In 2008, British supergroup Girls Aloud released their smash
single “The Promise” to rave reviews. Their fifth studio album Out of Control followed a month later.
The record went to number one on the UK Albums Chart, becoming a first for the
Girls. In the spring of the following year, Girls Aloud embarked on a tour that
the Daily Mirror would call “their raunchiest ever.”
There’s no denying that the Out of Control Tour had its share of sexual overtones. The
costuming is racy and the dance moves are seductive. The show begins with the
Girls draped in fringe, as they shimmy their way through “The Promise” high
atop the stage on freestanding platforms. It’s a striking image and goes
down as one of their more interesting entrances. The opening segment also
features album cuts “Love Is the Key” and “Miss You Bow Wow,” as well as the
band’s hit 2005 song “Biology.” The latter is particularly memorable due to its
familiarity and choreography. Another standout moment is when the Girls perform
“Love Machine” during the second section. It is high energy and features a
jazz-inspired dance breakdown. Not unlike on their Tangled Up Tour, the Girls utilize a small B-stage in the middle of
the crowd to perform in a more intimate format. This third segment includes “Untouchable”
and “Call the Shots” (both sung on a floating platform), as well as a cover to
the James Morrison song “Broken Strings.” This ballad is a rare moment in the
show as it strips the Girls bare of production and choreography, bringing them
as close as possible to their fans. In between this, they perform an
unforgettable rendition of “Sexy! No No No…,” borrowing elements from Rihanna’s
hit song “Disturbia.” The last section of the show is a sexual free-for-all as
the girls perform album tracks like “Revolution in the Head” and “Fix Me Up”
alongside their debut single “Sound of the Underground.” The most remarkable
moment, however, is when the Girls deliver their own version of Britney Spears’
“Womanizer.” The cover is flawless and is perhaps even better than the original,
due to the Girls’ unfiltered voices (read: no autotune). The Out of Control Tour is concluded with a
megamix of Girls Aloud hits whilst the fabulous five are decked out in gorgeous
black bodysuits, bedazzled with crystal butterflies. It’s a moment that truly
illustrates how well they’ve done in the world of music.
The Out of Control
Tour was yet another admirable display of Girls Aloud’s prowess as pop
stars. They command the stage with remarkable ease and have shown that they
have one of the greatest musical catalogues of any girl group (past or
present). The show is not free of faults, however. Their costumes lack colour,
with each being black, white or a combination thereof. They also repeat staging
from previous performances and didn’t rework past hits as well as they could
have. Nevertheless, the Out of Control
Tour is an energetic and sexy concert that is sure to please any fan of
Girls Aloud.
Rating: B+
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