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Ivor Novello Awards – The 2000s

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This is the last post in this series (well, we’ll compile all the winners into one place in a week or two), and what we’ve learned is that the Ivor Novello Awards tend to be either very brave, or very, very misguided. Any year that you choose to pick, yo

Ivor Novello Awards 2000

2000 saw the 45th Ivor Novello Awards ceremony, on 25th May at Grosvenor House.

  • Best Song Musically and Lyrically: Strong, written by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers. Also nominated: You’re Still the One, written by Mutt Lange and Shania Twain; Genie in a Bottle, performed by Christina Aguilera, written by Pam Sheyne, David Frank and Steve Kipner
  • Best Contemporary Song: Why Does It Always Rain On Me?, performed by Travis, written by Fran Healy. Also nominated: Rise, written by Gabrielle, Bob Dylan, Ferdy Unger-Hamilton and Ollie Dagois; Beautiful Stranger, written by William Orbit and Madonna
  • PRS Most Performed Work: Beautiful Stranger. Also nominated: Strong; That Don’t Impress Me Much, written by Mutt Lange and Shania Twain
  • International Hit of the Year: Genie in a Bottle. Also nominated: Ray of Light, written by Madonna, William Orbit, Christine Leach, Clive Muldoon and Dave Curtis; That Don’t Impress Me Much
  • Best Selling UK Single: The Millennium Prayer, performed by Cliff Richard, written by Paul Field and Stephen Deal. Also nominated: Sweet Like Chocolate, performed by Shanks and Bigfoot, written by Stephen Meade and Daniel Langsman; That Don’t Impress Me Much
  • Best Original Music for a Television / Radio Broadcast: Trial By Fire, composed by Richard G Mitchell. Also nominated: Bad Blood, composed by John Lunn; An Evil Streak, composed by Stanislav Syrewicz
  • Best Original Film Score: The World Is Not Enough, composed by David Arnold. Also nominated: Anna and the King, composed by George Fenton; Shakespeare in Love, composed by Stephen Warbeck
  • The Ivors Dance Award: Re-Rewind, written by Mark Hill and Craig David; Rendez-Vu, performed by Basement Jaxx, written by Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe. Also nominated: Sweet Like Chocolate
  • International Achievement in Musical Theatre: Robert Elhai, Elton John, Lebo M, Tsidii Le Loka, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Tim Rice, Julie Taymor and Hans Zimmer
  • PRS Outstanding Contribution to British Music: Pet Shop Boys (Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant)
  • The Jimmy Kennedy Award: Geoff Stephens
  • Outstanding Song Collection: Madness (Mike Barson, Mark Bedford, Chris Foreman, Cathal Smyth, Suggs, Lee Thompson and Daniel Woodgate)
  • Songwriter of the Year: Fran Healy
  • The Special International Award: Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller

Ivor Novello Awards 2001

The 2001 Ivor Novello Awards ceremony was on 24th May 2001 at Grosvenor House, London.

  • Best Contemporary Song: Seven Days, written by Craig David, Mark Hill and Darren Hill. Also nominated: Beautiful Day, performed by U2, written by Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jnr and Adam Clayton; Please Forgive Me, written by David Gray
  • Best Song Musically and Lyrically: Babylon, written by David Gray. Also nominated: Trouble, performed by Coldplay, written by Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris Martin; Never Had A Dream Come True, performed by S Club 7, written by Cathy Dennis and Simon Ellis
  • Best Original Music for a Television / Radio Broadcast: Gormenghast, composed by Richard Rodney Bennett. Also nominated: Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased), composed by David Arnold and Tim Simenon; The Wyvern Mystery, composed by Philip Appleby
  • Best Original Film Score: X-Men, composed by Michael Kamen. Also nominated: Chicken Run, composed by John Powell and Harry Gregson-Williams; Gangster No1, composed by Johnny Dankworth
  • The Ivors Dance Award: Woman Trouble, written by Mark Hill, Craig David, Robbie Craig and Pete Devereux. Also nominated: Girls Like Us, performed by B-15 Project, written by Ali Campbell, Brian Travers, Dawnette Nevers, Janice Fyffe and Haldane Browne; The Time Is Now, performed by Moloko, written by Róisín Murphy and Mark Brydon
  • PRS Most Performed Work: Pure Shores, performed by All Saints, written by Shaznay Lewis and William Orbit. Also nominated: Rise, written by Gabrielle, Ollie Dagois, Ferdy Unger Hamilton and Bob Dylan; Rock DJ, written by Ekundayo Paris, Nelson Pigford, Robbie Williams, Guy Chambers and Kelvin Andrews
  • International Hit of the Year: It Feels So Good, written by Sonique, Linus Burdick, Simon Belofsky and Graeme Pleeth. Also nominated: I Turn To You, written by Melanie Chisholm, Rick Nowels and Billy Steinberg; Sexbomb, written by Errol Rennalls and Mousse T
  • Best Selling UK Single: Can We Fix It, performed by Bob the Builder, written by Paul Joyce. Also nominated: Pure Shores; It Feels So Good
  • PRS Outstanding Contribution to British Music: The Clash (Topper Headon, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Joe Strummer)
  • Outstanding Song Collection: Roy Wood
  • International Achievement: Iron Maiden (Bruce Dickinson, Janick Gers, Steve Harris, Nicko McBrain, Dave Murray and Adrian Smith)
  • Lifetime Achievement: Pete Townshend
  • Songwriters of the Year: Craig David and Mark Hill
  • The Special International Award: Stevie Wonder

Ivor Novello Awards 2002

23rd May 2002 saw Grosvenor House in London host the Ivor Novello Awards.

  • Best Contemporary Song: Shining Light, performed by Ash, written by Tim Wheeler. Also nominated: Clint Eastwood, performed by Gorillaz, written by Damon Albarn, Jamie Hewlett and Teren Delvon Jones; Thank You, written by Dido Armstrong and Paul Herman
  • Best Song Musically and Lyrically: Walk On, performed by U2, written by Adam Clayton, The Edge, Bono and Larry Mullen Jnr. Also nominated: Side, performed by Travis, written by Fran Healy; Sail Away, written by David Gray
  • PRS Most Performed Work: Can’t Get You Out Of My Head, performed by Kylie Minogue, written by Cathy Dennis and Rob Davis. Also nominated: Thank You; Out of Reach, written by Gabrielle and Jonathan Shorten
  • Best Selling UK Single: Pure and Simple, performed by Hear’Say, written by Pete Kirtley, Tim Hawes and Alison Clarkson. Also nominated: Can’t Get You Out Of My Head; Whole Again, performed by Atomic Kitten, written by Andy McCluskey, Stuart Kershaw, Bill Padley and Jeremy Godfrey
  • The Ivors Dance Award: Can’t Get You Out Of My Head. Also nominated: Do You Really Like It?, performed by DJ Pied Piper, written by Eugene Nwohia, Ronald Nwohia, Paul Newman, Ashley Livingston and Steve Wickham; Where’s Your Head At, performed by Basement Jaxx, written by Felix Buxton, Simon Ratcliffe and Gary Numan
  • Best Original Music for a Television / Radio Broadcast: The Blue Planet, composed by George Fenton. Also nominated: Band of Brothers, composed by Michael Kamen; Wild Africa, composed by Christopher Gunning
  • Best Original Film Score: Shrek, composed by Harry Gregson-Williams and John Powell. Also nominated: Quills, composed by Stephen Warbeck; Thirteen Days, composed by Trevor Jones
  • International Hit of the Year: Can’t Get You Out Of My Head. Also nominated: Whole Again; Hero, written by Paul Barry, Enrique Iglesias and Mark Taylor
  • PRS Outstanding Contribution to British Music: Kate Bush
  • Outstanding Song Collection: Mick Hucknall
  • International Achievement: Sting
  • Songwriter of the Year: Dido Armstrong
  • The Special International Award: Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus

Ivor Novello Awards 2003

The 48th ceremony was on 22nd May 2003 at Grosvenor House, London.

