Well, after a particularly dull set of nominees, the 2019 BRITs turned out to be somewhat interesting after all. The 39th edition of the ceremony took place last week on 20th February at the O2 Arena in London, where they were hosted again by Jack Whitehall.
Mastercard British Album of the Year
- Anne-Marie – Speak Your Mind
- George Ezra – Staying at Tamara’s
- Florence + The Machine – High as Hope
- The 1975 – A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships
- Jorja Smith – Lost & Found
Winner: The 1975
Famously, UKTV Play accidentally played an advert for “double award winners” The 1975 before the event had actually started, replacing it later with the correct “nominees” advert – as BBC News said:
It’s not clear whether the band had been made aware of what their marketing department knew – but it shone an awkward spotlight on every tearful “this is so unexpected” speech we’ve seen this awards season.
BBC News
Which is about as exciting as things got, so, as is sometimes the case, the biggest drama of the night didn’t actually take place on stage.
Oh, and let’s all agree to overlook the fact that the same article also rather stupidly takes the opportunity to wonder why so little overseas talent made it to this event which is supposed to celebrate the strength of British music (err… what are the awards called, again?)
British Single of the Year
- Anne-Marie – 2002
- Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa – One Kiss
- Clean Bandit feat. Demi Lovato – Solo
- Dua Lipa – IDGAF
- George Ezra – Shotgun
- Jess Glynne – I’ll Be There
- Ramz – Barking
- Rudimental feat. Jess Glynne, Macklemore and Dan Caplen – These Days
- Sigala and Paloma Faith – Lullaby
- Tom Walker – Leave a Light On
Winner: Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa
British Video of the Year
- Anne-Marie – 2002
- Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa – One Kiss
- Clean Bandit feat. Demi Lovato – Solo
- Dua Lipa – IDGAF
- Jax Jones feat. Ina Wroldsen – Breathe
- Jonas Blue feat. Jack & Jack – Rise
- Liam Payne and Rita Ora – For You
- Little Mix feat. Nicki Minaj – Woman Like Me
- Rita Ora – Let You Love Me
- Rudimental feat. Jess Glynne, Macklemore and Dan Caplen – These Days
Winner: Little Mix feat. Nicki Minaj
British Male Solo Artist in association with YouTube Music
- Aphex Twin
- Craig David
- George Ezra
- Giggs
- Sam Smith
Winner: George Ezra
British Female Solo Artist in association with YouTube Music
- Lily Allen
- Anne-Marie
- Florence + The Machine
- Jess Glynne
- Jorja Smith
Winner: Jorja Smith
British Group
- Arctic Monkeys
- Gorillaz
- Little Mix
- The 1975
- Years and Years
Winner: The 1975
British Breakthrough Act
- Idles
- Mabel
- Ella Mai
- Jorja Smith
- Tom Walker
Winner: Tom Walker
International Male Solo Artist
- Drake
- Eminem
- Shawn Mendes
- Travis Scott
- Kamasi Washington
Winner: Drake
International Female Solo Artist
- Camila Cabello
- Cardi B
- Christine and the Queens
- Ariana Grande
- Janelle Monáe
Winner: Ariana Grande
International Group
- Brockhampton
- The Carters
- Chic
- First Aid Kit
- Twenty One Pilots
Winner: The Carters
Critics’ Choice Award
- Lewis Capaldi
- Sam Fender
- Mahalia
Winner: Sam Fender
British Producer of the Year
Winner: Calvin Harris
Global Success Award
Winner: Ed Sheeran
Outstanding Contribution to Music
Winner: Pink
Great to see this award back at last, but Pink, of all people? Really?
Performances
This year’s performances were as follows:
- Hugh Jackman – The Greatest Show
- George Ezra & Hot 8 Brass Band – Shotgun
- Little Mix & Ms Banks – Woman Like Me
- Jorja Smith – Don’t Watch Me Cry
- Calvin Harris, Rag ‘n’ Bone Man, Sam Smith & Dua Lipa – Giant, Promises & One Kiss
- Jess Glynne & H.E.R. – Thursday
- The 1975 – Sincerity is Scary
- Pink & Dan Smith – Walk Me Home, Just Like Fire, Just Give Me a Reason, Try, and What About Us
Further Reading
- 2019 on brits.co.uk
- 2019 Brit Awards on Wikipedia
- Main news story on BBC News
- The Real Winners and Losers, on BBC News
