Purr-fect Pussycat Dolls hit Aberdeen

THEY came to dominate and that’s what they did.

The Pussycat Dolls kicked off their second world tour – Doll Domination at the AECC, and the five foxy felines didn’t once pause for breath.

They were on the move from the minute they appeared on stage on shiny motorbikes until they took their final bow.

Nicole, Melody, Ashley, Jessica and Kimberly thrashed out a powerful set filled with glitter, corsets and suspenders.

They started with big hits from first album PCD, like Buttonz and I Don’t Need A Man, before launching into new tracks from Doll Domination.

Their costume changes kept everyone fixated.

Sparkly bodices and hot pants made the girls look like the superstars they are.

And who would have thought that tartan and silver sequins could look good?

The audience did anything lead singer Nicole Scherzinger asked of them with full enthusiasm – waving their arms in the air and singing lyrics back to her.

The foxy front-lady, the other half of Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, greeted the hyper crowd saying: “Pussycat Dolls are here to take over Aberdeen.

“We’re so excited to kick off our Doll Domination tour right here in Scotland tonight. You ready to have some freaky fun?”

The band’s trademark glittery hoodies made various appearances during the night and sparkly Michael Jackson-style gloves and microphones kept things girly.

Percussionists Shorty Baby and Mr Smiley pelted out drum loops as the girls ran off stage to change into smaller and smaller outfits as the evening went on.

Each doll even took the stage separately for a solo song.

Nicole’s solo piece – performed in a tiny, gold sequin dress – was the single Hush from the new album. But at the crescendo this catapulted into a rocky version of Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive.

Men, women, girls and boys danced to the perfectly choreographed and polished set.

A Burlesque-style dance routine performed with a gaggle of dancing sailors and a racy rendition of Hey Big Spender were highlights.

The tempo was dropped as the girls performed their final number – hit ballad Stick Wit U. But they weren’t going to go out without a bang.

As a drum roll of pounding feet swept through the arena the girls pounced back on stage to close with their feisty number – When I Grow Up. They left their fans with the lyrics “When I grow up I wanna be famous, I wanna be a star” ringing in their ears.

And that seemed to ring true for many admirers as a gaggle of girls chased them out of the car park.

The group are joined on tour by electro-pop sensation Lady GaGa, currently number one in the UK singles chart. The singer, who blends 1980s synth sounds and eccentric wardrobe, has been labelled the New Madonna.

The 22-year-old New Yorker hit the top of the charts with her debut single, Just Dance, which outsold the number two record by more than three-quarters.

Lady GaGa saw her follow-up, Poker Face, come straight into the charts at number 30.

And she also had success in the album charts where her debut, Fame, was the highest new entry at number three.

At age 20, she began working for Interscope Records as a songwriter, penning songs for pop acts – including the Pussycat Dolls.

shind@ajl.co.uk