The Pussycat Dolls at The O2 review: A tour de force of noughties nostalgia
20 years on, the Pussycat Dolls are still serving pop perfection, with killer choreography, powerhouse vocals and a whole lot of love for their LGBTQ+ fans
By Callum Wells
The Pussycat Dolls have never been a group to do things by halves. And last night (13 October) at London’s O2 Arena, Nicole Scherzinger, Ashley Roberts and Kimberly Wyatt reminded us exactly why we’ve spent nearly two decades waiting for their comeback.
For a tour that has faced its fair share of setbacks, including the cancellation of its North American leg amid reports of poor ticket sales, the London show offered a welcome change of fortunes. The O2 was packed for the UK run’s final night before their grand stadium finale in Brazil, with the trio receiving exactly the reception they deserved.
Kicking things off with ‘When I Grow Up’ (an iPod Nano staple, if ever there was one), the Dolls launched straight into a run of noughties bangers that had the crowd on its feet.
Nicole might have the biggest voice, but the show makes room for all three Dolls to shine
But the real magic was in the details. Hearing Nicole throw full-blown operatic vocals into the middle of a Pussycat Dolls gig was quite something. One minute you’re bopping along to ‘Beep’ and ‘I Don’t Need a Man’; the next, Nicole is unleashing a voice that could bring the house down on Broadway.
Each Doll also receives her moment in the spotlight on this tour, too. Kimberly showcased her DJ credentials alongside her 2010 hit ‘Candy’ with Aggro Santos, while Ashley delivered a confident, feel-good turn with ‘Woman Up’, and drawing on the ballroom skills she honed on Strictly Come Dancing. Nicole, meanwhile, showed off her considerable range with ‘As If We Never Said Goodbye’ from her Tony Award-winning performance in Sunset Boulevard, before tearing through her solo hits, including ‘Don’t Hold Your Breath’, ‘Wet’ and ‘Poison’. Nicole might have the biggest voice, but the show made room for all three Dolls to shine.
20 years later – and three members down – we’re still here for it. And we’d happily do it all over again
And then there’s the LGBTQ+ love. Addressing the crowd, Nicole gave a shoutout to her “girls, gays and theys”, prompting the sort of reaction that tells you exactly how much this group means to its queer fanbase. That spirit reached its peak during ‘Buttons’, when a group including drag performers joined the girls on stage for a dance breakdown.
Of course, ‘Stickwitu’ brought a softer moment, before ‘Don’t Cha’ sent the arena into overdrive. 20 years later – and three members down – we’re still here for it. And we’d happily do it all over again.
The Pussycat Dolls conclude the PCD FOREVER tour at São Paulo’s Nubank Parque on 30 October.