AS the sun fell over the Reebok Stadium, feisty pop singer Pink confirmed her place as a genuine rock star.

Bounding on stage, megaphone in hand, the American singer treated fans to hits including Just Like A Pill, Sober and Funhouse.

But the biggest cheer of the night was for a raunchy performance of U + Ur Hand, with the crowd roaring along to the single girls’ anthem.

Things took a quieter turn with an acoustic set featuring I Don’t Believe You and Dear Mr President, although the latter seemed to hit something of an odd note now that we are all thoroughly besotted with President Obama.

An untimely reminder of the bad old days, perhaps.

The stripped down performance did prove that Pink has no need for expensive producers and sound engineers – that husky, slightly raw voice sounds as good live as it does on record.

A medley of covers performed with songwriting partner Butch Walker included My Generation by The Who; Basket Case by Green Day; and Roxanne by The Police.

Another cover, 4 Non Blondes’ What’s Going On? also proved hugely popular.

But this was a night for Pink to shine in her own right, and in a diamante-encrusted leotard that’s exactly what she did.

Whether it was strutting her stuff down the catwalk into the crowd or posing on a stage which appeared to have been turned into some sort of demented funfair, the singer was always the centre of attention.

It wasn’t only the songs that impressed. The singer took to the air for an impressive display of aerial acrobatics, and even rode over the crowd in a zorb ball.

But fancy staging aside, it was the sheer energy and verve of this most underrated of singers that stood out.

And when she took to the air once more for the finale of what is possibly her best-known song, Rockstar, no-one could be left in any doubt that that is, indeed, exactly what she is.