The queen of teen

Aguilera conjures up a knockout performance

WINNIPEG -- Christina Aguilera and crew delivered the goods big-time at the Winnipeg Arena last night, conjuring up a knockout opener with her hit Genie in a Bottle before 7,000 wildly appreciative fans.

 The diminutive 19-year-old singer with the big R&B voice kept the energy at maximum level as she rolled right into Somebody's Somebody, prowling the stage with six backup dancers and bringing most of the crowd to its feet.

 Word Aguilera is having trouble with her voice was confirmed when she croakily addressed her adoring Winnipeg audience, telling them, "I'm a little hoarse tonight ... I love you too, thanks a lot."

 But her singing didn't appear to be the worse for wear, and her voice recovered later when she endeared herself still more to the audience by sharing the news that she'd had a bad day, but that she was sustained by their presence -- which was rewarded when she dedicated a heartfelt version of I Turn to You to Winnipeggers.

 The Grammy Award-winning singer, clad in a white, midriff-baring jumpsuit with a tearaway skirt, blended her pop and Latino roots -- a Spanish language album is in the offing, although she had to take Spanish lessons first -- for a spirited version of When You Put Your Hands on Me.

 Aguilera was in full-throttle blues mama mode at press time, about half way through her one-hour show.

 She capped off a mass swoonfest for a four-pack of boy bands -- Irish popsters mytown, Vancouver's soulDecision, who were a clear favourite among dreamy, screamy pre-teen femmes, Victoria rockers The Moffatts and Winnipeg's own bluesy pop duo McMaster and James.

 Luke McMaster, 25, and Rob James, 22, opened the show at 5:30 p.m., before a predominantly female audience -- most ranging in age from seven to 17, and most having the shrill, er, thrill of a lifetime, waving green glowsticks, singing along to their favourite teen-friendly hits and screaming approval from the back rows.

 Hours after the local duo heated up the crowd with hit singles I Understand and Love Will Find a Way, baby-faced cuteniks The Moffatts stoked the audience as the last screamingly -- literally -- popular male lead-ins for Aguilera.

 The boys drew a crowd to the Arena hours before showtime, with some young fans catching a noon-hour autograph session with mytown and soulDecision at Polo Park sticking around to make it an all-pop day.

 YTV Hit List music video hosts Exan Auyoung and Leslie Bosacki played mistresses of ceremonies, introducing the acts on the video screens from prime spots in the audience. YTV plans to produce a series of TV specials from concert and behind-the-scenes video footage.

Pop genie 'uncorked'
Backstage meet lets down fans
Christina plies pipes in 'Peg studio