Pop superstar Beyoncé Knowles played to a packed Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle last night (Friday, May 22), as the first date of the UK venues on her global I Am... tour.

The global superstar started the show in a glittery gold bodice with a huge playboy bow, bursting onto the stage with a fantastic rendition of 2003's Crazy In Love as she gyrated on the stage as only she knows how.

Song after song the star delivered faultless vocals, teamed with complicated choreographed routines in a range of figure-hugging outfits that should silence any body-critics.

Delivering the perfect mix of hard R&B tracks and slow ballads, Beyoncé sang a soulful and emotive Ave Maria off the I Am... Sasha Fierce album that was enough to reduce some fans to tears.

Interspersed with a touch of Arms Of The Angel, the incredible vocal performance saw her get a wedding dress of feathers attached to her leoptard in a slick and impressive move - possibly my favourite moment of the two-hour show.

Near the end of the show, she flew through the air to a second stage in the centre of the arena, where she let the crowd do the singing for Irreplaceable, before singing a medley of Destiny's Child hits wich I only wish could have lasted longer.

A cover of At Last, by Etta James, which was performed at Barack Obama's inauguration, was another moving moment, as was Listen, from Dreamgirls, the Oscar-winning movie she starred in.

Single Ladies (put a ring on it), was one of the best moments of the show, with YouTube footage of fans copying the dance moves projected onto the screens behind her.

As the show came to a close, the singing sensation belted out Halo - one of my favourite songs - to a very appreciative audience.

Beyoncé undoubtedly has an amazing voice, and her ability to shift effortlessly between gritty R&B and moving ballads, as well as delivering tightly choreographed routines made this shows one of the best I have ever seen.