deal…
you’re reaching!
Doesn’t your fave and Iggy share the same ghost writers?
Oh so its her birthday. How old is she now 27? The big 30 aint far away considering the Navy still make out shes like Ariana Grandes age or something.
FLOP!!! Next…
We aren’t talking about the Pinkprint sweetheart.
And when will TGJ stop stealing ideas and articles? They stole this from Billboard. LOL
yeah but i give them a pass as it wasnt negative…i fear for Rashad…was sure hating rihanna with every breath was a job requirement
#worldisfullofwonder
2011 grammys, We Found Live.
2013 AMAs , Diamonds.
The Bob Marley song on Oprah.
Z Factor Stay and We Found Love.
Love The Way You Live on the Loud Tour.
oh yeah that redemption song cover is one of her best, listen to it to this day, played it today.lol
Seriously?
20 years from now, she won’t be remembered for her live performances because she’s not a stellar entertainer.
TGJ should have done a “Rihanna’s Top 5 Most Memorable Hit Singles” instead.
*Closes Casket* lmaoooooooo
She’s not the best performer but when she’s on she’s on (reminds me of Mariah).
Diamonds at Victoria’s Secret Fashion show was incredible and We Found Love at X Factor
These ciara Stans need to shut up. When your fave has the same octaves as a dog whistle and looks like papoose with tuck in
Hunny, The men in your avi have better vocqals than Marijuanna!
Stop reaching!
Why are BEYONCÉ fans in here when your fave best performance was her stake weave being caught in a fan? That was entertainment
The Billboard Awards 2011 performance of Run The World was ONE of her best performances. Let’s not even go there. Rihanna could NEVA! Not when her best is a mediocre country rihject version of her finally yodeling in tune! kii STAWP!!!
OOOKAY!
Wasn’t that proven to be another case of her stealing from another artist tho?
Beyonce’s shits on Rihanna as an entertainer. So idk why ur even trying to go there.
I cry everytime I see this one!!! BEAUTIFUL
http://youtu.be/CdjaSw3Nh_w
YASSSS Throw those chips at the dingy h**!!!!!! *claps and screams*
SCREAMS!!!!!! yas, Yas, YASSSS!
DEATH!!!
Rememba when Rih lipsynced to Beyonce’s vocals on Lose My Breath?
http://youtu.be/cYCmv8sYBYw?t=42s
DEADDT. That avi tho>>>>>
Isn’t that when Beyonce was like 27?
She was 23. Rihanna was 17 and miming the chorus which everyone knows was only Beyonce was singing on. This is back in da ‘my greatest idol is beyonce’ dayz
Grammy’s 2015 was nice. But, Rihanna is not a great live performer to me. I just don’t get slayed from her live at all. She’s cool tho
You said you brought receipts but you still can’t tell us why Prismatic had the same AVI as you but yet whenever they commented they had no AVI
Death @ Future’sMistake saying Ciara has improved when she’s singing like she’s sitting on top of a washing machine in that “I BETter sell this time” performance
Ciara may not be the best at vocals but neither is Rihanna. One things for sure though Ciara MURDERS Rihanna on that stage as a performer.
Her good performances are average at best. But I liked her last Grammys one even though I still HATE that annoying ass song.
One thing I realixe with these gays is that they want to see some drag queen type of show and that’s what they call slaying. And that’s why BEYONCÉ doesn’t do it for me anymore in terms of entertainment. It’s always the same, He man cannot even sing the alphabet without sounding like a 2 year old cooing for its bottle.
We’re not all gay on this site. Beyonces performances are not all ‘drag queen’ shows anyway please have a seat you clearly have never been to her shows.
I’ve been to her Shows and seen a couple of her performances. I’m not saying she’s bad I’m saying she doesn’t do it for me again. Just like how yall have an opinion I have mine too so why won’t you have a sit with Rita Ora and Scarecrow because yall are irrelevant.
There’s no need to throw shade at Beyonce… the HIGHEST GROSSING FEMALE PERFORMER OF THIS GENERATION, just because people would rather spend their valuable time and energy watching her perform. Over some monotone drug addict who can’t manage to master anything beyond a C note, some stupid finger guns, and a weak ass dutty whine.
@Blue Ivy. You don’t have to lie craig. *Beyonce voice*. Because if you had you would not be saying that because her shows are extremley dynamic and versatile. Only her iconic performances with songs like Single Ladies and Crazy In Love are the same because they are ‘iconic Beyonce’. Like any other GREAT performer she is recognized for those performances and that style but that does not make all her peformances the same. I don’t see why you had a dedicate a comment on that anyway because this is post about Rihannas performances not Beyonce.
That picture is hilarious!
“I’m not saying she’s bad”. You can’t say she’s bad…because she’s not. Rihanna might be bad AND inconsistent but Beyonce’s the most commercially viable entertainer of our time. So that s*** sounds sooo stupid.
I see the hive are pressed as usual. Maga in entertainment to me is not a drag show with bright lights to take away her mediocrity among the dancers and singing Mary J B rejects. It gets old, though I do say she is talented and is a great performer. Her shows or should I say presence bores me now. I would prefer to go to Lady Gaga or Chris Browns concert (if he had the budget)
What about the “What’s My Name?” X Factor UK Finals performance? That one slayed my life and brought me back as a bigger stan for her.
http://youtu.be/B4YwWETeK1I
AMA 2013.. DIAMONDS.
Her best. Iconic moment for her.