KEY POINTS:
Oh, they didn't? That's not? Oh God, it is...
Just when it seemed Westlife couldn't get any cheesier, having ripped open their sparkly zip up jumpsuits and converted them into Matrix-like trench coats, the Irish quartet stepped it up a notch.
After the first of several quick costume changes, the manband proved they really do have no shame, emerging to the opening bars of Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back. The song was the start of a five-song covers set in which tracks by Timberlake, The Jackson 5, Kool and the Gang, Leonard Cohen and Robbie Williams were given a camp karaoke treatment.
As the crowd went wild, jumping enthusiastically to the chorus of Williams' Let Me Entertain You, you couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for the band, which had the despondent air of a tribute band, reduced to churning out other people's hits.
Indeed, the stony-faced Mark Feehily seemed about ready to give up on things altogether, as he struggled to stay in time to the dance moves and in tune to the songs.
Fortunately, Shane Filan was there to save the day, charming the crowd with his schoolboy good looks and cheeky smile.
The strongest singer in the band, even he wasn't safe from the appalling sound problems, which included microphones cutting in and out and vocals distorted as the sound system was seemingly turned up to full volume.
To be fair, the volume overload was probably necessary to make the band audible over the incessant shriek of the crowd. Though it was technically lacklustre, for the 12,000 fans who had waited more than nine years to see the band, the show was all they had hoped for.
During Uptown Girl early on in the night, a stadium-wide sing-along erupted.
In an acoustic set, the band played shortened versions of Unbreakable, Queen of My Heart, Fool Again and Home.
As one die-hard fan noted, it seemed odd they should spend 20 minutes on covers, only to abridge some of their biggest hits and omit others.
Saving the best till last, the band ended the night with a heartfelt rendition of Flying Without Wings, that sent shivers up the spine.
It was an aural shot of citrus that cleansed the palette of all the cheese before it. And for that moment alone, it was worth it.
