https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmwRFqM_EVw
With many commenting on the lack of surprises in the nominations and winners of the Brit Awards this year, it further cements the reputation of the awards ceremony as a somewhat unnecessary pat on the back to already popular artists. But who could seriously disapprove of Stormzy’s journey to pop super-stardom being capped off with the one-two-combo of Best British Male Artist and Album of the Year awards? Not enough is made of Stormzy retaining ownership of his music and running his own label, as well as performing and writing his own music. To have seen off the collective might of the British music industry to walk away with these awards is a stunning accomplishment in anyone’s eyes.
Dua Lipa also walked away with a double: Best British Female Solo Artist and British Breakthrough act, only fitting for the woman named most streamed by Spotify last year. Foo Fighters walked away with Best International Group, while Gorillaz finally took away an award for Best British Group.
With a lot of the drama in the show provided by statements of support for the Time’s Up movement on the red carpet, only Stormzy’s comments on Grenfell and Gorillaz comments on Brexit seem to have caused any controversy, with Kendrick Lamar’s art-drive performance seeming to cause more confusion than outrage. While it might be a while before anyone seriously misses Brandon Block’s stage invasions it does seem that things have become far safer at the Brit’s than is entirely desirable.
BRITISH MALE SOLO ARTIST
Ed Sheeran
Liam Gallagher
Loyle Carner
Rag’N’Bone Man
Stormzy Winner!
INTERNATIONAL GROUP
Arcade Fire
Foo Fighters Winner!
Haim
The Killers
LCD Soundsystem
INTERNATIONAL FEMALE SOLO ARTIST
Alicia Keys
Björk
Lorde Winner!
P!nk
Taylor Swift
INTERNATIONAL MALE SOLO ARTIST
Beck
Childish Gambino
DJ Khaled
Drake
Kendrick Lamar Winner!
MASTERCARD BRITISH ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Dua Lipa – ‘Dua Lipa’
Ed Sheeran – ‘÷’
J Hus – ‘Common Sense’
Rag’n’Bone Man – ‘Human’
Stormzy – ‘Gang Signs & Prayer’Â Winner!
BRITISH SINGLE
Calvin Harris Ft Pharrell Williams/ Katy Perry/Big Sean – ‘Feels’
Clean Bandit Ft Zara Larsson – ‘Symphony’
Dua Lipa – ‘New Rules’ Ed Sheeran – ‘Shape Of You’
J Hus – ‘Did You See’
Jax Jones Ft Raye – ‘You Don’t Know Me’
Jonas Blue Ft William Singe – ‘Mama’
Liam Payne Ft Quavo – ‘Strip That Down’
Little Mix – ‘Touch’
Rag’n’Bone Man – ‘Human’Â Winner!
BRITISH GROUP
Gorillaz Winner!
London Grammar
Royal Blood
Wolf Alice
The xx
BRITISH FEMALE SOLO ARTIST
Dua Lipa Winner!
Jessie Ware
Kate Tempest
Laura Marling
Paloma Faith
BRITISH ARTIST VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Anne-Marie – ‘Ciao Adios’
Calvin Harris Ft Pharrell Williams/ Katy Perry/ Big Sean – ‘Feels’
Clean Bandit Ft Zara Larsson – ‘Symphony’
Dua Lipa – ‘New Rules’
Ed Sheeran – ‘Shape Of You’
Harry Styles – ‘Sign Of The Times’Â Winner!
Jonas Blue Ft William Singe – ‘Mama’
Liam Payne Ft Quavo – ‘Strip That Down’
Little Mix – ‘Touch’
ZAYN And Taylor Swift – ‘I Don’t Wanna Live Forever (Fifty Shades Darker Soundtrack)’
BRITISH BREAKTHROUGH ACT
Dave
Dua Lipa Winner!
J Hus
Loyle Carner
Sampha