Brit contenders past and present offer a peek at flow of change
ANYONE keen to study the changing face in British pop music, and the trends that have arrived with a bold flourish then disappeared down the unforgiving sinkhole of time, could do a lot worse than examine the list of Brits awardwinners down the years.
The 2015 edition takes place in London’s O2 on Wednesday, to be broadcast live on ITV and featuring live performances by two-time Brit winner Madonna, Taylor Swift, Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran, Paloma Faith, George Ezra, Royal Blood and Take That.
It was back in 1982 that the Brits began as an annual event, which is where the pop archivist’s interest comes in.
The host then was one David Jacobs, and among the winners were Cliff Richard, The Human League and Adam & the Ants. Other triumphs in that long-ago decade belonged to such acts as Prince, Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Rick Astley.
In the nineties, accolades went to era-defining groups as diverse as The Spice Girls, Supergrass and The Verve. In the noughties, Scissor Sisters, Kaiser Chiefs and Arctic Monkeys all took awards.
Some of the past Brit winners have broken up or otherwise maintain a low profile. Many others, though, still have considerable careers. Madonna, for example, who performed at the 1995 awards, has had 12 nominations, winning twice in 2001 and 2006, both for Best International Female.
You can’t help but wonder what David Jacobs’ audience back at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel in 1982 would have made of some of the names up for Brits glory in 2015.
The British Breakthrough Act category includes highly-rated Glasgow act CHVRCHES, FKA Twigs, George Ezra, Royal Blood and Sam Smith.
Paolo Nutini is up for British Male Solo Artist in the company of another Scots artist, Calvin Harris, who will be hoping to take home the accolade for British Single.
The British Female Solo Artist award is being fought over by Ella Henderson, FKA Twigs, Jessie Ware, Lily Allen and Paloma Faith. Contenders for International Male Solo Artist include Beck and Pharrell Williams, while hopefuls in the Mastercard British Album are Alt-J, Sheeran, Ezra and Royal Blood.