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So with a new year comes a new set of nominees for the prestigious Brit Awards. As a whole, I still believe the Brits offer accolation and acknowledgement for hard working British artists and they award musical originality with nominations at least, these can do incredible amounts for an artist in terms of commercial success and gained exposure. Despite certain awards such as Best British Single now being voted by the public, it is still believed the Barclaycard Album of the Year holds an amount of scholar with past winners including the debuts from Arctic Monkeys & Florence + the Machine.
Best British Female
Ellie Goulding appears for the first time since 2011 after being snubbed last year due to the commercial failing of ‘Halcyon’. However post ‘Burn’ she appears three times on the category list. Laura Mvula also picks up a deserved nod after ‘Sing to the Moon’ performed spectacularly well throughout 2013. Jessie J, the Brits one night stand who just won’t leave picks up a nomination despite ‘It’s My Party’ being possibly the worst song of the decade. Laura Marling gains another deserved nomination to add to her impressive collection for the masterful ‘Once I Was an Eagle’ and completing the group is 17 year old Birdy who gains recognition for a polished second release.
Should win: Laura Marling
Will win: Ellie Goulding
Best British Male
David Bowie is nominated because he’s David Bowie, obviously. The personification of the colour beige Jake Bugg also gets a nod as well as gurn almighty Tom Odell who thinks that aggressively hunching over a piano and swishing your fringe makes you a ‘serious’ musician. John Newman picks up a nomination in both this category and the singles after scoring two number ones in the UK last year with ‘Tribute’ and ‘Love Me Again’. The obvious winner is James Blake, having triumphed at the Mercurys with ‘Overgrown’, a Brit would solidify his reputation as one of the most exciting British acts around.
Should win: David Bowie
Will win: James Blake
British Group
Arctic Monkeys return to the Brits following a long break, due to the successes of ‘AM’, they will face new comers Bastille who have picked up a nomination in an impressive four categories. Another fresh talent picking up equal nomination is brother duo Disclosure who helped in revival of commercial trance in 2013. Completing the line up is Simon Cowell’s five headed cash cow and Rudimental. Yeah, not a difficult category.
Should win: Arctic Monkeys
Will win: Arctic Monkeys
British Breakthrough
This is voted for by the public so Bastille will walk it. They have to contend with Laura Mvula, London Grammar, Tom Odell and Disclosure.
Should win: London Grammar
Will win: Bastille
British Single
Another award voted by the public, usually the listeners of Capital FM so the scrotes that are One Direction will probably get another Brit award which will probably be mentioned as one of them enters Celebrity Big Brother in five years time.
Should win: Disclosure
Will win: One Direction
Best International Female
A strange collection of nominees again, Katy Perry is recognised for a relatively successful third album whilst Lorde gains a nomination for monotonous ‘Royals’. Lady Gaga scrapes just one nomination for Artflop, as does Pink for her far more successful ‘Truth About Love’.
Should win: Janelle Monáe
Will win: Katy Perry
Best International Male
Justin Timberlake was basically been everyone’s favourite person in 2013 so they should just give him the trophy now and skip over the award.
Should win: Eminem
Will win: Justin Timberlake
International Group
This is the only category that is quite difficult to judge, as one would imagine Daft Punk would just walk it, however their strength lies solely in ‘Get Lucky’ whereas Arcade Fire are also contenders after charted at #1 in the UK with ‘Reflektor’ and having had two Brit wins in 2011, I could see a shock. There is also newcomers Haim who also achieved #1 with their debut matching up against Kings of Leon who achieved their fourth UK #1 with ‘Mechanical Bull’.
Should win: Haim
Will win: Arcade Fire
MasterCard British Album of the Year
The award that holds the most credibility at the ceremony has a surprisingly weak nominations list. You have the iconic David Bowie ruling over three fairly well constructed debuts from Bastille, Disclosure and Rudimental. The obvious winner however is Arctic Monkeys, having won this award twice already, the band return to form six years later and I believe the Brits will recognise this.
Should win: Disclosure
Will win: Arctic Monkeys
Acts that shouldn’t have been ignored:
London Grammar – British Group
M.I.A – Best British Female (seriously, Jessie J is there)
The 1975 – Best British Breakthrough
Vampire Weekend – International Group (fuck Macklemore)
British Album of the Year – Daughter
