Brits pay tribute to legends
BRITAIN: The Brit Awards recognised big international stars and a cross-section of home-grown talent yesterday, but the ceremony was overshadowed by the muchmissed David Bowie and George Michael.
Bowie, who died in January 2016 at age 69, was crowned British male artist of the year and won British album of the year for Blackstar, released just days before his death.
Bowie’s son, filmmaker Duncan Jones, accepted the best album award on behalf of his father, who he said had ’’always been there supporting people who think they’re a little bit weird or a little bit strange, a little bit different’’.
‘‘This award is for all the kooks, and all the people who make the kooks,’’ Jones said. Kooks is the song Bowie wrote for his son when he was born.
The show also paid tribute to one of the music industry’s many losses of 2016 - George Michael, who died on Christmas Day, aged 53. His Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley said that with Michael’s death, ‘‘a supernova in a firmament of shining stars has been extinguished’’.
Coldplay singer Chris Martin performed a moving rendition of Michael’s A Different Corner, dueting with a recording of Michael and backed by a group of violins.
Soulful chanteuse Emeli Sande was named female British artist of the year, while Manchester indie pop group The 1975 won the trophy for best British band. Adele, who won four Grammys last week, won the Global Success award, and Robbie Williams was given the Brits Icon award. - AP