JADAR

★★★★★

90s Baby POP returned to Manchester Arena for its annual celebration of nineties and noughties bangers – and it was naughtier and spookier than ever!

The event was hosted by Jonny Meah and Nick Coulson, who opened the event and appeared in between each act, breaking up the action and giving the audience a break – with Coulson playing a variety of bops to keep the momentum going.

Jonny is a brilliant host. He’s warm, welcoming and doesn’t take himself too seriously. He often wandered into the crowd, whether to chat to his family who were seated behind me or just watch the show and take in the action.

Each artist had their own unique moving graphics onscreen behind them. I loved the variety of styles. Sonique’s were especially funky. Some of the bigger acts had video montages introducing them, which masterfully built up anticipation.

The playback was a little loud for some of the earlier artists but the sound was soon fixed.

The first act of the night was Lolly, who sang her hit cover of Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’, a cover of Kim Wilde’s ‘Kids in America’, and her hit cover of Toni Basil’s ‘Mickey’ – complete with cheerleading pom poms!

Manchester’s Sweet Female Attitude (Leanne Brown), who I previously saw at We Love the 90’s, followed a dance medley with ‘Flowers’ – as Meah said, perhaps the best garage song of all time.

Livin’ Joy ft. Luzahnn, who I previously saw at 90s Baby Classical, performed the band’s hit songs ‘Don’t Stop Movin’ and ‘Dreamer’, which were originally sang by Tamoko Star and Janice Robinson, respectively. Whilst she is not the original singer of either song, she has one helluva voice and does those songs justice.

Baby D (Dee Fearon), who also performed at last year’s 90s Baby Classical, serenaded the audience with ‘Let Me Be Your Fantasy’.

The party really got going when Sonique came onstage in a skeleton leotard and sang her hit cover of Nina Simone’s ‘I Put a Spell on You’ (it was Halloween Saturday – she got the memo!) and her signature song, ‘It Feels So Good’. She has incredible stage presence and roaring vocals to match.

Kosheen (vocalist Sian Evans), donning a stunning sparkly silver dress, sang ‘Hide U’ and ‘Catch’. The audience did not appear to be too familiar with these songs but it was nice to have something a bit calmer after Sonique

Boyzlife – a supergroup comprising Keith Duffy of Boyzone and Brian McFadden of Westlife – got the crowd going again. They began with two bops (Boyzone’s ‘Picture of You’ and Westlife’s ‘World of Our Own’) and slowed things down for the second half of their act (each band’s first UK number 1: Boyzone’s cover of the Bee Gee’s ‘Words’ and Westlife’s debut single, ‘Swear It Again’).

It’s an interesting pairing; neither singer is the most charismatic performer but they both had lots of fun onstage – and the audience loved hearing them sing their bands’ hits.

Ultra Naté, one of the artists I was most looking forward to seeing, wore a sparkly pink leotard, complete with feathered cuffs and a black belt. Her three-song set included her hit cover of The Pointer Sisters’ ‘Dare Me’ and her signature song, ‘Free’. Sadly, she did not sing Stars on 54’s hit cover of Gordon Lightfoot’s ‘If You could Read My Mind’.

The next three artists had all performed at We Love the 90’s back in 2019, and it was great to see them again.

SNAP! sang ‘The Power’ and ‘Rhythm is a Dancer’. The latter was originally sang by Thea Austin but Penny Ford delivered a good live rendition.

Rednex – which has had countless line-ups and now consists of a pool of 17 singers, with three men and one woman chosen for each gig – sang their signature song ‘Cotton Eye Joe’ but sadly not ‘Old Pop in an Oak’. Both the singing and the playing of instruments appeared to be miming but who cares? It was great fun, and many in the standing area linked arms and country danced.

Culture Beat were next. Jackie Sangster looked fierce with her huge afro and blue and white leotard. The duo performed ‘Got to Get It’ and, of course, ‘Mr. Vain’. Whilst Jackie is not the original singer, she joined the group in 2001 and rerecorded the latter as ‘Mr. Vain Recall’ in 2003.

Only four of the original 10 members of Blazin’ Squad (the self-proclaimed pioneers of chav culture) remain, including Love Island‘s Marcel Somerville. After a medley (called “Blazin’ Squad jukebox”), they sang ‘Flip Reverse’ and their debut single, ‘Crossroads’, a retitled and reimagined cover of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony’s ‘Tha Crossroads’.

East 17, with original member Terry Coldwell, began their three-song set with their debut single, ‘House of Love’, and ended it with their kinda-Christmas song, ‘Stay Another Day’.

Louise Redknapp, who now goes by “Louise” like other pop girls, performed with three backing singers/dancers. Her performance was billed as being part of her Heavy Love Tour. She sang a new song, an Eternal song (‘Just a Step from Heaven (Reimagined)’ is her “reimagined” solo cover of the Eternal song, which appears on her third greatest hits album) and one of her solo hits (her cover of Average White Band’s ‘Let’s Go Round Again’).