  • Best Song Musically and Lyrically: The Other Side, written by David Gray. Also nominated: Strange and Beautiful, performed by Aqualung, written by Matthew Hales and Kim Oliver; Stop Crying Your Heart Out, performed by Oasis, written by Noel Gallagher
  • Best Contemporary Song: Weak Become Heroes, performed by The Streets, written by Mike Skinner. Also nominated: It Takes More, written by Ms Dynamite and Punch; In My Place, performed by Coldplay, written by Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion, Chris Martin
  • PRS Most Performed Work: Just A Little, performed by Liberty X, written by Michelle Escoffery, John Hammond Hagan, George Hammond Hagan. Also nominated: Love at First Sight, written by Kylie Minogue, Richard Stannard, Julian Gallagher, Ashley Howes and Martin Harrington; In Your Eyes, written by Kylie Minogue, Richard Stannard, Julian Gallagher and Ashley Howes
  • Best Selling UK Single: Anything Is Possible, performed by Will Young, written by Cathy Dennis and Chris Braide. Also nominated: Hero, written by Paul Barry, Enrique Iglesias and Mark Taylor; Just a Little
  • International Hit of the Year: Complicated, written by Lauren Christy, David Alspach, Graham Edwards and Avril Lavigne. Also nominated: Electrical Storm, performed by U2, written by Adam Clayton, The Edge, Bono and Larry Mullen Jr; Feel, written by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers
  • The Ivors Dance Award: Lazy, performed by X-Press 2, written by Ashley Beedle, Darren House, Darren Rock and David Byrne. Also nominated: Shake UR Body, performed by Shy FX & T-Power, written by Andre Williams and Dianna Joseph; It Just Won’t Do, performed by Tim Deluxe feat. Sam Obernik, written by Tim Liken and Ben Onono
  • Best Original Film Score: The Quiet American, composed by Craig Armstrong. Also nominated: Die Another Day, composed by David Arnold; Rabbit Proof Fence, composed by Peter Gabriel
  • Best Original Music for Television: Feltham Sings, composed by Dextrous and Simon Armitage. Also nominated: Goodbye Mr Chips, composed by Colin Towns; Danger in Tiger Paradise, composed by David Mitcham
  • The Ivors Classical Music Award: Boots of Lead, composed by Simon Holt. Also nominated: Dead March, composed by Gerald Barry; Sophie’s Choice, composed by Nicholas Maw
  • Songwriters of the Year: Coldplay (Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris Martin)
  • International Achievement: UB40 (Astro, James Brown, Ali Campbell, Robin Campbell, Earl Falconer, Norman Hassan, Brian Travers and Michael Virtue)
  • PRS Outstanding Contribution to British Music: Bryan Ferry
  • Outstanding Song Collection: U2 (Bono, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jnr and The Edge)
  • The Special International Award: Brian Wilson

Ivor Novello Awards 2004

The 2004 Ivor Novello Awards were hosted at Grosvenor House on 27th May.

  • Best Song Musically and Lyrically: Leave Right Now, performed by Will Young, written by Francis Eg White. Also nominated: White Flag, written by Dido Armstrong, Rollo Armstrong and Richard Nowels; Step Into My Office Baby, performed by Belle and Sebastian, written by Stuart Murdoch, Stephen Jackson, Christopher Geddes, Richard Colburn, Michael Cooke, Sarah Martin and Robert Kildea
  • Best Contemporary Song: Stronger Than Me, written by Amy Winehouse and Salaam Remi. Also nominated: Jus’ a Rascal, performed by Dizzee Rascal, written by Dylan Mills, Tesmond Rowe and Vegard Vardoen; Slow, written by Dan Carey, Emiliana Torrini and Kylie Minogue
  • Best Original Music for Television: The Young Visitors, composed by Nicholas Hooper. Also nominated: Second Generation, composed by Nitin Sawhney; The Key, composed by Anne Dudley
  • Best Original Film Score: Max, composed by Dan Jones. Also nominated: In America, composed by Gavin Friday and Maurice Seezer; BodySong, composed by Jonny Greenwood
  • The Ivors Dance Award: Strict Machine, performed by Goldfrapp, written by Alison Goldfrapp, Will Gregory and Nick Batt. Also nominated: Shining Through, performed by Layo & Bushwacka, written by Layo Paskin and Matthew Benjamin; Familiar Feeling, performed by Moloko, written by Róisín Murphy, Mark Brydon and Edmond Stevens
  • PRS Most Performed Work: Superstar, performed by Jamelia, written by Mich Hansen, Joseph Belmaati and Mikkel Sigvardt. Also nominated: Clocks, performed by Coldplay, written by Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris Martin; Hole in the Head, performed by Sugababes, written by Miranda Cooper, Brian Higgins, Timothy Powell, Nicholas Coler, Niara Scarlett, Keisha Buchanan, Mutya Buena and Heidi Range
  • International Hit of the Year: White Flag, written by Dido Armstrong, Rollo Armstrong and Richard Nowels. Also nominated: Feel, written by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers; Slow, written by Dan Carey, Emiliana Torrini and Kylie Minogue
  • Best Selling UK Single: Mad World, performed by Michael Andrews and Gary Jules, written by: Roland Orzabal
  • The Ivors Classical Music Award: Richard Rodney Bennett
  • Outstanding Song Collection: 10cc (Lol Crème, Kevin Godley, Graham Gouldman and Eric Stewart)
  • International Achievement: Radiohead (Colin Greenwood, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O’Brien, Phil Selway and Thom Yorke)
  • PRS Outstanding Contribution to British Music: Errol Brown
  • Songwriters of the Year: The Darkness (Ed Graham, Dan Hawkins, Justin Hawkins and Frankie Poullain)
  • The Special International Award: Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland and Eddie Holland

Ivor Novello Awards 2005

Reaching its fiftieth anniversary, the Ivor Novello Awards were held on 26th May 2005 at Grosvenor House, London.

