Held at the 02 Academy in London, The BRIT Awards took place for the 32nd time on Tuesday 21st February. The BRITs are the biggest music awards ceremony in the UK, yearly rewarding British and international artists. This year held tributes to Amy Winehouse and Whitney Houston, and produced impressive live performances from the likes of Coldplay, Florence & the Machine, Blur and Adele.
British Male Solo
Ed Sheeran
Newcomer Ed Sheeran was the most nominated artist of the night and achieved two awards. Ed, whose debut album + combines guitar melodies with hip-hop lyrics, triumphed over chart rival Jessie J to win ‘British Breakthrough Act’. The singer-songwriter’s success continued when he was named ‘Best British Male’, despite stiff competition from Professor Green, James Morrison, Noel Gallagher and James Blake. The ‘Drunk’ singer also took to the O2 stage, where he performed a stripped back but stunning rendition of his hit single ‘Lego House’.
Best British Group
Coldplay
The group, who released their chart-topping fifth studio album Mylo Xyloto last October, won the prestigious award over rivals Arctic Monkeys, Elbow, Chase & Status and Kasabian. This is the third ‘British Group’ award that Coldplay have achieved, giving the band a total of seven BRIT Awards. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin graciously dedicated the award to “everyone who listens to us.” Coldplay justified their status of ‘Best British Group’ with their strong opening performance of ‘Charlie Brown’ at the 32nd ceremony. They provided a colourful visual effect and were deserved winners on the night.
Best Album –
Adele, 21
Fresh from her six-gong win at the Grammys, Adele made a triumphant return at the 2012 BRITs,where she was awarded in the most competitive category, ‘British Album of the Year’. The 23 year old Brit School graduate was the first winner of the night when she won the ‘Best British Female’ award over former class-mate Jessie J, as well as Laura Marling and Kate Bush, and thanked her record label “for letting me be the kind of artist I wanted to be.” Despite tough competition from Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Florence & The Machine and P J Harvey, she deservedly won the ‘British Album of the Year’.
Outstanding Contribution To Music
Blur
Legendary Britpop band Blur picked up the prestigious award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to . Music’ at the 2012 BRITs. Despite their recent revelation that they previously declined the award, whose previous winners include the likes of Sir Paul McCartney and Oasis, the band closed the show with an epic performance of some of their greatest hits, and the longest set in the history of the awards show. Blur were joined by comedian Phil Daniels for their rendition of ‘Parklife’, and were accompanied by a full gospel choir for Tender’, before ending their set with ‘This Is A Low’.