Review: Girls Aloud, LG?Arena, Birmingham
It was sound of the Girls Aloud as arguably the country's most successful girl group in recent times returned to the stage in the West Midlands for a spectacular performance.
It may have been 10 years since Cheryl, Kimberley, Nicola, Sarah and Nadine were plucked from Popstars The Rivals to form the band – but at last night's concert at the LG Arena in Birmingham they sounded better than ever. Backed by a fabulous array of dancers plus some dazzling lighting and special effects, the girls could not fail to please the sell-out crowd.
From the Sound of the Underground to the more recent Something New, the band played 20 consecutive top 10 hits, including four number ones, in near-chronological order. Dressed in silver and black glistening short skirts, it seemed the girls had hardly aged as they dazzled the crowd with their debut single. Next, they performed No Good Advice, showing they still had the ability to dance, bumping and grinding with their male dancers in front of flaring flames.
Back together, reunited on stage, the five then showed they were still friends, sharing banter about growing old since their beginning. Nadine joked about getting a good moisturiser.
Following the ballad Life Got Cold, the girls next showed their 'rock chick side' to Wake Me Up, before hitting the hard beats of Jump.
Whole Lotta History, Can't Speak French and Biology all followed before another change of costume. The finale was I'll Stand By You and The Promise before the girls bade farewell to their adoring fans.
A marvellous night for the packed audience, which included couples, friends and parents taking their children.
Alex Ross