  • PRS Most Performed Work: Toxic, performed by Britney Spears, written by Cathy Dennis, Bloodshy, Henrik Jonback and Avant. Also nominated: Amazing, written by George Michael and Jonathan Douglas; Thank You, written by Jamelia Davies, Carsten Schack and Peter Biker
  • Best Contemporary Song: Take Me Out, performed by Franz Ferdinand, written by Robert Hardy, Alex Kapranos, Nick McCarthy and Paul Thomson. Also nominated: For Lovers, performed by Wolfman, written by Peter Wolfe, Pete Doherty, Julian Taylor, Edmund Scott, Matt White, David Banks and Matt Scott; Blinded by the Lights, performed by The Streets, written by Mike Skinner
  • Best Original Film Score: Enduring Love, composed by Jeremy Sams. Also nominated: Deep Blue, composed by George Fenton; Man on Fire, composed by Harry Gregson-Williams
  • The Ivors Classical Music Award: John Tavener
  • Best Selling UK Single: Do They Know It’s Christmas?, performed by Band Aid 2000, written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure. Also nominated: All This Time, performed by Michelle McManus, written by Wayne Hector, Steve Mac and Ali Tennant; Call On Me, written by Steve Winwood, Eric Prydz and Will Jennings
  • Best Song Musically and Lyrically: Dry Your Eyes, performed by The Streets, written by Mike Skinner. Also nominated: These Words, written by Stephen Kipner, Andrew Frampton, Natasha Bedingfield and Wayne Wilkins; Everybody’s Changing, performed by Keane, written by Tim Rice-Oxley, Tom Chaplin and Richard Hughes
  • Best Original Music for Television: Blackpool, composed by Rob Lane. Also nominated: Fallen, composed by Paul Leonard-Morgan; North and South, composed by Martin Phipps
  • International Hit of the Year: Vertigo, performed by U2, written by Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. Also nominated: Behind Blue Eyes, performed by Limp Bizkit, written by Pete Townshend; Do They Know It’s Christmas?
  • International Achievement: Robert Smith
  • Songwriters of the Year: Keane (Tom Chaplin, Richard Hughes and Tim Rice-Oxley)
  • Album Award: Final Straw, performed by Snow Patrol, written by: Iain Archer, Nathan Connolly, Gary Lightbody, Mark McClelland and Jonny Quinn
  • PRS Outstanding Contribution to British Music: Duran Duran (Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, Andy Taylor, John Taylor and Roger Taylor)
  • Outstanding Song Collection: Queen (John Deacon, Brian May, Freddie Mercury and Roger Taylor)
  • The Special International Award: Lou Reed
  • The Ivors Special Award for Songwriting: Mick Jagger and Keith Richards

Ivor Novello Awards 2006

25th May 2006 saw the hosting of the 51st Ivor Novello Awards ceremony at Grosvenor House, London.

  • Best Song Musically & Lyrically: Suddenly I See, written by KT Tunstall. Also nominated: Fix You, performed by Coldplay, written by Guy Berryman, Jonathan Buckland, William Champion and Chris Martin; I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor, performed by Arctic Monkeys, written by Alex Turner
  • PRS Most Performed Work: You’re Beautiful, written by James Blunt, Amanda Ghost and Sacha Skarbek. Also nominated: Shiver, written by Natalie Imbruglia, Sheppard Solomon and Francis Eg White; Speed of Sound, performed by Coldplay, written by Guy Berryman, Jonathan Buckland, William Champion and Chris Martin
  • Best Television Soundtrack: Elizabeth I, composed by Rob Lane. Also nominated: A Waste Of Shame: The Mystery of Shakespeare and His Sonnets, composed by Kevin Sargent; Colditz, composed by Richard Harvey
  • Outstanding Song Collection: New Order (Philip Cunningham, Gillian Gilbert, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner)
  • Best Selling UK Single: That’s My Goal, performed by Shayne Ward, written by: Jorgan Elofsson, Jeremy Godfrey and Bill Padley
  • Album Award: Employment, performed by Kaiser Chiefs, written by: Nick Baines, Nick Hodgson, Simon Rix, Andrew White and Ricky Wilson
  • The Ivors Classical Music Award: Harrison Birtwistle
  • International Hit of the Year: You’re Beautiful, written by James Blunt, Amanda Ghost and Sacha Skarbek. Also nominated: Speed of Sound; Tripping, written by Stephen Duffy and Robbie Williams
  • Best Original Film Score: Evil, composed by Francis Shaw. Also nominated: Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch & the Wardrobe, composed by Harry Gregson–Williams; Pride and Prejudice, composed by Dario Marianelli
  • Best Contemporary Song: Wires, written by Joel Pott, Steven Roberts, Timothy Wanstall and Carey Willetts. Also nominated: DARE, written by Damon Albarn, Brian Burton and Jamie Hewlett; I Predict a Riot, written by Nick Baines, Nick Hodgson, Simon Rix, Andrew White and Ricky Wilson
  • International Achievement: Ian Anderson
  • Songwriters of the Year: Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett
  • PRS Outstanding Contribution to British Music: Ray Davies
  • The Special International Award: Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff
  • BASCA Fellowship: Bee Gees (Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb and Robin Gibb)

Ivor Novello Awards 2007

2007’s Ivor Novello ceremony took place on 24th May at Grosvenor House, London.

  • International Hit of the Year: Sorry, written by Madonna and Stuart Price. Also nominated: I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’, performed by Scissor Sisters, written by Elton John, Scott Hoffman and Jason Sellards; Rudebox, written by Robbie Williams, Danny Spencer, Kelvin Andrews, Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare, William “Earl” Collins, Bill Laswell and Edmund “Carl Jr” Aiken
  • Album Award: Whatever People Say I Am That’s What I’m Not, performed by Arctic Monkeys, written by: Alex Turner
  • Best Contemporary Song: Rehab, written by Amy Winehouse. Also nominated: Over and Over, performed by Hot Chip, written by Joseph Goddard, Alexis Taylor and Felix Martin; Yeah Yeah, performed by Bodyrox feat. Luciana, written by Nick Bridges, Jon Pearn, Nathan Thomas, Luciana Caporaso and Nick Clow
  • Best Television Soundtrack: The Virgin Queen, composed by Martin Phipps. Also nominated: Hotel Babylon, composed by John Lunn and Jim Williams; Shiny Shiny Bright New Hole In My Heart, composed by Alex Heffes
  • Best Selling UK Single: A Moment Like This, performed by Kelly Clarkson, written by Jorgen Elofsson and John Reid
  • Outstanding Song Collection: Yusuf Islam
  • The Ivors Classical Music Award: John Rutter
  • PRS Most Performed Work: I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’. Also nominated: Put Your Records On, written by Corinne Bailey Rae, John Beck and Steve Chrisanthou; Sorry, written by Madonna and Stuart Price
  • Best Original Film Score: Ice Age: The Meltdown, composed by John Powell. Also nominated: Casino Royale, composed by David Arnold; Severance, composed by Christian Henson
  • PRS Outstanding Contribution to British Music: Norman Cook
  • Best Song Musically and Lyrically: Elusive, written by Scott Matthews. Also nominated: Sophia, written by Nerina Pallot; When the Sun Goes Down, written by Alex Turner
  • Songwriters of the Year: The Feeling (Dan Gillespie Sells, Ciaran Jeremiah, Kevin Jeremiah, Richard Jones and Paul Stewart)
  • Lifetime Achievement: Peter Gabriel
  • The Special International Award: Quincy Jones

Ivor Novello Awards 2008

The 2008 Ivor Novello Awards were on 22nd May at Grosvenor House.

  • Best Selling British Song: Beautiful Liar, performed by Beyoncé and Shakira, written by Ian Dench, Mikkel Eriksen, Amanda Ghost, Tor Erik Hermansen and Beyoncé Knowles. Also nominated: Grace Kelly, written by Jodi Marr, John Merchant, Mika and Dan Warner; Rehab, written by Amy Winehouse
  • International Achievement: Phil Collins
  • Best Contemporary Song: People Help the People, performed by Cherry Ghost, written by Simon Aldred. Also nominated: Foundations, written by Paul Epworth and Kate Nash; Golden Skans, performed by Klaxons, written by Jamie Reynolds, James Righton and Simon Taylor-Davies
  • Best Television Soundtrack: Oliver Twist, composed by Martin Phipps. Also nominated: Primo, composed by Jonathan Goldstein; Who Killed Mrs de Ropp?, composed by Paul Moessl
  • Album Award: In Rainbows, performed by Radiohead, written by Colin Greenwood, Jonny Greenwood, Edward O’Brien, Philip Selway and Thom Yorke. Also nominated: Man on the Roof, written by Stephen Fretwell; Thirst for Romance, performed by Cherry Ghost, written by Simon Aldred
  • The Ivors Inspiration Award: Jazzie B
  • PRS Most Performed Work: Shine, performed by Take That, written by Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Stephen Robson. Also nominated: Ruby, performed by Kaiser Chiefs, written by Nicholas Baines, Nick Hodgson, James Rix, Andrew White and Ricky Wilson; Starz in Their Eyes, performed by Just Jack, written by Jack Allsopp
  • The Ivors Classical Music Award: Jonathan Dove
  • Best Song Musically & Lyrically: Love is a Losing Game, written by Amy Winehouse. Also nominated: Let Me Out, written by Rosi Golan and Jamie Hartman; You Know I’m No Good, written by Amy Winehouse
  • Outstanding Song Collection: Gabrielle
  • Best Original Film Score: Atonement, composed by Dario Marianelli. Also nominated: Becoming Jane, composed by Adrian Johnston; La Vie en Rose, composed by Christopher Gunning
  • PRS Outstanding Contribution to British Music: Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook
  • Songwriter of the Year: Mika
  • The Special International Award: Diane Warren
  • Lifetime Achievement: David Gilmour

Ivor Novello Awards 2009

Closing the decade, the 2009 Ivor Novello ceremony was on 21st May at Grosvenor House, London.