Nick Coulson was given a break, with H from Steps delivering a dazzling DJ set, which included a Steps medley. Whilst he cleverly began the medley by saying “5, 6, 7, 8”, he did not play that song!

911, one of only two acts to have performed at last year’s event, had a mighty five-song set, which they ended with their biggest hit, ‘A Little Bit More’ (a Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show cover) and ‘Bodyshakin”, the latter lifting the mood back up.

They were followed by another boyband, A1, who sang ‘Same Old Brand New You’, ‘Caught in the Middle’, and their hit cover of a-ha’s ‘Take On Me’.

It was great to see Haddaway live. He toured with We Love the 90’s but for some reason did not perform in Manchester. He began his set with ‘Life’, which was an international hit but many in the audience seemed not to recognise it.

After the soft audience response, he said, “You might not know that one but you will know this one,” before singing ‘What Is Love’, with a female backing singer who perfectly captured the uncredited female vocal on the track.

The event then shifted gears with Nadine Coyle from Girls Aloud, who wore a pristine white pantsuit. Nadine headlined Manchester Pride last year but sadly I did not manage to see her. Rather than sing any solo material, she sang two Girls Aloud hits: their debut single, ‘Sound of the Underground’, and the musical masterpiece ‘Biology’.

Jamelia, who looked the part in a sparkly gold dress, began her set with an electrifying rendition of ‘Beware of the Dog’, before slowing things down with ‘Thank You’ and bringing the mood back up with her hit cover of Christine Milton’s ‘Superstar’. I was only four when that song came out but I remember loving it, so it was amazing finally seeing it sang live.

Then came the main event: Samantha Mumba. I only got into Samantha fairly recently but she has fast become my favourite Irish artist.

Samantha delivered a mini concert, complete with a load of backing dancers. She was dressed like a sexy, modern Cruella de Vil, complete with red lining in her black and white fur coat.

She began her set with her debut and signature song, ‘Gotta Tell You’, which is number 74 on “Billboard’s Greatest Choruses of the 21st Century”.

This was followed by the soothing ‘Always Come Back to You Love’, new songs ‘Body and ‘The Lie’, ‘Baby, Come Over (This is Our Night)’ (the US version of ‘Baby Come On Over’, which samples Kool & the Gangs’ ‘Ladies Night’), and new song ‘Run’. The latter ended with some spectacular Irish dancing.

Jenny Berggren from Ace of Base wore a sparkly leotard and huge feather scarf, with her backing dancers wearing identical leotards with one feathered sleeve each (they all ditched the impractical feathers after the first song). She sang the same three songs she sang at We Love the 90’s: ‘The Sign’, ‘All That She Wants’, and ‘Beautiful Life’.

Whilst all four members of Ace of Base recorded vocals for ‘All That She Wants’, Jenny’s were cut on the final release – but she has reclaimed the song!

5ive, who also performed at the event last year, has lost two members. Lead singer J Brown did not take part in the second reunion; Abz Love did but later left. I jokingly referred to the band as “Thr33”, whilst my friend, Georgina, called them “3 out of 5”.

They, of course, ended their mighty set with ‘Keep On Movin” – and the audience did not stop movin’!

The final boyband of the night was Blue, who I had met at hmvLive in Manchester exactly year prior. Lee Ryan was not at the signing but I recall seeing him perform live at this very venue at Young Voices way back in 2007 – my first ever music event! I saw Duncan James, my favourite member, perform in Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of War of the Worlds last year, alongside Steps’ Claire Richards. It was great to finally see the guys all together.

They began their set with their debut single, ‘All Rise’, before singing ‘Fly By II’ (a remixed version of album track ‘Fly By’) and ‘One Love’.

The final artist was none other than Greek-Cypriot British-Australian icon Peter Andre, who ended his set with ‘Mysterious Girl’. I saw him in Grease a couple of years ago and prayed I’d one day get to see him sing that party anthem.

The only criticism one might have for this event is that it is too long and there are too many acts. Doors opened at 4pm and the event ran from 5pm right until the 11pm curfew. By the time the headliners perform, you might find yourself struggling to keep your eyes open.

There are a few acts I’d gladly miss but they are the ones that most people seemed to enjoy the most – the boybands!

Indeed, what makes this event so brilliant is that, with 25 acts, there really is something for everyone. I, personally, was there for the brilliant Black female soloists – Sonique, Ultra Naté, Jamelia and Samantha Mumba – who, inarguably, delivered the best performances of the night.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: there really is nothing like seeing artists sing their signature songs live – and this event sees a whopping 25 acts all sing their biggest hits. The bops just keep on coming. So many bangers, you’ll be craving mash!