Title: Blonde One delivers for the girls
Source: The Ottawa Citizen
Source: CITY, Pg. A11
Author: Wes Smiderle
Date: March 11, 2001
Topic: Winter 2001 Concert Review
The theatre of the Ottawa Congress Centre became a five-alarm squeal factory Friday night thanks to the Littlest Backstreet Boy, 13-year-old pop star Aaron Carter.
Although the 600 fans represented less than half the number who saw Aaron's 1999 concert in Ottawa, there was no noticeable dip in enthusiasm.
The fans -- mostly girls between the ages of 10 and 12 -- were frantically keyed up from the moment they entered the theatre. All evening, the girls' shrill, prepubescent keening was triggered by everything from a brief dimming of the house lights to roadies climbing on stage to do sound checks. Needless to say, when the Blonde One finally hopped into view dressed in a black, silver-studded leather vest, the girls went completely nuts.
Although Aaron's watered-down, hip-hop homeboy-speak sounded a bit odd delivered in such a high-pitched tone of voice, the appreciative audience ate it up. The Florida native opened with Aaron's Party (Come Get It) and a version of Iko Iko and closed his roughly 60-minute performance with That's How I Beat Shaq.
After the audience was coaxed into delivering one final screaming frenzy, Aaron returned for a fairly quick encore that featured a rendition of Thank You (Falettinme be Mice Elf Agin), a classic '70s hit by Sly & the Family Stone.
Aaron's pop career began in 1997, at the age of nine, when he released his first single, Crush on You. That was followed by Crazy Little Party Girl, I'm Gonna Miss You Forever, Shake It and his current second album, Aaron's Party (Come Get It). His initial success was fuelled to a large extent by his pedigree as younger brother of Nick Carter, the "Cute One," from the Backstreet Boys.
The show opened with a four-song set by Aaron's 14-year-old sister, Leslie. Among her set-list was a cover of They Don't Know, a song written by Kirsty MacColl that was made mildly famous by Tracey Ullman in 1984. Ullman's video featured a cameo appearance by the grandfather of all pop heartthrobs, Paul McCartney.
Although Leslie Carter's choreography and on-stage banter left something to be desired ("This is a song that I like a lot. Here it is."), she does possess one advantage over pop divas such as Britney Spears: She can actually sing.
Despite the dubious quality of music delivered Friday night, it was clear most fans enjoyed themselves, some of whom entertained themselves by running frantically up and down the outer aisle and hitting each other with coloured glowsticks.
The show made a perfect my-first-Friday-night-concert setting for mother-and-daughter teams such as Robin Leslie and her 11-year-old daughter, Kaylin, who snagged an autograph from Aaron backstage earlier in the evening.
The Little Prince of Pop's new hip-hop, party-all-night image notwithstanding, there was nothing about the evening that didn't receive a stamp of approval from most parents.
"I don't have any objections to his music or lyrics," said Mrs. Leslie. But she admitted there was one aspect of the concert she was unprepared for.
"I forgot my earplugs."
Me, too.
GRAPHIC: Black & White Photo: Brigitte Bouvier, The Ottawa Citizen ;, Aaron Carter, whose musical career began at age nine, opened with, Aaron's Party (Come Get It) and a version of Iko Iko and closed his, performance Friday with That's How I Beat Shaq.
