London,

Tweenies and their parents lap up the Pussycats

Lisa Verrico, London Lite 29.01.07

A recent rumour suggested Pussycat Dolls are to become a franchise, with a British version of the raunchy girl group already in the pipeline.

Fans of the scantily-clad so-called singers had better hope it remains a rumour. One Pussycat Dolls is a tacky treat, lent a glimmer of glamour by the fact the band began as a burlesque group and count Gwen Stefani, Christina Aguilera and Scarlett Johansson among the famous women who have joined their numbers for a night.

Two would be just tacky. At a sold-out Wembley Arena, Pussycat Dolls trod a tricky line between a sterile school disco and the type of entertainment that usually requires the funds to buy an overpriced bottle of bubbly.

Emerging in outfits that consisted of cutout swimsuits, leggings and high-heeled boots, the sextet squirmed to the sound of last year's hit Buttons as fireworks went off around them, launched into a slick aerobics routine and, during a clumsily tagged-on techno section, rolled on the floor.

They introduced themselves individually, but the Dolls are no Noughties Spice Girls. All you need to know is that there are two brunettes, two blondes, a redhead and Nicole Scherzinger, the raven-haired, former American Idol contestant who handles almost all the singing.

Rumoured to be going solo, Scherzinger had a powerful, pleasant, if somewhat soulless voice and proved a convincing leader of the attractive troupe.

Yet decent leads, long legs and constant costume changes couldn't mask the fact that Pussycat Dolls are by no means a musical group.

Not only were there no musicians on stage, the backing tracks that replaced them were so distorted they were often painful.

Thanks to the likes of Busta Rhymes and Black Eyed Peas' Will. I. Am, who contributed to the group's six-million-selling album, several of their songs boast classy beats and infectious melodies.

At least they do on record. Live, only the Grammy nominated Stickwitu survived unscathed while Don't Cha became little more than a bassy rumble.

Between swapping their hotpants for basques and basques for bikinis, Pussycat Dolls attempted to empower an audience, made up mostly of teenage girls and tweenies, with their positive outlook on life.

Then they told everyone they loved them, again and again. If the sickly sweetness chat was designed to placate the parents, well, it worked.

The Dolls are an exotic dance troupe aimed at children and, as distasteful as it may sound, it's a seemingly easy sell.

Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.

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