When Pink emerged in 2000, boy bands and teen pop ruled the world. Her debut single “There You Go” hit the Top 10 in the U.S. and a handful of countries abroad, but little about the song or Pink herself suggested she was going to be any more than a one and done.

Two dozen years later, the woman born Alecia Hart stands as one of the most popular live acts in the business. Her Summer Carnival Tour — which set an attendance record of more than 44,000 last summer at Target Field — is the third highest-grossing tour by a woman ever, bested only by Beyonce and Taylor Swift. Thursday, she returned to St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center for the first of two sold-out shows with more than 15,000 folks in the crowd. Consider it a victory lap.

Thursday’s set list was essentially the same as it was at the Twins ballpark, a well sequenced, hits-heavy career retrospective with a few songs from her ninth album, “Trustfall.”

She opened, as she does, suspended high above the stage and indulged in some of the acrobatic moves that have become her trademark. A trio of backup singers, numerous dancers, two motorized pink flamingos and her nimble band below helped pump up the energy for Pink’s sprint through some of her biggest hits: “Get the Party Started,” “Raise Your Glass,” “Who Knew,” “Just Like a Pill” and “What About Us.” (Pink performed a dance remix version of the latter that unfortunately swallowed up some of her vocals.)

Pink took to the air again for some impressive stunts while she sang “Turbulence” from her latest album. (One of the advantages of catching her at the X rather than Target Field is that it’s easier to see, and appreciate, her athletic feats.) She accompanied herself at the piano for her cover of Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love.” She said she sings it because she can’t write love songs herself. That, and she fell for it via Adele and didn’t realize until later it was a Dylan tune.

For “Just Like Fire,” Pink’s band incorporated part of Pat Benatar’s “Heartbreaker.” During “Cover Me in Sunshine,” Pink’s 13-year-old daughter Willow Sage Hart joined her onstage to sing. She also covered 4 Non Blondes’ “What’s Up,” which is not only one of her favorite songs, its writer Linda Perry helped her make her sophomore album “Missundaztood,” which helped establish Pink as a long hauler.

Throughout the show, Pink radiated strength, vulnerability and warmth. She’s extremely likable as a performer and person who only seems to get better with each tour. Can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

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