Review: Girls Aloud, Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle

Jun 8 2009 by Sam Wonfor, The Journal

While Nadine, Sarah and Nicola punched way above their weights (in the respective areas of trying to be Mariah Carey, trying to be Bonnie Tyler and trying to be Lulu), Cheryl stayed firmly in her comfort zone – rarely putting a note in her limited range wrong. Who would have ever thought that, back in the days when the band could have been called Nadine and the Nadinettes?

Now although that needed to be said, what is also crucial to say is there are many things which come before a live vocal in a Girls Aloud gig check list. A series of cracking costume changes, a large dollop of fun-filled show-womanship and the audience getting the chance to dance their asses off to tunes like Love Machine, The Promise, Biology, a cover of Britney’s Womanizer (really?) and the song that started it all – Sound of the Underground – would be three cases in point.

And to those ends, all boxes were ticked. Twice. Girls Aloud put on a great show and remain a perfectly-formed vehicle for some fantastic pop songs. If I were them I’d have a big think before putting an end to anything.

Cheryl – the new nation’s darling – aside, I can’t visualise any of them getting anywhere near to the success they enjoy as an outfit. They are the very definition of good-time glamourpuss synergy... and long may it continue.