Girls Aloud Return to the Stage for First Time in 11 Years with Heartfelt Tribute to Sarah Harding
4 min read
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Girls Aloud made an emotional comeback to the stage after 11 years, kicking off their reunion tour in Dublin with a moving tribute to their late bandmate, Sarah Harding. The iconic girl group, consisting of Nadine Coyle, Cheryl, Nicola Roberts, and Kimberley Walsh, honored Sarah, who tragically passed away from cancer in 2021, during the opening night at Dublin’s 3Arena.
The reunion tour, which was long-awaited by fans, featured a touching rendition of “I’ll Stand By You” with Sarah’s vocals and a video montage, leaving the audience in tears. Fans took to social media to express their emotions, sharing messages of admiration and heartbreak. One user wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “This is what you call a tribute. Taking out her demo vocals to showcase her incredible legacy is something only this band would do. Long reign Girls Aloud!” Another fan said, “If you see me crying in Cardiff at the Girls Aloud show, yes you did ‘cause Sarah Harding was a legend. RIP Queen.”
GIRLS ALOUD WITH A BEAUTIFUL SARAH TRIBUTE!😭
— KingSpears (@godkneebitch) May 17, 2024
pic.twitter.com/vFRWZXUpK6
Formed in 2002 after winning the reality show Popstars: The Rivals, Girls Aloud quickly rose to fame, becoming one of the UK’s most beloved girl groups. They had previously reunited in 2012 for their 10th anniversary, but plans for a 20th anniversary reunion were postponed due to Sarah’s illness. Cheryl explained, “We all started talking about the possibility of doing something to celebrate Girls Aloud’s 20-year anniversary a few years ago. The anniversary seemed like an obvious thing that we would celebrate. But when Sarah fell ill all priorities changed. She passed away a year before the anniversary and it just didn’t feel right, it felt too soon.”
The new tour is dedicated to Sarah and will play in major UK cities, including London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Liverpool. The heartfelt tribute and emotional performance at the Dublin show resonated deeply with fans, many of whom expressed their feelings online. “What a beautiful tribute to Sarah. Girls Aloud truly breathtaking. Girls be proud! Sarah will be,” wrote one fan, while another said, “This moment is going to be the end of me, my goodness… SARAH FOREVER.”
Seen #TheGirlsAloudShow tonight and I honestly think it might be the best concert I've ever been to. The tributes to Sarah had be bawling @GirlsAloud you were unbelievable pic.twitter.com/CfMVHdCXmh
— Kathy (@KathyWasHere_) May 18, 2024
The group also faced some logistical challenges on the opening night. Due to Dublin motorway closures, they arrived at the 3Arena 30 minutes later than expected. Despite this, the show went on successfully, and the band received an overwhelming response from the audience.
In terms of stage presence, the members of Girls Aloud did not disappoint. Kimberley Walsh channeled a 70s diva with a white bejeweled flared jumpsuit, while Nadine Coyle donned a daring bodysuit complete with a tulle train. Nicola Roberts looked elegant in a chiffon sequined mini-dress, and Cheryl’s ensemble featured a floaty open-front skirt. The group also switched up their looks with biker attire, suspended on motorbikes, and later, in black and red latex outfits surrounded by backup dancers.
The reunion tour also includes two concerts at the SSE Arena in Belfast, followed by performances at the Manchester AO Arena. Due to high demand, six extra dates have been added to their UK and Ireland 2024 arena tour.
Reflecting on the reunion, Kimberley said, “Over the last year, we’ve felt this outpouring of love – obviously towards Sarah, but actually towards all of us as a group. And I guess it’s ignited something in all of us again. It feels like something has changed and it does feel like the right time to celebrate Sarah and the 20-year anniversary that we didn’t celebrate at the time.” Nadine added, “Girls Aloud are a band that made such a huge impact on people’s lives. We grew up with the band, but so did so many other people. So for us not to do something again feels like such a shame and a waste. We want to have that moment with fans where we can all enjoy it together.”
As Girls Aloud embark on this emotional and nostalgic journey, their fans are eager to join them in celebrating their legacy and the memory of Sarah Harding.
Shivam Kumar
Hi, I'm Shivam Kumar. I'm pursuing Journalism honors from the IP University. I love the skill of writing and looking forward to learn more of it. Also I love traveling and experiencing new things every day....