  • BASCA Fellowship: David Ferguson
  • Best Contemporary Song: Grounds for Divorce, performed by Elbow, written by Guy Garvey, Richard Jupp, Craig Potter, Mark Potter and Peter Turner. Also nominated: Dance Wiv Me, performed by Dizzee Rascal, written by Nicholas Detnon, Calvin Harris, Dylan Mills and Tyrone; That’s Not My Name, performed by The Ting Tings, written by Julian De Martino and Katie White
  • Album Award: We Started Nothing, performed by The Ting Tings, written by Julian De Martino and Katie White. Also nominated: Rockferry, written by Bernard Butler and Duffy; Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends, performed by Coldplay, written by Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris Martin
  • Best Television Soundtrack: Wallace and Gromit (A Matter of Loaf and Death), composed by Julian Nott. Also nominated: Fiona’s Story, composed by Ben Bartlett; Trial and Retribution 2008, composed by Anne Dudley
  • Outstanding Song Collection: Vince Clarke
  • The Ivors Classical Music Award: James MacMillan
  • Best Selling British Song: Viva La Vida, performed by Coldplay, written by Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris Martin. Also nominated: Mercy, written by; Steve Booker and Duffy; Paper Planes, performed by M.I.A., written by Maya Arulpragasam, Topper Headon, Mick Jones, Thomas Wesley Pentz, Paul Simonon and Joe Strummer
  • PRS for Music Outstanding Contribution to British Music: Massive Attack (Robert Del Naja, Grant Marshall and Andrew Vowles)
  • Best Song Musically and Lyrically: One Day Like This, performed by Elbow, written by Guy Garvey, Richard Jupp, Craig Potter, Mark Potter and Peter Turner. Also nominated: My Mistakes Were Made For You, performed by Last Shadow Puppets, written by Miles Kane and Alex Turner; The Last of the Melting Snow, performed by The Leisure Society, written by Nicholas Hemming
  • Best Original Film Score: There Will Be Blood, composed by Jonny Greenwood. Also nominated: Quantum of Solace, composed by David Arnold; The Escapist, composed by Benjamin Wallfisch
  • The Ivors Inspiration Award: Edwyn Collins
  • PRS for Music Most Performed Work: Mercy, written by Steve Booker and Duffy. Also nominated: Sweet About Me, written by Gabriella Cilmi, Nicholas Coler, Miranda Cooper, Brian Higgins, Timothy Larcombe and Tim Powell; Viva La Vida, performed by Coldplay, written by Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris Martin
  • Songwriter of the Year: Eg White
  • The Special International Award: Smokey Robinson
  • BASCA Fellowship: Don Black

Further Reading

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NME Awards – 2004-2006

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I’ve split the more recent years of the NME Awards out into multiple posts, as there’s a lot more to say about them. So here’s 2004-2006:

NME Awards 2004

Hosted on 12 Feb 2004, by Vernon Kay.

  • Best Video: Radiohead, for There There. Also nominated: Radiohead, for There There, The Darkness, for I Believe in a Thing Called Love, The White Stripes, for The Hardest Button To Button, Muse, for Time is Running Out
  • Best Album: Radiohead, for Hail to the Thief. Also nominated: The White Stripes, for Elephant, Muse, for Absolution, The Darkness, The Strokes
  • Best New Band: Kings of Leon
  • Best International Band: Kings of Leon. Also nominated: The White Stripes
  • Living Legend: Arthur Lee
  • Best Live Band: Queens of the Stone Age. Nominated: Radiohead, Muse
  • Best UK Band: The Libertines. Nominated: Radiohead, Queens of the Stone Age, Muse
  • Best Single: The White Stripes, for Seven Nation Army. Also nominated: Radiohead, for There There, The Darkness, for I Believe in a Thing Called Love
  • Best Solo Artist: Ryan Adams
  • Worst Single: Fast Food Rockers, for Fast Food Song
  • Most Missed: Johnny Cash
  • Best Website: NME.com
  • Hero of the Year: Pete Doherty
  • Villainof the Year: George H. W. Bush
  • Fight of the Year : Jack White vs Jason von Bondie
  • Waster of the Year: Pete Doherty
  • Sexiest Man: Har Mar Superstar
  • Sexiest Woman: Brody Dalle
  • Best Haircut: Caleb Followill
  • Best Live Venue: Brixton Academy
  • Best Album Artwork: Radiohead, for Hail to the Thief
  • Best TV Show: The Office
  • Best Film: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
  • The Fuck Me! Award For Innovation: Dizzee Rascal

Shockwaves NME Awards 2005

Host: Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.

  • Best Radio Show: Zane Lowe. Also nominated: Steve Lamacq, Chris Moyles, Colin Murray and Edith Bowman, Christian O’Connell
  • Best Solo Artist: Graham Coxon. Also nominated: Ian Brown, Eminem, Morrissey, The Streets
  • Best Live Band: Muse. Also nominated: Babyshambles, Franz Ferdinand, The Libertines, Razorlight
  • Best Track: Franz Ferdinand, for Take Me Out. Also nominated: The Libertines, for Can’t Stand Me Now, Razorlight, for Golden Touch, The Streets, for Dry Your Eyes, U2, for Vertigo
  • Best Music DVD: Oasis, for Definitely Maybe. Also nominated: Nirvana, for With the Lights Out, Pixies, for Pixies, Scissor Sisters, for We are Scissor Sisters and So Are You, The White Stripes, for Live Under Blackpool Lights
  • Philip Hall Radar Award: Kaiser Chiefs
  • Best TV Show: Little Britain
  • Best International Band: The Killers. Also nominated: Kings of Leon, Scissor Sisters, The Strokes, U2
  • Best New Band: Razorlight. Also nominated: Babyshambles, Bloc Party, Kasabian, The Killers
  • Best Video: Green Day, for American Idiot. Also nominated: Beastie Boys, for Triple Trouble, Eminem, for Mosh, Franz Ferdinand, for Take Me Out, The Streets, for Fit But You Know It
  • Special Award for Lifelong Service to Music: John Peel
  • John Peel Award for Musical Innovation: The Others
  • Best Film: Shaun of the Dead
  • Best Album: Franz Ferdinand, for Franz Ferdinand. Also nominated: Green Day, for American Idiot, The Libertines, for The Libertines, Scissor Sisters, for Scissor Sisters, The Streets, for A Grand Don’t Come for Free
  • Best Live Event: Glastonbury
  • Best British Band: The Libertines. Also nominated: Kasabian, Franz Ferdinand, Muse, Snow Patrol
  • Godlike Genius Award: New Order & Joy Division
  • Best Dressed: Brandon Flowers, of The Killers
  • Worst Dressed: Jonathan Ross
  • Best Live Venue: London Carling Brixton Academy
  • Best Website: NME.com
  • Hero of the Year: John Peel
  • Sexiest Man: Brandon Flowers
  • Sexiest Woman: Barbara Knox
  • Worst Album: Insane Clown Posse, for Carnival of Carnage
  • Worst Band: Insane Clown Posse

