10 Best Moments of the Girls Aloud Reunion

Longtime Ladies Aloud followers are bittersweet in regards to the group’s 2009 single “Untouchable.” Whereas the atmospheric, practically seven-minute epic off the group’s No. 1 U.Okay. album Out of Control was a transparent fan and significant favourite, the official single model was an Auto-Tune-heavy, electro-pop quantity. It finally landed at No. 11 on The Official U.Okay. Singles Chart to interrupt Ladies Aloud’s historic run with 20 consecutive prime 10 singles.

As if reclaiming their historical past proper from the opening quantity, The Ladies Aloud Present kicked off with the unique album model of “Untouchable” (to the delight of many followers) as Cheryl, Nadine, Kimberley and Nicola descended to the stage from ceiling-high platforms — doubtless a throwback to one of many group’s most memorable, high-flying stay performances for Dancing on Ice in 2019.

One other emotional staple of Ladies Aloud’s previous excursions is “I’ll Stand by You,” the group’s rework of the 1994 single by The Pretenders launched 10 years later as a charity single that went to No. 1 on the U.Okay. Singles chart.

The efficiency got here in the direction of the present’s finish however introduced one of the highly effective moments on stage, notably on the tour’s opening nights in Dublin. With the track’s music video footage alongside many targeted pictures of Sarah Harding, the quartet was undeniably emotional singing this collectively on stage once more with out their fifth bandmate. However the ladies coming collectively by the track’s finish to carry one another arm in arm proved hauntingly proving the group dwelling by way of their lyrics (once more) with previous exhibits changing into extra of a celebration for Harding with Nadine steadily encouraging an arena-wide singalong.

Whereas Ladies Aloud saved their press appearances to a minimal after formally reforming in late 2023, the occasions the media did convey them collectively have been stuffed with pleasure and nostalgia.

Cheryl, Nadine, Kimberley and Nicola lightheartedly reminisced on previous outfits, magnificence appears, and performed superlatives — steadily telling humorous tales in regards to the late Sarah — but in addition obtained trustworthy about their profession struggles together with virtually disbanding after their 2003 debut album Sound of the Underground and three Prime 3 singles within the U.Okay.

“That was an actual turning level as a result of it was slightly hit-and-miss with the label at that time,” Nicola advised ITV’s Alison Hammond (watch above) earlier than they have been supplied a spot on the Love Truly soundtrack with a canopy of The Pointer Sisters‘ Billboard Sizzling 100 hit “Bounce (For My Love)” from the 1984. “We have been truly probably going to be dropped earlier than ‘Bounce’ as a result of the songs had gone from No. 1 to 2 to three. Then ‘Bounce’ was proposed to us and thank G-d it was only a large success and saved us.”

Plus, Kimberley, Cheryl, and Nadine are all moms now, and sharing how their children solely now perceive their previous and see previous footage for the primary time provides Ladies Aloud a method to join with an entire new technology.

Whereas Nicola Roberts is the youngest — and, usually, shyest — member of Ladies Aloud, it’s been a pleasure for followers to look at her blossom from a timid teenager to a full-blown celebrity. Whereas Nicola’s vocals confirmed progress each GA album period, the facility displayed on The Ladies Aloud Present was on a brand new degree for the 38-year-old. Her ad-libs have been noticeably dynamic on songs like “The Present,” “Can’t Communicate French,” and “One thing Kinda Ooooh.” On the identical time, she additionally gracefully stepped in to cowl sections initially sung by Sarah Harding with a equally vital tenacity of her late band member.

Whereas Nicola solely launched one solo album in 2011’s good Cinderella Eyes and has as a substitute been within the studio to jot down for different artists (penning tracks for Little Combine, Tinashe, Tiffany Younger and even Cheryl), one hopes the boldness displayed on stage encourages her to step into the recording sales space as soon as once more.

Anybody accustomed to Ladies Aloud’s story — notably the rocky years main as much as and after their tenth anniversary — is aware of how exceptional it’s to see the group again collectively on stage singing. Whereas the 2006 ballad “Complete Lotta Historical past” was at all times a touching second in Ladies Aloud’s setlist, the track feels much more poignant at the moment.

Singing lyrics like, “I’m speaking ’bout an entire lotta historical past/ I can’t discover a method to present what you imply to me” earlier than strolling off the stage holding each other as a video of Sarah singing closed out the track was goosebump-inducing. It felt like a visible promise that they are going to, certainly, bear in mind their historical past collectively.

Past Cheryl, Nadine, Kimberley and Nicola’s onstage show of companionship for “Complete Lotta Historical past,” a particular video closed out the track. Sarah Harding’s wistful solo outro for the monitor looped as a montage performed to remind the viewers of her magnificence, daring character, and boisterous giggle.

