The sophisticated pop rock band The 1975 was the big winner at the 2019 Brit Awards. The 1975, known for its long, intriguing titles, remember the songs, I Like It When You Sleep For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It or The Ballad Of Me And My Brain For A Song, was named British Group of the Year while its big selling album aimed at millenial listeners, also with a long title, A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships, won as the Mastercard British Album of the Year.
The 1975 is composed of Matthew Healy, vocalist and producer; George Daniel, drummer and producer; Adam Hann, guitarist; and Ross MacDonald, bassist, who got together to form a band when they were only 15 years old. They have since progressed into producing what is indeed their best work. The ear-pleasing ABIIOR is filled with perky, amusing songs that see the group dipping into various pop forms including jazz and EDM. Best tracks are It’s Not Living If It’s Not With You, Give Yourself A Try and Sincerity Is Scary.
Hugh Jackman —AP
Also a winner was the lovely and exciting Dua Lipa who went home with the British Single of the Year trophy for One Kiss. Her followers loved it all the more and were screaming like mad during her performance of the same song with DJ Calvin Harris and dancers in a forest setting. That was quite a feat in what is usually a laid-back awards night.
The Brit cements Dua Lipa’s stature as the big pop star of the moment. It will make a nice companion to the two little gramophones she won a few weeks ago for Best New Artist and for Best Dance Recording of Electricity with Silk City, featuring Diplo and Mark Ronson at the Grammy Awards. Incidentally, she shares the Brit win with the evening’s other big winner, producer Calvin, who was also named as Producer of the Year at the Brits.
The prestigious Brits Awards is the UK’s annual event to honor achievements in popular music. It was held last Feb. 20 at the 02 Arena in London, England. It was hosted by comedian Jack Whitehall, who roasted everybody, including the winners of the International Categories who did not bother to show up but to be nice, sent their “thank yous” on video. The show was shorter than most awards nights and featured only a few musical numbers but was fun to watch just the same.
The show was opened with a big production number featuring Hugh Jackman singing The Greatest Show from The Greatest Showman. The soundtrack of the motion picture was the UK’s biggest selling album for 2018. It was a hard act to follow but the other performers did just fine.
Among them were Sam Smith, George Ezra, Little Mix, Jorja Smith, Jess Glynne, H.E.R., The 1975 and the great cap to an entertaining show, a medley of her recent hit songs, Just Give Me A Reason, Try, What About Us, Just Like Fire and Walk Me Home by Pink, this year’s honoree for Oustanding Contribution to Music.
Dua Lipa — AFP
Here is the honor roll of the Brits Awards 2019:
•British Female Solo Artist (in association with YouTube Music): Jorja Smith
•British Male Solo Artist (in association with YouTube Music): George Ezra
•British Group: The 1975
•British Breakthrough Act: Tom Walker.
•Mastercard British Album of The Year: The 1975, A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships
•British Single of the Year: Dua Lipa & Calvin Harris, One Kiss
•British Artist Video Award: Little Mix ft. Nicki Minaj, Woman Like Me
•International Male Solo Artist: Drake
•International Female Solo Artist: Ariana Grande
•International Group: The Carters, which just in case you are not aware of it, is made up of Jay-Z and wifey Beyoncé Knowles, who decided to bill themselves as The Carters for their latest album, Everything Is Love with the big hits single APES**T.
•Outstanding Contribution to Music: Pink.