Rihanna has accomplished so much that it's really hard to remember she's still only 25.
The Barbadian R&B-pop singer has released seven albums, including last year's "Unapologetic," and each one has sold more than a million copies. She's also notched more than two dozen hit singles. Her trophy case includes seven Grammys as well as other awards.
Beyond music, she has established a second career on camera, appearing in such films as "Battleship" and TV series like "The X Factor." Then, of course, is all the controversy surrounding her personal life, which includes, but is not limited to, the public debate about her troubled relationship with singer Chris Brown.
To top it all off, Rihanna now must be ranked among the top entertainers in the concert industry. Her 2011 Loud Tour was a solid affair, and her current trek -- the Diamonds World Tour, which touched down Saturday night at the HP Pavilion in San Jose -- is even better.
Both were equally sexy and featured compelling theatrics. What separates the two is the degree of versatility displayed. The sold-out show in San Jose, which drew some 14,500 fans, served as far better showcase for all that Rihanna has to offer.
The nearly two hour show opened in dramatic fashion, with Rihanna kneeling near the front of the stage and singing a hushed version of the new album's "Mother Mary" in an almost prayer-like fashion. It was a shockingly subdued entrance, especially for a woman
known for embracing bells and whistles, yet it was also quite mesmerizing -- as if we were somehow privy to a private moment.
It the perfect lead into the night -- the calm before the storm of big dance routines, pyrotechnics and costume changes hit.
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