Fergie rewards Franklin High with private concert

Whoever said you go to school to learn and not for a fashion show apparently did not go to Franklin High, where the students' propensity toward Bermuda shorts, track jackets and giant sunglasses won them a private concert yesterday from Fergie, the Duchess of Pop.

Franklin was rewarded for its "Fergalicious" style in a contest sponsored by Verizon Wireless, in which student photos — captured on cellphones, natch — were rated on some newfangled interactive technology dubbed the "Fergie Mobile Fashion Meter." Fergie herself chose Franklin as the winner, by a wide margin, from eight schools in the western United States.

The singer arrived wearing black track pants with red plaid suspenders, a black vest and white sneakers trimmed in yellow, with a black knit cap perched on the back of her head. At 5-foot-2, she is petite enough that one onlooker expressed concern, as students swarmed the singer at a meet-and-greet, that they were going to eat her.

"It's crazy, just hearing the bell between classes, it brings me back," Fergie said. "They made an announcement this morning; they called it 'Fergalicious Tuesday.' So I felt really welcome."

For those unfamiliar with the term, "Fergalicious" is an adjective that likely is rooted in the word "Bootylicious," made popular by the singer Beyoncé. Fergie said her current "Fergalicious" style favors high-waisted jeans, suspenders worn up or down and slouchy beanie hats.

She signed autographs and posed for pictures preshow with a select group of student contest winners, who reported afterward that the singer was nicer and shorter than expected — and she claimed to be more nervous than they were.

"She liked my nails," said Grace Fong, 17.

Fergie, who attended Wilson High School in Hacienda Heights, Calif., admitted to once having a spiral perm and teased bangs. She said Tuesday's concert was the first she had performed in a high-school gymnasium.

"It's nice to have something exciting and positive at the school," said senior Kyra Elder, 18. "We've had a rough year." The Mount Baker school last made headlines when star Franklin football player Leonard S. Hunter was killed in a shooting earlier this spring.

Fergie bounded onstage at about 3:45 p.m. to pink and blue flashing lights and plenty of fog, wearing a fur-trimmed red cape and rhinestone tiara with matching scepter. She opened, appropriately, with the pulsing "Here I Come."

The 50-minute set included songs from her solo album, "The Dutchess," as well as a medley of hits from the Black Eyed Peas, including "Where Is the Love," "My Humps" and "Don't Phunk With My Heart." The songs were not the clean radio versions; Fergie apparently keeps it real at Franklin.

The concert kicked off Fergie's first solo tour, a 20-city gig dubbed The Fergie Verizon VIP Tour, which starts Monday in Pittsburgh (the closest location to Seattle will be Portland, on July 24). In an attempt to connect to mobile-savvy fans, Fergie will grant access to her shows via paperless tickets that will be downloaded to cellphones. The catch: They have to be Verizon Wireless users.

Pamela Sitt: 206-464-2376 or psitt@seattletimes.com