MTV VMAs 2016 opening: Rihanna performs ‘Only Girl,’ ‘We Found Love,’ more

Tonight, the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards began with something a little bit different: A tribute to their Vanguard Award winner in Rihanna. Often, we see these performers saved for a little bit later in the show, but not tonight as she ran through a series of some of her biggest hits.

For those who love Rihanna, this was a pretty cool way to go through many of her songs in a very short period of time. Also, this was a really great way for us to get the energy level up entering the night. These are the sort of performers you want starting a show. They’ll get everyone excited for some of what is coming up down the road.

As for how this compares to some of the other opening numbers we’ve seen over the years, we’d say favorably. While it was a little bit less of a visual spectacle, it was entertaining and nostalgic in a way. Sometimes, that is better than seeing something that you’re not going to remember that much musically in a few years.

Rihanna’s performance is the first of many who are going to be coming up over the course of the night. You’re going to be seeing the likes of Britney Spears, Future, Beyonce, and more over the course of the night; Kanye West has around four minutes of air time at the show, and who knows what he is going to do?

In the end, you can vote in the poll below to grade the opening number this year! (Rihanna will be back later in the show.)

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