Shockwaves NME Awards 2006

Host: Russell Brand

  • Best New Band: Arctic Monkeys. Also nominated: Editors, Magic Numbers, Maximo Park, We Are Scientists
  • Best Video: Oasis, for The Importance of Being Idle. Also nominated: Franz Ferdinand, for Do You Want To, Gorillaz, for Dare, Kaiser Chiefs, for I Predict a Riot, The Strokes, for Juicebox
  • Best International Band: The Strokes. Also nominated: Arcade Fire, Green Day, The Killers, Foo Fighters
  • Best TV Show: Gonzo. Also nominated: Little Britain, Lost, The Mighty Boosh, Peep Show
  • Best Solo Artist: Kanye West. Also nominated: Antony and the Johnsons, Richard Ashcroft, Ian Brown, Graham Coxon
  • Philip Hall Radar Award: The Long Blondes
  • Best Radio Show: Zane Lowe. Also nominated:, Steve Lamacq, Chris Moyles, Lauren Laverne, Colin Murray and Edith Bowman
  • Best Event: Carling Weekend: Reading and Leeds Festivals. Also nominated: Glastonbury, Live8, T in the Park, V Festival
  • Best Live Band: Franz Ferdinand. Also nominated: Arctic Monkeys, Green Day, Kaiser Chiefs, Oasis
  • Best Music DVD: Live 8. Also nominated: Dig!, Green Day, for Bullet in a Bible, Kaiser Chiefs, for Enjoyment, Morrissey, for Who Put the M in Manchester
  • Best Film: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Also nominated: Batman Begins, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, King Kong, Sin City
  • John Peel Music Innovation Award: Gorillaz
  • Best Track: Arctic Monkeys, for I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor. Also nominated: Babyshambles, for Fuck Forever, Franz Ferdinand, for Do You Want To, Kaiser Chiefs, for I Predict a Riot, Oasis, for The Importance of Being Idle
  • Best Album: Kaiser Chiefs, for Employment. Also nominated: Babyshambles, for Down in Albion, Bloc Party, for Silent Alarm, Franz Ferdinand, for You Could Have it So Much Better, Oasis, for Don’t Believe the Truth
  • Best British Band: Arctic Monkeys. Also nominated: Bloc Party, Kaiser Chiefs, Franz Ferdinand, Oasis
  • Godlike Genius Award: Ian Brown
  • Best Website: NME.com. Also nominated: Kaiser Chiefs, MySpace.com, Oasis, We Are Scientists
  • Best Venue: London Brixton Carling Academy. Also nominated: Glasgow Barrowlands, London Astoria, London KOKO, Manchester Apollo
  • Hero of the Year: Bob Geldof. Also nominated: Carl Barât, Pete Doherty, Liam Gallagher, Alex Turner
  • Villain of the Year: George W. Bush. Also nominated: Tony Blair, James Blunt, Pete Doherty, Justin Hawkins
  • Best Dressed: Ricky Wilson. Also nominated: Pete Doherty, Brandon Flowers, Liam Gallagher, Alex Kapranos
  • Worst Dressed: Justin Hawkins. Also nominated: Pete Doherty, Chris Martin, Jack White, Robbie Williams
  • Worst Album: James Blunt, for Back to Bedlam. Also nominated: Babyshambles, for Down in Albion, The Bravery, for The Bravery, The Darkness, for One Way Ticket to Hell… And Back, McFly, for Wonderland
  • Worst Band: Son of Dork. Also nominated: Babyshambles, Coldplay, The Darkness, McFly
  • Sexiest Man: Pete Doherty
  • Sexiest Woman: Madonna

See also

Edited 12 June 2018 – added some winners

Sparks – Exotic Creatures of the Deep

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Sparks can be a bit of an unknown quantity sometimes. In 2008, they decided to celebrate their fortieth anniversary as a band with Exotic Creatures of the Deep. But Hello Young Lovers, released two years earlier, had been a bit of disappointment after 2002’s exceptional Lil’ Beethoven, so this could really have gone in any direction. Fortunately, Intro is full of a glorious repeated vocal, cello, and even some piano, and it opens this album in brilliant fashion.

The first proper track is the fantastic lead single Good Morning. Quite how, four or five decades into their career, Sparks are able to pull together influences from around them and create pop songs as great as this, is a bit of a mystery to me. On this one, they tap Scissor Sisters and show them how to do it properly, with such great lines as “Does dasvidaniya really mean good morning?”

Sparks have always had their daft side, and the bizarre swing of Strange Animal definitely fits in this category. It’s also rather good, though. Then there’s the exceptional and hilarious I Can’t Believe That You Would Fall for All the Crap in This Song, with its huge glam bass line. Then Let the Monkey Drive encapsulates more of the atmosphere of Pacific Coast Highway road trips than you might expect – it’s tempting sometimes to wonder whether monkeys are behind the wheel as drive that route.

After a brief reprise of the intro, we then get I’ve Never Been High, without any obvious lapse in quality. It does step up somewhat with the brilliant She Got Me Pregnant, though, a bizarrely sympathetic song full of strings and fun vocals. Then Lighten Up Morrissey is every bit as good as you might expect, a sweet song about someone who is feeling all the strains of being in a relationship with a Morrissey fan.

There’s no shortage of brilliance on here – This is the Renaissance is exquisite as well. The less superlative moments, such as The Director Never Yelled Cut, are far from bad, so this really is a great all-round album. This track, by the way, turns out to be where the Intro and Intro Reprise were extracted from.

What there is not, perhaps, is much new on here – Photoshop could have easily fitted on Lil’ Beethoven, six years earlier. The lack of beats, the piano, the string swells – it really would have been a perfect fit. It’s also a great song though, so it’s a struggle to see that as a problem.

The identity crisis that is this album comes to a close with the wonderful Likeable, in which someone tells us how much everybody else likes them, which of course smells very slightly of insecurity. The waltz middle section is adorable.

All in all, Exotic Creatures of the Deep is easily one of Sparks‘ finest moments, which is particularly impressive given that they were already forty years into their career at this point. Now, ten years on, some of the relevance of the glam and Scissor Sisters references may be less relevant, but it’s still an exceptional release.

You can still find Exotic Creatures of the Deep at all major retailers.

Tiga – Sexor

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There are times when reviewing things as they hit particular anniversaries can be a little depressing, and so it is with Tiga‘s debut album Sexor, which first appeared a decade ago this week.

After a short introduction with Welcome to Planet Sexor, proceedings kick off in fine form with the excellent single (Far from) Home. It’s short, sweet, and an entirely excellent song,  with a memorable video too. Every summer compilation should include it.

You Gonna Want Me brings a great backing vocal from Jake Shears, of Scissor Sisters fame, which given Tiga‘s track record up to this point makes for a slightly surprising collaboration, but the results are entirely brilliant, with the slightly acidic backing track and clever vocal play-offs.

High School is great too, with an enormous 1980s-style pad breakdown a minute or so in. I’ve no idea what he’s singing about here (something about running for miles and miles), but it’s catchy and inventive, and difficult to fault.

