2014 BRIT AWARDS:
ANOTHER BRITISH INVASION?
Anglo-American relations are on shaky ground, if the BRIT Awards are any indication. Held Wednesday night in London, the show honored a slew of Brits, from U.K. legend David Bowie and seasoned vets Arctic Monkeys to potent newcomers Bastille and Sam Smith. Bruno Mars wound up as the lone Yank winner; France was robotically represented by Daft Punk. The transatlantic stars, though, were duly feted, with double winners One Direction and Arctic Monkeys, U.K./U.S. band of the moment Bastille, and loyal British subject Lorde.
Accepting the Monkeys’ third Best British Group trophy, Alex Turner deadpanned, "There’s the 15 quid we put on One Direction to win down the drain." The Monkeys frontman later turned more serious, noting, "Rock & roll, it seems like it has faded away sometimes, but it will never die."
The U.S. dominated the evening’s performances, with Beyoncé, Katy Perry, Bruno and the show-closing combo of Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers sharing the stage with the Arctic Monkeys and Lorde, who sang "Royals" backed by Disclosure.
In the night’s coolest move, Bowie had avant-supermodel Kate Moss, in full-on Ziggy Stardust costumery, haughtily accepting the sci-fi-looking trophy in his absence. CMG, with Bastille and Sam Smith, continues to build momentum early in its second year, while Columbia perpetuates its proud two-track heritage with Bowie on the one hand, 1D on the other...and Daft Punk in the middle. And how about that badass indie Domino, the Monkeys’ one and only label for more than a decade?
Is there typically a BRIT spike over there, paralleling the Grammy spike over here? We have no clue, obviously, but we intend to find out, dammit.
British Female — Ellie Goulding
International Female — Lorde
British Male — David Bowie
International Male — Bruno Mars
British Group — Arctic Monkeys (three-time winners)
British Breakthrough Act — Bastille
Critics’ Choice — Sam Smith
Global Success — One Direction
British Single — Rudimental, "Waiting All Night"
International Group — Daft Punk
British Album — Arctic Monkeys, AM
British Video — One Direction, "Best Song Ever"
British Producer of the Year — Flood & Alan Moulder
