Brit Awards 2012: The Review

My review of the 2012 Brit Award ceremony:

Awards:

Best British Male:
Nominees:
Ed Sheeran
James Blake
James Morrison
Noel Gallagher
Professor Green
Winner = Ed Sheeran
One of the results I was least happy with. Even though I respect the fact that Ed Sheeran has broken through, his album wasn't a patch on Noel Gallagher's fantastic solo debut.
Decision = Bad




Best British Female:
Nominees:
Adele
Florence
Jessie J
Kate Bush
Laura Marling
Winner = Adele
Probably the strongest category in the Brits this year. Although many people it was Adele's for the taking (which was true in the end), there wasn't a nominee in the category who didn't deserve the award. So whoever won the award I would be happy with (even though I was secretly rooting for Kate Bush on the night).
Decision = Good



Best British Breakthrough Act:
Nominees:
Anna Calvi
Ed Sheeran
Emeli Sande
Jessie J
The Vaccines
Winner = Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran is probably the definition of breakthrough act in the UK right now. From starting out as a guitar technician for folk band Nizlopi to selling nearly a million copies of his debut album worldwide, it was right that Sheeran should win the award. The other nominees - Anna Calvi who hasn't really broken through in terms of the mainstream BRIT Awards; Emeli Sande who won the Critics Choice Award that evening and Jessie J who had broken through a long time ago (her debut single went to number 2 in 2010) meant that it was even more right that Ed Sheeran should win the award. The only other act who deserved it is The Vaccines, who I personally thought deserved to win. However Ed Sheeran has definitely broken through.
Decision = OK

Best British Group:
Nominees:
Arctic Monkeys
Chase & Status
Coldplay
Elbow
Kasabian
Winner = Coldplay
Being a huge fan of the new Kasabian record and being overwhelmed with how good Arctic Monkeys were when I saw them live in October, I was a bit disappointed when Coldplay took the gong for Best British Band. Although I am a fan of Coldplay and like their new album, I think Kasabian's album is much better and that Arctic Monkeys are a better band live.
Decision = OK

Best British Single:
Nominees:
Adele - Someone Like You
Ed Sheeran - The A Team
Example - Changed The Way You Kissed Me
Jessie J - Price Tag
JlS - She Makes Me Wanna
Military Wives - Wherever You Are
Olly Murs - Heart Skips A Beat
One Direction -What Makes You Beautiful
Pixie Lott - All About Tonight
The Wanted - Glad You Came
Winner = One Direction - What Makes You Beautiful
Even though Adele's colossal hit single 'Someone Like You' was in the running, it's no real surprise that 1D took the gong in the end due to their massive fan base. Whether you like One Direction or their fans is a completely different story but what I'm annoyed about is the actual song itself which won the award. I'm not saying it's a bad song by any means - but the best British single of 2011? The song which has defined the year? No. In previous years, such classics songs as Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' and Procul Harlem's 'Whiter Shade Of Pale' have won this award. Now personally I don't think any of the songs in this years category can match that standard, but in the last 30 years pop songs which are still being sung in karaoke bars up and down the country, such as 'Karma Chamleon'; 'Never Gonna Give You Up' and 'Angels'. Do I see 'What Makes You Beautiful' being remembered in 20 or even just 10 years time? No.
Decision = Bad

Best British Album:
Nominees:
Adele - 21
Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto
Ed Sheeran - +
Florence + The Machine - Ceremonials
PJ Harvey - Let England Shake
Winner = Adele - 21
Obvious really.
Decision = Good

Best International Male:
Nominees:
Aloe Blacc
Bon Iver
Bruno Mars
David Guetta
Ryan Adams
Winner = Bruno Mars
Not one of the strongest categories to be honest. Should've been a close call between the talents of Bon Iver and Ryan Adams but no this is the mainstream Brit Awards so it was between Bruno Mars and David Guetta.  It came down to the fact that Mars was performing on the night so he got the award.
Decision = OK

Best International Female:
Nominees:
Beyonce
Bjork
Feist
Lady Gaga
Rihanna
Winner = Rihanna
Again same as Best International Male, a toss up between three pop heavyweights. Rihanna performed on the night - she took home the gong.
Decision = OK

Best International Breakthrough Act:
Nominees:
Aloe Blacc
Bon Iver
Foster The People
Lana Del Rey
Nicki Minaj
Winner = Lana Del Rey
Not a bad category compared to last year which contained Justin Bieber and Glee. For the Brits, Best International Breakthrough Act comes down who has made the most impact. It was then clearly an obvious choice for a woman who made the most breathtaking breakthrough single of last year.
Decision = Good

Best International Group:
Nominees:
Fleet Foxes
Foo Fighters
Jay Z & Kanye West
Lady Antebellum
Maroon 5
Winner =  Foo Fighters
Probably the results which I was most satisfied with. Foo Fighters thoroughly deserved to win after releasing an incredible album last year, 'Wasting Light'. Was just a shame that the Foos weren't there in person to collect the award in person.
Decision = Good

Conclusion
It was quite sad to think that in previous years bullets have been fired into the audience; buckets of water chucked over politicians and stage invasions have taken place at the Brit Awards, but this year the most controversial moment was when Adele's speech was cut short. Coldplay opened the show well with their best song in recent memory 'Charlie Brown' and then Florence + The Machine came onstage shortly after to perform a jaw dropping rendition of 'No Light No Light'. After that the ceremony became boring predictable and cringe worthy at some points (Olly Murs' live performance was diabolical to say the least).
Overall it was quite an average and predictable BRIT Awards.