Rihanna loud and kinky at Rogers

'VE always regretted not seeing Britney Spears in her prime.

It's not so much because I'm a big fan of her music as it is that I know she put on an amazing show, a spectacle for all in attendance.

But after seeing Rihanna on her Loud tour last Friday night at Rogers Arena, I'm feeling a little better, because whatever Britney did, I'm pretty sure Rihanna did too - in high definition.The show started when four video screens shaped like trashcan lids were lowered to the ground, cutting through various sexy images of the 23-year-old Barbadian singer all the while.

Then, she emerged. Dressed in a short, electric-blue trench coat and bright pink booties with neon heels, the R&B princess opened with "Only Girl (in the World)" and for the next two hours it seemed like she was.

The coat soon slipped off revealing what was essentially a multi-coloured sequined bikini as Rihanna belted her way into "Disturbia" and then "Shut Up and Drive."

Eight dancers all sporting highlighter-hued outfits surrounded the star for most of the night, in what turned out to be a very kinky show. I'm talking air humping, stripping, chains - at one point, the red-headed beauty asked "Hey Vancouver, who wants to come up here and get freaky with me?"

Thousands of girls and hundreds of guys in the crowd screamed deafeningly in response.