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Brit Award Winners 2012
The stars were out in force at the O2 Arena for this year’s Brit Awards in London on Tuesday night (21st Feb.) Fresh from her record-breaking six Grammys, Adele was back home to pick up two more trophies to add to her collection.
She scooped Mastercard Best British Album, for “21” and Best British Female Solo Artist. Adele took to the stage not only to receive her duo of Peter Blake-designed Brit awards, also to sing for the packed venue.
Kylie presenting her with the best Female Solo Artist award. The 23-year-old singer told fans she was having an amazing year, and thanked her record label for letting her be the “kind of artist I want to be.”
George Michael got an ovation when he walked on stage to announce the winner of best album, and present Adele with the trophy.
George told the audience he had been asked to attend The Brits for 17 years, but it took knowing who had won this award for him to be there, flying back from Australia for the event.
Adele’s “21” has not left the top 10 of the UK album charts since its release in January 2011, and spent 19 weeks at number one.
She said she was “proud to be British and fly the flag” for this country. Telling delighted fans that nothing made her prouder than to come home with six Grammys, and then get the Brit for album of the year.
But her speech was cut abruptly short, when James Corden leaned over, apologised for interrupting her and introduced Blur, who were already playing their first song on stage behind Adele. She just had time to say “see you next time.”
Some may think that a major insult to the most successful British female singer on a global platform for decades, and for the winner of the main award of the night.
Especially considering they had plugged that award and its nominees throughout the whole evening, and all the other winners had plenty of time for their acceptance speech and thankyous. Damon Albarn’s speech directly before Adele’s award was announced, went on and on, thanking almost everyone he’d ever met, it seemed!
Backstage afterwards, Adele apologised for “flinging the middle finger” after she was cut off. Explaining it was aimed at the “suits” at the Brits who stopped her thanking the fans in her speech, to make way for Blur.
She told the assembled media:"I'd like to say as I got cut off during my speech for Best Album I flung the middle finger - but that finger was to the suits at the Brit Awards, not to my fans.
"I was about to thank the British public for all of their support, and they cut me off. So I'm sorry if I offended anyone but the suits offended me."
Corden said afterwards how awful he felt, having to shut Adele up: "I just feel bad about having to cut Adele off. I don't understand what happened but I'm upset about it. Blur get to play for 11 minutes and she gets to say thank you once."
Rhianna was there to receive the award for Best International Female Artist, which she dedicated to her fans, who she said stood by her and allowed her to be herself when “I am misunderstood.” It was the second year running she has won that award, and the second year she treated fans to a sparkling live performance too.
Bruno Mars won best International Male Solo Artist of the Year, and he too performed live at the event.
Plan B aka Ben Drew presented the award for British Male Solo Artist to Ed Sheeran, who also won Best Breakthrough Act. Ed has 85,000 subscribers to his You Tube account. Not bad for a 21-year-old from Halifax, who was playing to half empty pub rooms this time last year, and who made his first music video for £20.
On the red carpet before the ceremony, Ed said the “secret” to success in the music business was to play as many gigs as possible, write as many songs as possible and stay happy in the public eye. His UK arena tour in October and November is already a complete sell out.
Critics Choice went to Emeli Sande, with Maverick Sabre coming in second and Michael Kiwanuka voted into third place.
During the evening, there was a moving tribute to the late Amy Winehouse, “In her Own Words,” with footage and narration from Amy herself. “I write songs and I sing,” she said in the video montage, adding that she thought she would end up being a waitress or a housewife. The evening’s host James Corden echoing the audience’s and viewers’ sentiments, that Amy is very badly missed.
Other awards went to Coldplay, One Direction, Foo Fighters, Lana Del Ray and to Blur, for their “Outstanding Contribution to Music.” Producer of the Year award winner, was Ethan Johns, son of mega producer Glyn Johns. The nominees were Paul Epworth, (the man behind the mega success of Adele’s “21,”) Flood and Johns.
(Below) Back to where it all began for Adele, who makes a triumphant welcome return with another knockout performance at the 2012 Brits.
Words SIMON REDLEY
