So it's the Brits 2013, introduced as the biggest night of the year in British music. It's awards month for sure, being hot on the heels of the Grammy's earlier in February, and the warm up for the Oscars. Sure enough the Brits had big stage shows and sets to help fill out the O2 Arena in London. The Grammys the previous week saw Fun perform in the rain, proper wet rain. As if to continue the weather theme, the Brits had Robbie Williams and Taylor Swift performing with a snow effect of course.
Some engaging and articulate stories by selected artists of all their journey and hard work behind the scenes. Perhaps the best take away quote was from Lana Del Ray, winning best International Female, who was grateful for being able to "...turn my life into a work of Art.". Then there's the insight from Emily Sande.... "I was an underdog, nobody wanted to sign me.....when people don't believe in you, you want to prove them wrong. I want to encourage any underdog to achieve their dreams. This is an album I wrote because I didn't have the confidence to say these things in person. For me, that so many people have connected with this album and found strength in these words makes me feel incredible and it doesn't make me feel as lonely."
Some great lighting effects too to create atmosphere. Lots of large scale, fast paced, beat synchronised lighting too. No mean feat - given that light travels faster than sound - to make that work well at scale and distance. That said, less can be more and provides interest and variety too, so for Ben Howard's acoustic performance had some powerful but effective static beams. For an overtly music show, the shrill glass breaking audio effects before and after each set of nomination did detract a bit.
Interesting that there's increasing commonality between the Grammys and Brits, as the gap between breaking into the respective music scenes reduces as the music markets are better and quicker connected now through the virtual world. Maybe with that convergence it's not such a surprise then that year's Brits 2013 were described by the Guardian, as "Nothing more than a mirror to the charts". Anyway, it's still nice to know that Brits has invested £14m helping budding musicians over the years.....
Here's that list of categories, winners and nominees....
1 British Group
Mumford And Sons - WINNER
Alt J
Muse
One Direction
The xx
2 British Live Act
Coldplay - WINNER
The Rolling Stones
Mumford And Sons
Muse
Vaccines
3 British Male
Ben Howard - WINNER
Calvin Harris
Olly Murs
Richard Hawley
Plan B
4 British Female
Emeli Sande - WINNER
Amy Winehouse
Bat For Lashes
Jessie Ware
Paloma Faith
5 Global Success
One Direction -WINNER
Mumford And Sons
Adele
6 British Single
Adele - Skyfall - WINNER
Alex Clare - Too Close
Coldplay and Rihanna - Princess of China
DJ Fresh FT Rita Ora - Hot Right Now
Emile Sande - Next To Me
Florence And The Machine - Spectrum
James Arthur - Impossible
Jessie J - Domino
Labrinth FT Emeli Sande - Beneath Your Beautiful
Olly Murs FT Flo Rida– Troublemaker
Rita Ora FT Tinie Tempah - RIP
Rizzle Kicks - Mama Do The Hump
Robbie Williams - Candy
Rudimental FT John Newman- Feel the Love
Stooshe - Black Heart
7 International Female
Lana Del Rey - WINNER
Rihanna
Alicia Keys
Cat Power
Taylor Swift
8 International Group
Black Keys - WINNER
Alabama Shakes
Fun.
Killers
The Script
9 International Male
Frank Ocean - WINNER
Bruce Springsteen
Gotye
Jack White
Michael Buble
10 MasterCard British Album of The Year
Emeli Sande - Our Version Of Events - WINNER
Alt-J - An Awesome Wave
Mumford And Sons - Babel
Paloma Faith - Fall To Grace
Plan B - Ill Manors
11 Special Recognition Award
War Child
12 Critics' Choice
Tom Odell
13 British Producer
Paul Epworth