The spoken word interludes are the odd side of this album – on the first, Jamaican Boa, Tiga gets a call from a friend asking to accompany him on a trip to a pet shop to look at snakes. This leads us into Louder Than a Bomb, a remix of a 1988 Public Enemy track, which adds lots of harsh electronics and bleeps.

Pleasure from the Bass is next, also a single, in which Tiga plays his own vocals against acid bass sounds and crisp drums. There isn’t a lot else here, so if you’re looking for something soft and beautiful, this is the wrong place to look, but it’s compelling and pretty great nonetheless.

A curious little piece called Who’s That? follows, guiding us steadily towards the softer Down in It, a cover of a Nine Inch Nails song from 1989, presumably with rather more synth woodblock than the original. Tiga may not be the most amazing singer, but he’s more than good enough for this song, which works extremely well.

The Ballad of Sexor is an interesting piece of songwriting with some particularly odd lyrics, but in general it works pretty well. Tiga‘s obvious love of the 1980s has left him with strong melody writing abilities, and this is played off nicely here against the minimal dance synth sounds.

The longer Good as Gold follows, taking us into darker territory before another short interlude, Flexible Skulls, and then the Speed of Sexor reprise of (Far from) Home, a meatier version of the earlier song which unfortunately cuts out pretty much all of the melody, making it not quite as satisfying.

The acid house version of Burning Down the House which follows is much more like it. This song with this backing track make for an unlikely pairing, but it works really well. It leads into the lively 3 Weeks, and then another great song in the form of Brothers. Here, it sounds as though Tiga is singing about his own relationship with his brother, which leaves us with a sweet, catchy song. All the way through, the grimy electro noises in the background continue, making for a compelling combination.

Sir Sir Sir belongs very firmly in the late 1980s, but as we now know that definitely isn’t a bad thing. It’s an excellent song, which closes out a great album perfectly. Well, almost closes it out – there’s a little room right at the end for what I think is called 8455584 Mommy, an answerphone message from Tiga‘s mother, who if this message is to be believed, is particularly soppy.

Sexor was a very promising debut, which a couple of years ago would lead to the more consistent but ultimately less satisfying Ciao! (2009) and then a very long bout of silence on the album front. Hopefully he’ll be back soon, and hopefully whatever he delivers will be at least as good as this.

You can still find Sexor at regular retailers. Try to find the double CD version, if it’s available in your part of the world.

The BRIT Awards 2010

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The 2010 BRIT Awards were hosted by Peter Kay at Earls Court, in London, on Tuesday 16th February. Complicatedly, this was the thirtieth ceremony, although not the thirtieth anniversary, but this was celebrated by the special Brits Hits 30 award.

This post is part of a series about the history of the BRIT Awards. You can read about the 2009 ceremony here, and the 2011 ceremony next time.

MasterCard British Album

Presented by Tom Ford. Nominees:

  • Lily Allen – It’s Not Me, It’s You
  • Dizzee Rascal – Tongue ‘n’ Cheek
  • Florence + The Machine – Lungs
  • Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
  • Paolo Nutini – Sunny Side Up

Winner: Florence + The Machine

British Single

Voted for by listeners of UK commercial radio and readers of The Sun, and presented by Alan Carr. Nominees:

  • Lily Allen – The Fear
  • Alexandra Burke feat. Flo Rida – Bad Boys
  • Cheryl Cole – Fight for This Love
  • Taio Cruz – Break Your Heart
  • Alesha Dixon – Breathe Slow
  • JLS – Beat Again
  • La Roux – In for the Kill
  • Pixie Lott – Mama Do (Uh Oh, Uh Oh)
  • Joe McElderry – The Climb
  • Tinchy Stryder feat. N-Dubz – Number 1

Winner: JLS

British Male Solo Artist

Presented by Andy Serkis. Nominees:

  • Dizzee Rascal
  • Calvin Harris
  • Mika
  • Paolo Nutini
  • Robbie Williams

Winner: Dizzee Rascal

British Female Solo Artist

Presented by Shirley Bassey. Nominees:

  • Lily Allen
  • Bat for Lashes
  • Florence + The Machine
  • Leona Lewis
  • Pixie Lott

Winner: Lily Allen

British Group

Presented by Idris Elba. Nominees:

  • Doves
  • Friendly Fires
  • JLS
  • Kasabian
  • Muse

Winner: Kasabian

British Breakthrough Act

Presented by Geri Halliwell. Nominees:

  • Florence + The Machine
  • Friendly Fires
  • JLS
  • La Roux
  • Pixie Lott

Winner: JLS

International Male Solo Artist

Presented by Melanie Brown. Nominees:

  • Michael Bublé
  • Eminem
  • Jay Z
  • Bruce Springsteen
  • Seasick Steve

Winner: Jay Z

International Female Solo Artist

Presented by Jonathan Ross. Nominees:

  • Lady Gaga
  • Ladyhawke
  • Norah Jones
  • Rihanna
  • Shakira

Winner: Lady Gaga

International Breakthrough Act

Presented by Cat Deeley. Nominees:

  • Animal Collective
  • Empire of the Sun
  • Lady Gaga
  • Daniel Merriweather
  • Taylor Swift

Winner: Lady Gaga

International Album

Presented by Mika. Nominees:

  • Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
  • The Black Eyed Peas – The E.N.D.
  • Empire of the Sun – Walking on a Dream
  • Jay-Z – The Blueprint 3
  • Lady Gaga – The Fame

Winner: Lady Gaga

Critics Choice

Presented by Courtney Love. Nominees:

  • Delphic
  • Ellie Goulding
  • Marina and the Diamonds

Winner: Ellie Goulding

Outstanding Contribution to Music

Winner: Robbie Williams

BRITs Hits 30 – Best Live Performance at the BRIT Awards

Voted for by viewers of GMTV, and presented by Samantha Fox. The year of each original performance is shown below. Nominees:

  • Bee Gees – Stayin’ Alive / How Deep Is Your Love (1997)
  • Bros – I Owe You Nothing (1989)
  • Coldplay – Clocks (2003)
  • Eurythmics and Stevie Wonder – There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart) (1999)
  • Girls Aloud – The Promise (2009)
  • Michael Jackson – Earth Song (1996)
  • Paul McCartney and Wings – Live and Let Die (2008)
  • Kylie Minogue – Can’t Get You Out of My Head (2002)
  • Pet Shop Boys – Go West (1994)
  • Scissor Sisters – Take Your Mama (2005)
  • Spice Girls – Wannabe / Who Do You Think You Are (1997)
  • Take That – The Beatles Medley (1994)
  • Kanye West – Gold Digger (2006)
  • The Who – Who Are You (1977)
  • Robbie Williams and Tom Jones – The Full Monty Medley (1998)

Winner: Spice Girls

BRITs Album of 30 Years

Voted for by listeners of BBC Radio 2, and presented by Noddy Holder from Slade. Nominees:

  • Coldplay – A Rush of Blood to the Head
  • Phil Collins – No Jacket Required
  • Dido – No Angel
  • Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms
  • Duffy – Rockferry
  • Keane – Hopes and Fears
  • Oasis – (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?
  • Sade – Diamond Life
  • Travis – The Man Who
  • The Verve – Urban Hymns

Winner: Oasis

Performances

Further Reading / Viewing

The BRIT Awards 2007

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Earls Court in London was the venue for the 2007 BRIT Awards, with Russell Brand hosting the first live broadcast since the disastrous 1989 ceremony. Voiceovers came from Tom Baker.

This post is part of a series about the history of the BRIT Awards. You can read about the 2006 ceremony here, and the 2008 ceremony next time.

