Rihanna Takes Inspiration From Bon Jovi For EMA Performance

MADRID — In the video for her smash hit "Only Girl (In the World,)" Rihanna cavorts in a field positively bursting with candy-colored flowers. So, somewhat naturally, for her performance of the song at the 2010 MTV Europe Awards, she decided to take that whole floral theme to the limit, and beyond.

Or, more specifically, behind.

"[There are] lots of flowers everywhere, even on my butt," she told MTV News on the EMA purple carpet Sunday night (November 7). "That's all I can say."

Trust us, there's plenty more to the performance than that, and you can see it for yourself when the show airs Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on MTV2 or Friday at 9 p.m. ET on MTV. And while Rihanna's EMA version of "Only Girl" is sure to be a treat for her fans (and fans of creative floral arrangements), she'd be the first person to admit that she channeled a rather unlikely source of inspiration when she takes the stage: none other than Bon Jovi, with whom she performed at a secret show in Madrid on Saturday night.

Rihanna said that sharing the stage with the legendary Jersey rockers — and belting out "Livin' on a Prayer" — was most certainly the best thing to happen to her in 2010.

"My highlight of the year was actually last night, getting on stage with Bon Jovi," she laughed of the band who earned this year's Global Icon EMA. "I mean, I love those guys — me and all my friends, we love them — so I had the opportunity to get on stage and not only [with] Bon Jovi, but [to sing] one of my favorite songs, too."

The 2010 MTV EMA show airs on MTV2 on Sunday at 9 p.m. ET, and an edited, performance-heavy version will be broadcast Friday, November 12, at 9 p.m. ET on MTV.