Going, going gong at party
AWARD SPECIAL INSIDE
ROCKERS The 1975 reigned supreme at one of the tamest BRITs in years.
The band, fronted by Matt Healy, nabbed British Group and British Album.
There was no rock ’n’ roll bad behaviour at the UK music industry’s big showpiece.
But Healy did make a short statement defending women against predatory men in the music business.
Amid the speeches, only cheeky host Jack Whitehall took any digs, with a few risque jokes at others’ expense.
After 16 failed nominations over 10 years, genuine hitmaker Calvin Harris finally won his first two BRIT Awards for British Single (One Kiss) and British Producer.
But it was a disappointing tur n out by major inter national stars with Drake, Ariana Grande and Beyonce & Jay-Z) all failing to bother to collect their awards at the
O2 Arena in London. Even Ed Sheeran was a no-show after winning the Global Success award for the second year in a row. Whitehall made reference to the absentees joking: “Don’t give the award to Drake he never bothers to turn up. Give it to Shawn Mendes. He bunked off school to be here.”
The night got off to a spectacular start with Hollywood superstar Hugh Jackman singing his Greatest Showman soundtrack. Liverpool ace Daniel Sturridge, who presented a gong, did not escape Whitehall’s barbs about his injury record.
British Video winners Little Mix outdid themselves in pink PVC for their smash Woman Like Me.
Not content with just one special effect, Calvin blew the entire BRITs budget on his
12-minute medley of hits with Dua Lipa, Sam Smith and Rag’n’Bone Man.
Perhaps US star P!nk stole the show, suspended from the ceiling in a hoop as sparkly showgirl for the grand finale with a politically charged rendition of What About Us flanked by 100 dancers from the BRITs School, as images from the black power movement screened behind them.
It certainly wasn’t a classic by any means, with poor sound in the auditorium and intermittent video screen issues, but the BRITs at least attempted to promote new talent.