Followers watched the memorial video in silence til its ending with the phrase, “The darkest nights produce the brightest stars” (included on a number of the Ladies Aloud tour merchandise in honor of Harding) to elicit a roar of applause for his or her fallen songbird.

Whereas there have been many winks to Ladies Aloud’s enduring LGBTQ+ fanbase by way of the years, the tour efficiency of “Can’t Communicate French” felt like a full-fledged love letter to the neighborhood. The women and their accompanying dance crew labored handheld followers for practically the whole efficiency of the 2008 single, with the main male dancers rocking gender-bending blouses, skirts, and stockings whereas bumping and grinding with the quartet.

A number of native British and Irish bars held pre- and after-show events following the live shows (like RuPaul’s Drag Race UK contestant Cheryl Gap performing a continuous set of GA group and solo performances in Aberdeen, Scotland; Gap and Drag Race Down Below star Hannah Conda carried out in Newcastle, England) to introduced in followers throughout the gender spectrum celebrating the group with drinks, drag and Ladies Aloud’s greatest melodies.

As one of many group’s main vocalists, Nadine Coyle naturally has loads on her plate each set and the Irish powerhouse was not resistant to the occasional slip-up — along with her phrase salads and cute slip-ups changing into an increasing number of amusing to the band and followers all through the tour.

Regardless of whipping by way of every live performance with an simple enduring rock-star presence, Nadine nonetheless appeared to go to warfare with the present’s ongoing blasts of celebratory confetti nightly, making an attempt to not breathe them in or choke on them whereas singing — inspiring fan montages and Coyle even to declare, “I’ve been personally attacked by confetti” on the intimate Shepherd’s Bush Empire present in July with noticeably much less pyrotechnics.

There was additionally the second in Belfast the place followers caught Nadine trying visibly terrified when an under-the-weather Cheryl indicated she wanted protection for her half in “The Promise,” or in Dublin, she full-on sang “I forgot the phrases” in “Bounce.”

Regardless of 20 years within the group, Nadine proves that we’re all nonetheless vulnerable to jumbling our phrases — and her members and followers love her all of the extra for it.

Ladies Aloud might have simply relied on easy nostalgia to promote out their arena-sized reunion. Nonetheless, the identical musical imaginative and prescient that made the woman group each industrial and significant successes guided the tour’s musical course with alternative ways to fulfill their followers’ cult-like obsession with deep cuts. The 20-song setlist dropped just a few of GA’s hit singles to convey out a number of the greatest tour performances for b-side tracks.

Highlights of the evening included “Graffiti My Soul” from 2004’s What Will the Neighbours Say? (that Britney Spears recorded as a demo for a possible album), the place Cheryl and Kimberley steadily teased the viewers with a close to lip-lock; a dance-heavy tackle “Woman Overboard” off 2007’s Tangled Up with further dance breaks and remixed moments; in addition to “On the Metro,” a Nicola-penned minimize off their Ten compilation album from 2012 that Roberts famous was certainly one of their favourite songs to carry out.

With new album cuts added to their finale present at Brighton Pleasure in August, this reunion proved that Ladies Aloud wasn’t nearly their consecutive string of hits and the whole tasks encompassing them.

The Ladies Aloud reunion wasn’t over after their tour however continued on because the group carried out a particular live performance on the intimate Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London and headlined the 2024 U.Okay. Pleasure occasion in Brighton and Hove in August, the place they delivered a revamped present full with totally different music and appears.

From the primary look of Cheryl and Kimberley’s shiny wigs — in pink and purple, respectively — plus new costumes and an onstage staircase, it was evident GA was bringing one thing new to shut out their reunion exhibits. Alongside a humorous new introduction video and a number of other lyrical change-ups to honor the Pleasure vibe, the women additionally delivered a number of surprises: surprising track additions (just like the beloved B-side “Watch Me Go” off 2005’s Chemistry), a particular visitor in Olly Alexander (who has lengthy been pleasant with the group and joined them to sing 2009 single “The Loving Form” that wasn’t on the unique Present setlist), and two covers (“King” by Alexander’s Years & Years and Madonna‘s “Materials Woman”).

By the headlining set’s ending, the viewers was chanting, “10 extra years! 10 extra years!” which made Nadine giggle and finally culminated in an emotional second between the group, who seemed teary-eyed (as did their backup dancers) as they stated their goodbyes to the group. As closing because the ending felt to these within the viewers, many music followers undoubtedly had a way of satisfaction in having the ability to expertise the Ladies stay as soon as once more. With the real happiness and friendship proven all through the reunion, the potential of Ladies Aloud’s story persevering with feels attainable as soon as once more. However it doesn’t matter what, not less than this chapter is ending on a joyous observe.