This was Charli XCX’s massive evening. Finest artist, greatest album, greatest track, and extra.
The Brat singer took house 5 awards in complete, together with the songwriter of the 12 months prize introduced forward of the ceremony.
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Pic: Reuters
Elsewhere, final 12 months’s record-breaking Brits winner Raye took house the very best RnB act prize, and there have been additionally awards for Sam Fender, Fontaines DC and former Little Combine star Jade, who gave a shout-out to her bandmates in her acceptance speech.
As ordinary, there have been a number of memorable moments all through the ceremony. Beginning with the opener…
Espresso/ Rule Britannia
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Pic: Reuters
Sabrina Carpenter understood the task. Assume Geri Halliwell’s Union Jack tea towel costume in 1996, Dua Lipa’s tube arrival in 2021. The British stars know we like to see the UK celebrated, however US star Sabrina Carpenter may have been forgiven for going with out the pomp and ceremony.
However no. She actually did her homework.
Carrying a pink sparkly military-style blazer costume and strolling down an aisle lit up with the Union flag, the star was adopted by dancing Beefeaters as she launched into Espresso. A mash-up into Rule Britannia adopted, earlier than she moved on to carry out a cheeky rendition of Mattress Chem.
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Selfies on the pink carpet
The star later went on to gather the worldwide success award – introduced by none aside from music icon Diana Ross, who livestreamed into the ceremony from a present in New York.
Accumulating the prize on stage, Carpenter recalled coming to the UK for the primary time 10 years in the past when she stated solely about 10 folks knew who she was. Subsequent week, she’s again on the O2 Enviornment to headline.
The Espresso singer added: “The Brits have given me this award, and this feels like such an insane honour in a very primarily tea-drinking country… you really understood my dry sense of humour because your sense of humour is so, so dry. So I love y’all more than you even understand.”
Calls to avoid wasting the grassroots
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Myles Smith picked up the rising star prize. Pic: PA
Rising star winner Myles Smith could also be a newcomer to the Brit Awards, however he wasn’t afraid to make use of the stage to let his ideas on the state of the music trade be recognized.
The 26-year-old, who carried out his songs Good To Meet You and Stargazing, informed the viewers that whereas he had the “attention of the nation” he needed to ask three questions, along with his first to the federal government.
“If British music is one of the most powerful cultural exports we have, why have you treated it like an afterthought for so many years?” he stated. “How many more venues need to close? How many more music programmes need to be cut before we realise that we can’t just celebrate success, you have to protect the foundations that make it?”
Smith went on to query main venues: “If artists selling out your arenas and your stadiums started in grassroots venues, what are you doing to keep them alive?”
Lastly, “to the execs in the room, and to the people behind the scenes”, he requested: “Are we building careers or are we just chasing moments?”
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Ezra Collective backstage with their award. Pic: PA
In November final 12 months, plans had been introduced for a voluntary levy on tickets for concert events at stadiums and arenas to assist fund grassroots venues after the closures of excessive numbers in recent times.
Femi Koleoso of Ezra Collective additionally spoke concerning the significance of nurturing younger artists because the jazz group collected the group of the 12 months award, saying they’re the place they’re now “because of the great youth clubs, and the great teachers and the great schools that support young people playing music”.
Bass participant Georgia Davies, of indie group The Final Dinner Occasion, additionally spoke concerning the significance of saving impartial music venues.
“We wouldn’t be a band, and a lot of the artists here would not be bands either, without the UK’s incredible independent venues, and they are the lifeblood of the music industry and they are dying,” she stated, because the band collected the very best new artist award.
Jack Whitehall’s return
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Pic: PA
It has been 4 years since comic Jack Whitehall was final on the helm of the Brits.
He made his comeback with gags about Stormzy – “the grime scene’s Ronald McDonald”, in gentle of his controversial collaboration with the quick meals chain – and dynamic pricing, following the ticket sale for the Oasis reunion gigs introduced final 12 months.
Whitehall’s jokes additionally included a skit sending up Kanye West and Bianca Censori’s notorious Grammy pink carpet look final month, when Censori dropped her coat to indicate an extremely revealing costume and no underwear.
This time spherical, it was Whitehall’s mother and father, Michael and Hilary, making ready to shock the paps.
“It’s nothing you haven’t seen before, Jack,” his mum shouted.
Stormzy does not agree with fan vote
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Pic: PA
The rapper was named greatest hip-hop/ grime act, one of many style awards that are voted for by the general public.
Carrying sun shades on stage, he informed the viewers he had damage his eye taking part in padel.
The 31-year-old stated that whereas he was grateful to the Brits and people who had voted, he didn’t “entirely” agree with the way in which the style prizes are chosen.
“I don’t entirely think this award should be fan-voted,” Stormzy stated. “I don’t think any of the awards should be fan-voted, not on a controversial one. I don’t know, sometimes I think it doesn’t let people have their moments.
“I believe Cench (Central Cee) was the rap artist of the 12 months, however this stuff do not outline us as a lot as they’re wonderful and we love them. I am very grateful to the Brits, and I am grateful to the general public.”
Chappell Roan’s tribute
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Chappell Roan, pictured on the Grammy Awards in February. Pic: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
In addition to Charli XCX and Carpenter, it was a giant evening for US star Chappell Roan, who received the awards for greatest worldwide artist and greatest worldwide track, for Good Luck, Babe!
The singer couldn’t attend the ceremony however recorded acceptance speeches, and devoted her artist award to trans artists, drag queens, vogue college students, intercourse employees and the late Sinead O’Connor.
“Thank you to my team and my fans all over the world, but especially to my UK girlies, you have been there since day one, and Chappell Roan was born through experiencing queer joy,” she stated.
“It’s so special, I had to write an entire album about it. I dedicate this to trans artists, to drag queens, to fashion students, sex workers and Sinead O’Connor. Because of all those people, they have laid the groundwork for me to be here today.”
‘So many wonderful reminiscences of Liam’
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Pic: PA
Whitehall stated the Brits needed to pay tribute to Liam Payne, who was somebody who performed such an enormous half within the present over time.
The 31-year-old died in October, after falling from a resort balcony in Argentina.
Paying tribute, Whitehall stated Payne had “achieved so much in the short time that he was on this Earth, and was not only a supremely gifted musician, but an incredibly kind soul who touched the lives of everyone he came into contact with”.
He continued: “We have so many amazing memories of Liam here at the Brits, so tonight we celebrate his legacy.”
A video was then performed exhibiting clips of the singer along with his household, in addition to footage from his time as a contestant on The X Issue and with One Path.
Payne received seven awards with One Path through the band’s time collectively, and likewise carried out on the occasion when he launched his solo profession.