MasterCard British Album

Presented by Sean Bean. Nominees:

  • Lily Allen – Alright, Still
  • Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not
  • Muse – Black Holes and Revelations
  • Snow Patrol – Eyes Open
  • Amy Winehouse – Back to Black

Winner: Arctic Monkeys

Best British Single

Presented by Alan Carr. Nominees:

  • Lily Allen – Smile
  • Corinne Bailey Rae – Put Your Records On
  • The Feeling – Fill My Little World
  • The Kooks – She Moves in Her Own Way
  • Leona Lewis – A Moment Like This
  • James Morrison – You Give Me Something
  • Razorlight – America
  • Snow Patrol – Chasing Cars
  • Take That – Patience
  • Sandi Thom – I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker
  • Will Young – All Time Love

Five nominees were decided by commercial radio hit40uk and The A List listeners, and the winner was then chosen by the radio and TV viewing audience live on the night. According to Wikipedia, Corinne Bailey Rae, The Kooks and Sandi Thom were eliminated in the first round, and Lily Allen, Leona Lewis and James Morrison dropped out in the second, leaving the following nominees on the night:

  • The Feeling – Fill My Little World
  • Razorlight – America
  • Snow Patrol – Chasing Cars
  • Take That – Patience
  • Will Young – All Time Love

Winner: Take That

Best British Male

Presented by Joss Stone. Nominees:

  • Jarvis Cocker
  • Lemar
  • James Morrison
  • Paolo Nutini
  • Thom Yorke

Winner: James Morrison

Best British Female

Presented by Jo Whiley. Nominees:

  • Lily Allen
  • Corinne Bailey Rae
  • Jamelia
  • Nerina Pallot
  • Amy Winehouse

Winner: Amy Winehouse

Best British Group

Presented by Anthony Head. Nominees:

  • Arctic Monkeys
  • Kasabian
  • Muse
  • Razorlight
  • Snow Patrol

Winner: Arctic Monkeys

Best British Breakthrough Act

Voted for by listeners of BBC Radio 1, and presented by Jarvis Cocker. Nominees:

  • Lily Allen
  • Corinne Bailey Rae
  • The Fratellis
  • The Kooks
  • James Morrison

Winner: The Fratellis

Best British Live Act

The nominees were chosen by a panel of experts in association with The Live Music Forum, and the winner was chosen by BBC Radio 2 listeners. Presented by Keith Allen. Nominees:

  • Guillemots
  • Kasabian
  • George Michael
  • Muse
  • Robbie Williams

Winner: Muse

Best International Album

Presented by Nick Frost and Simon Pegg. Nominees:

  • Gnarls Barkley – St. Elsewhere
  • Bob Dylan – Modern Times
  • The Killers – Sam’s Town
  • Scissor Sisters – Ta-Dah
  • Justin Timberlake – FutureSex/LoveSounds

Winner: The Killers

Best International Male

Presented by Erin O’Connor and Roland Mouret. Nominees:

  • Beck
  • Bob Dylan
  • Jack Johnson
  • Damien Rice
  • Justin Timberlake

Winner: Justin Timberlake

Best International Female

Presented by Ricky Wilson. Nominees:

  • Christina Aguilera
  • Beyoncé
  • Nelly Furtado
  • Pink
  • Cat Power

Winner: Nelly Furtado

Best International Group

Presented by the obvious combination of Aerosmith‘s Steve Tyler and Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Nominees:

  • Gnarls Barkley
  • The Flaming Lips
  • The Killers
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers
  • Scissor Sisters

Winner: The Killers

Best International Breakthrough Act

Voted for by MTV Spanking New Music viewers, and presented by Toni Collette. Nominees:

  • Gnarls Barkley
  • Ray Lamontagne
  • Orson
  • The Raconteurs
  • Wolfmother

Winner: Orson

Outstanding Contribution to Music

Presented by Russell Brand.

Winner: Oasis

Performances

Further Reading / Viewing

The BRIT Awards 2005

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On 9th February 2005, Chris Evans hosted what was billed as the 25th anniversary BRIT Awards show (history seems to prefer to pretend that the first show was in 1981, rather than 1977). The venue was Earls Court in London, and an average of 6.3 million people watched the coverage the following day on ITV.

This post is part of a series about the history of the BRIT Awards. You can read about the 2004 ceremony here, and the 2006 ceremony next time.

MasterCard British Album

Presented by Clive Owen. Nominees:

  • Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand
  • Keane – Hopes and Fears
  • Muse – Absolution
  • Snow Patrol – Final Straw
  • The Streets – A Grand Don’t Come for Free

Winner: Keane

Best British Single

Voted for by listeners of independent radio, and presented by Minnie Driver. Nominees:

  • Band Aid 20 – Do They Know It’s Christmas?
  • Jamelia – Thank You
  • LMC vs. U2 – Take Me to the Clouds Above
  • Shapeshifters – Lola’s Theme
  • Will Young – Your Game

Winner: Will Young

Best British Male

Presented by Naomi Harris. Nominees:

  • Jamie Cullum
  • Lemar
  • Morrissey
  • The Streets
  • Will Young

Winner: The Streets

Best British Female

Presented by Lisa Stansfield. Nominees:

  • Natasha Bedingfield
  • Jamelia
  • PJ Harvey
  • Joss Stone
  • Amy Winehouse

Winner: Joss Stone

Best British Group

Presented by Sharon and Kelly Osbourne. Nominees:

  • Franz Ferdinand
  • Kasabian
  • Keane
  • Muse
  • Snow Patrol

Winner: Franz Ferdinand

Best British Breakthrough Act

Voted for by listeners of BBC Radio 1, and presented by Jo Whiley. Nominees:

  • Natasha Bedingfield
  • Franz Ferdinand
  • Keane
  • Joss Stone
  • The Zutons

Winner: Keane

Best British Rock Act

Voted for by viewers of Kerrang TV, and presented by Brian May. Nominees:

  • Franz Ferdinand
  • Kasabian
  • The Libertines
  • Muse
  • Snow Patrol

Winner: Franz Ferdinand

Best British Urban Act

Voted for by viewers of MTV Base, and presented by Jazzy B. Nominees:

  • Dizzee Rascal
  • Jamelia
  • Lemar
  • Joss Stone
  • The Streets

Winner: Joss Stone

Best British Live Act

Voted for by The Live Music Forum, and presented by Shirley Manson from Garbage. Nominees:

  • Jamie Cullum
  • Franz Ferdinand
  • Kasabian
  • The Libertines
  • Muse

Winner: Muse

Best Pop Act

Voted for by viewers of CD:UK and readers of The Sun, and presented by Jodie Kidd. Nominees:

  • Natasha Bedingfield
  • Girls Aloud
  • Avril Lavigne
  • McFly
  • Westlife

Winner: McFly

Best International Album

Presented by Siouxsie Sioux. Nominees:

  • The Killers – Hot Fuss
  • Maroon 5 – Songs About Jane
  • Outkast – Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
  • Scissor Sisters – Scissor Sisters
  • U2 – How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb

Winner: Scissor Sisters

Best International Male

Presented by Natalie Imbruglia. Nominees:

  • Eminem
  • Usher
  • Tom Waits
  • Kanye West
  • Brian Wilson

Winner: Eminem

Best International Female

Presented by Charlie Creed Miles. Nominees:

  • Anastacia
  • Kelis
  • Alicia Keys
  • Kylie Minogue
  • Gwen Stefani

Winner: Gwen Stefani

Best International Group

Nominees:

  • Green Day
  • Maroon 5
  • Outkast
  • Scissor Sisters
  • U2

Winner: Scissor Sisters

Best International Breakthrough Act

Presented by Simon Pegg. Nominees:

  • Jet
  • The Killers
  • Maroon 5
  • Scissor Sisters
  • Kanye West

Winner: Scissor Sisters

Outstanding Contribution to Music

Presented by Jools Holland.

