Platinum hits graced with gold

By DITA DE BONI and BRIDGET CARTER

For a few die-hard fans, climbing the poles of a hot and cramped circus tent was the best way to enjoy the Destiny's Child concert.

While some of the trio's 13,000 admirers squeezed up to the front of the stage to get as close to the global pop-sensation as possible on Saturday night, others took a more relaxed approach by dancing on the fringes.

But with a bit of lateral thinking, about five fans avoided a sweaty, sardine-like crush and got a winning view of the group by climbing about 2m up the poles of the Mt Smart Supertop.

Singing among their band and funky dancers, the Destiny's Child girls - Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams - sported big hair-styles and skimpy gold outfits early on.

And as the night went on, those costumes were swapped for red 70s-style dresses and finally silver outfits.

Birgette McCarthy, of Mt Albert, got to meet the girls backstage after winning a competition through local radio station Mai FM.

"They were really friendly considering they had just got off the plane," she said.

"Beyonce is really lovely and really sincere."

For other Destiny enthusiasts, their chance to meet the girls and get autographs came on Saturday afternoon, when the hip trio arrived at Auckland Airport.

Despite being guarded by gigantic, Afro-American bodyguards and over-officious local Sony reps, the band did their best to acknowledge the small and determined crowd.

Fans - including assembled media - were on high alert at the arrival hall after initially rushing their supporting act, Aboriginal band Shakaya, in the mistaken belief that the Australian duo were the real Destiny's Children.

But when Destiny's Child were finally spotted behind their mountainous minders, there was no mistaking them. Super slim, smiling widely and incredibly pretty, they walked swiftly through the airport saying they had had a good trip, and were all but mobbed getting into their separate vehicles.

One fan, Tangaroa College student Veronica Pahulu, had been waiting to see "the coolest girls in the world" since 10 that morning and was literally jumping up and down with excitement in the countdown to their appearance.

She had a ticket for the concert and couldn't wait, she said.

"Their lyrics are really good and they seem nice. I can't decide which one I like best."

Veronica's persistence paid off when Beyonce Knowles, the lead singer - who wore a bright orange off-the-shoulder top and her hair in a bouncy 'fro - signed her fan magazine and exchanged a few words with her.

Other fans managed quick yells of "Haere mai" and "Welcome to Aotearoa" before the trio were whisked away to their hotel, where they had just a few hours to prepare for their only New Zealand show.

And after the crowd-pleasing concert, which finished about 11pm, it was only hours before the girls were back out at the airport for an 8am flight to Japan.