The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Still a star: Late David Bowie wins posthumous awards at Brits.
Dead stars David Bowie and George Michael remembered and Trump and May targeted
Pop star Katy Perry has taken aim at Theresa May and Donald Trump’s relationship with a politically-charged performance at the Brit Awards.
The US singer introduced two skeleton puppets dressed as the US President and the Prime Minister as she performed her latest single Chained To The Rhythm.
President Trump’s puppet sported a long red tie and clutched the hand of Mrs May, mirroring last month’s meeting in the US when the two leaders briefly held hands in an awkward exchange.
Perry campaigned for Hillary Clinton in last year’s US election and her latest music video warns against “living in a bubble” as she visits a dystopian theme park.
Dancers wearing model houses over the upper-half of their bodies surrounded the two giant puppets, with one taking a stumble off stage on to a table.
The 37th awards, taking place at the O2 Arena in London, saw the late George Michael and David Bowie remembered with the latter being named best British Male Solo Artist and winning the Best Album accolade for his final record, Blackstar.
The music superstar is the first posthumous winner of the prize in Brits history.
Michael, who died on Christmas Day, was remembered with a tearful tribute from his former Wham! bandmates Andrew Ridgley and collaborators Pepsi and Shirlie – Helen DeMacque and Shirlie Holliman.
Chris Martin then offered a haunting rendition of Michael’s A Different Corner which featured a recorded performance from the late pop superstar.
On the screen behind the stage, home videos and interview clips of the singer played including one in which he said he “never wanted to be someone else”.
Earlier Emeli Sande had collected the prize for best British Female Solo Artist while indie-pop group The 1975 were named the best British Group.
The Manchester-formed band beat Radiohead, Bastille, Little Mix and Biffy Clyro to win their first Brit Award.
Frontman Matt Healy urged musicians to use their “platform” during the band’s victory speech.
He said: “I just wanna say, at the moment, I think people in pop music and in the broader public consciousness, are told to stay in your lane, stay in your lane when talking about social issues.
“But if you have a platform don’t do that, please don’t do that.”
Comedian Romesh Ranganathan was the first to reference last year’s Brit Awards “So White” controversy, as he told viewers: “I’m here because they heard I listen to grime and they’re trying to overcompensate for last year.”
X Factor alumni Little Mix, who opened the ceremony with a rendition of their chart-topping song Shout Out To My Ex, collected their first Brit Award for the track.
The foursome dedicated the prize to their ex-boyfriends, saying: “Cheers to our exes... this is for you lads.”
The British Breakthrough award went to Critics’ Choice winner Rag’n’Bone Man whose debut album, Human, hit the top of the charts earlier this month.
Adele, who collected four gongs at last year’s Brits, won the Global Success Award, while Beyonce beat her sister Solange to be named best International Female Artist.
Canadian musician Drake won the International Male Solo Artist award and US hip-hop veterans A Tribe Called Quest collected the International Group prize.
Boy band One Direction, who are currently on a gap year, collected the accolade for British Artist Video for the visuals to History.