Winner: Bob Geldof

BRITS 25 Best Song Award

Chosen by listeners of BBC Radio 2. Presented by Matt Lucas and David Walliams in character as Mark Owen and Howard Donald from Take That respectively. Nominees:

  • ABC – The Look of Love
  • Bee Gees – Night Fever
  • David Bowie – Heroes
  • Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights
  • The Clash – London Calling
  • Coldplay – Yellow
  • Peter Gabriel – Sledgehammer
  • David Gray – Babylon
  • The Jam – That’s Entertainment
  • Elton John – Sacrifice
  • Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart
  • Annie Lennox – Why?
  • Massive Attack – Unfinished Sympathy
  • George Michael – Careless Whisper
  • Oasis – Wonderwall
  • Queen – We are the Champions
  • Seal – Kiss from a Rose
  • Simply Red – Holding Back the Years
  • Spandau Ballet – True
  • Rod Stewart – I Don’t Want to Talk About it
  • Sting – Fields of Gold
  • The Stranglers – Golden Brown
  • The Streets – Dry Your Eyes
  • Robbie Williams – Angels
  • Will Young – Leave Right Now

The top five entries made it from round 1 to the final list of nominees, leaving:

  • Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights
  • Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart
  • Queen – We are the Champions
  • Robbie Williams – Angels
  • Will Young – Leave Right Now

Winner: Robbie Williams

Performances

Further Reading / Viewing

Pet Shop Boys – Flamboyant

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It seems strange in a way, putting together the posts for this Pet Shop Boys week. Somehow they seem to have released something pretty much every year in late March or early April. Ten years ago, in 2004, it was the turn of the single Flamboyant. It was the second of two new tracks recorded for their second singles collection PopArt, and is, bluntly, totally brilliant.

The turn of the new millennium was a turbulent period for Pet Shop Boys. They had pumped several years of hard work into the musical Closer to Heaven, which had been successful, but not particularly so. Then they reappeared with a new studio album Release in 2002, which although unique, full of catchy songs, and accompanied by one of the best tours they have done to date, failed to set the world alight. In fact, it wasn’t really until Fundamental (2005) that the fans seemed to start appreciating what they were doing again.

Which is a shame, as those five years yielded some of Pet Shop Boys‘ finest material. If you didn’t like Release then Disco 3 was exceptional. Then there was a definitive singles collection in the shape of PopArt, accompanied by two excellent new singles. Even after that, the soundtrack to Battleship Potemkin is one of the finest – and most overlooked – releases of their career.

PopArt, unless you bought it in the USA, doesn’t actually contain the single version, as it was edited and remixed slightly to make it phatter (I believe that’s the correct term). It’s a great single too, definitely well deserving of its place on the singles collection.

The one b-side I Didn’t Get Where I Am Today is yet another collaboration with Johnny Marr, and actually would have fitted nicely on Release, but is a typically great PSB b-side – definitely not single material, but far from forgettable.

The remix CD kicks off with an extended mix by Tomcraft, who helped out on the original and single versions too. It’s everything an extended version should be really – longer, and every bit as good.

The other remixes are a little less exciting – Scissor Sisters‘ Silhouettes and Shadows mix isn’t anywhere near as special as it probably ought to be, although the 21st century disco direction is a welcome one. Meanwhile DJ Hell‘s take on the single is good, but not really up to the standard of the original – actually the same can be said of his version of West End Girls which 12″ purchasers found on the b-side, but that does bring the iconic single into the 2000s in excellent form.

The remix disc closes with the demo version of the title track for anybody who had forgotten what it was meant to sound like originally. In a way it’s interesting to compare with the main track, as Tomcraft‘s production clearly tightened it up and made it more contemporary, but it really isn’t a million miles away in its original demo form. A great way to close an excellent single.

You can download CD1 of Flamboyant here. CD2 seems to have fallen offline for the time being unfortunately.

Sparks – Two Hands One Mouth (Live in Europe)

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A live show from Sparks is always going to be a treat – if nothing else they have a 45 year career to draw on, with – by their calculation – 22 albums’ worth of material. They’re also quite brilliant performers with a quite unique style.

So the release last year of Two Hands One Mouth (Live in Europe) was something of a treat, as we’ll see. Recorded in various cities across Europe in October 2012, it really is a rather glorious career retrospective and live show, rolled into one.

The performance begins with Sparks Overture, a somewhat manic medley of a number of Sparks‘ greatest hits from the last few decades. This then drifts into a very odd choice, Hospitality on Parade, the opening track from their 1975 album Indiscreet. As with much of their early output, it’s a gloriously theatrical song, but I can’t help thinking it’s a rather odd choice to open a live show.

Next is Metaphor, one of the best tracks from 2006’s Hello Young Lovers. As is so often the case with Sparks songs it’s an unlikely hit, but it’s also quite brilliant. Finally, after this they take a very brief break before launching into a brief acapella version of Propaganda, from the 1974 album of the same name, which leads into At Home, At Work, At Play from the same album.

The rather odd Sherlock Holmes comes next, taken from 1982’s Angst in My Pants album. This is, to say the least, an odd selection of tracks, and the general lack of singles up to this point could become a little wearing. Fortunately, next up is the exceptional Scissor Sisters-inspired Good Morning, delivered largely in a falsetto to great effect.

The theme of this tour was – like the title – two hands, one mouth, so the entirety is performed by Ron Mael on an electronic piano, and Russell Mael on vocals, and nobody else. Which is actually quite impressive when you think about it – to carry an entire show with just that must have been a pretty tough job. Without the visuals it’s difficult to know how well it worked, but on audio, it still makes for a great performance.

Some string backing turns up from somewhere for Under the Table with Her, again from Indiscreet, followed by the brilliant My Baby’s Taking Me Home from the more recent Lil’ Beethoven.

I wasn’t familiar with Singing in the Shower, but it seems to have been a 1988 collaboration with Les Rita Mitsouko, which might explain why. Quite how they picked it for inclusion here is unclear to me, but it actually fits incredibly well as part of the show, before the utterly bizarre The Wedding of Jacqueline Kennedy to Russell Mael. Sparks have long incorporated weird dramatic pieces into their shows, but this one takes the biscuit…

Also no doubt mystifying to some is the six minute or so series of excerpts from the most recent album The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman, but as a brief summary of a brilliant album, I’m going to say it fits rather well in here.

After this, the second half of the show concentrates in earnest on delivering the hits – Dick Around from Hello Young Lovers followed by the legendary Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth and of course This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us. These are, for the most part, songs which work particularly well in the two hands, one mouth format without needing hordes of backing singers or additional instrumentation. Needless to say, they sound incredible.

In particular, the tracks from Lil’ Beethoven work well, so the pairing of the brilliant The Rhythm Thief and Suburban Homeboy is both welcome and brilliant. When Do I Get to Sing “My Way”, The Number One Song in Heaven and Beat the Clock are, by necessity, more creative interpretations, but they work well too.

Finally, the show closes with a completely new track, Two Hands One Mouth, which has some typically bizarre lyrics about clowns and Anna Karenina. It’s a typically great track though, and actually closes the show rather well. And, like the whole album, serves as a worthwhile reminder that a Sparks show is a very special thing indeed.

You might have to look for actual olde-fashioned physical formats if you want Two Hands One Mouth, but it’s still widely available from stores such as Amazon.