DUA LIPA WINS BIG
AT THE BRITS

Dua Lipa won a pair of Brit Awards Tuesday, while Little Mix became the first female ensemble to win the British Group Award in its 41-year history and Billie Eilish was named International Female Artist for the second year in a row.

Warner Records’ Lipa took home the evening’s big prize, Mastercard Album of the Year, as well as the Female Solo Artist title. She also provided the evening’s first full-scale performance, working her way from the tube to the O2 Arena stage with an army of dancers as she high-stepped through a medley of “Physical,” “Hallucinate” and “Don’t Start Now.”

The ceremony was the first major event at the O2 Arena in more than a year, presented to a socially distanced audience of frontline workers.

Impressive performances came from young British acts such as Headie One (“Ain’t It Different”), with AJ Tracey as his guest, and Breakthrough Artist Arlo Parks (“Hope”), plus Olivia Rodrigo, who did “drivers license.”

But it was a surprise performance from Elton John and Years and Years’ Olly Alexander that had the audience buzzing. The two paid tribute to the recent TV series about life during the HIV/AIDSA crisis, It’s a Sin, by performing the song that supplied its title, the Pet Shop Boys hit from 1987. The performance was immediately released as a fundraiser for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

On the international front, The Weeknd and Haim were crowned as winners along with Eilish. The Weeknd’s “Save Your Tears” was one of two performances mounted inside the arena; Coldplay’s show-opener on a barge in the Thames was the other.

The Haim sisters, who were in attendance, seemed truly astonished to be receiving an award (International Group), but hey, third time's a charm, right? They thanked the Polydor and Full Stop teams in addition to their parents. Fellow Full Stop client Harry Styles nabbed the British Single trophy.

Taylor Swift, who won her lone Brit Award in 2015, received the Global Icon Award. Like Haim, she spoke about her history with U.K. fans and the acceptance she has felt across the pond. She also spoke to the young artists in the crowd, urging them to persevere whenever they hit turbulence.

“There is no career path that comes without negativity,” she said. “If you’re met with resistance, it means you’re doing something new. There might be times when you put your whole heart into something and you’re met with cynicism and skepticism. Remember, you have the right to prove them wrong.”

The Winners (in bold)

Female Solo Artist
Dua Lipa
Arlo Parks
Celeste
Lianne La Havas
Jesse Ware

Mastercard Album
Dua Lipa, Future Nostalgia (Warner Records)
Arlo Parks, Collapsed in Sunbeams (Transgressive)
Celeste, Not Your Muse (Polydor)
Jessie Ware, What’s Your Pleasure? (EMI)
J Hus, Big Conspiracy (Black Butter)

Male Solo Artist
AJ Tracey
Yungblud
Joel Corry
J Hus
Headie One

Breakthrough Artist
Arlo Parks
Celeste
Young T & Bugsey
Bicep
Joel Corry

British Single
Dua Lipa, “Physical” (Warner Records)
Young T & Bugsey, “Don’t Rush” (Black Butter)
Aitch and AJ Tracey f/Tay Keith, “Rain” (NQ/Virgin)
Headie One f/AJ Tracey and Stormzy, “Ain’t It Different” (Relentless)
Joel Corry f/MNEK, “Head & Heart” (Asylum)
220 Kid & Gracey, “Don’t Need Love” (Polydor)
Nathan Dawe f/KSI, “Lighter” (Atlantic)
Regard & Raye, “Secrets” (Ministry of Sound)
Harry Styles, “Watermelon Sugar” (Columbia)
S1mba f/DTG, “Rover” (Parlophone)

British Group
The 1975
Little Mix
Bicep
Biffy Clyro

International Group
BTS
Run the Jewels
Fontaines D.C.
Foo Fighters
Haim

International Female
Ariana Grande
Billie Eilish
Cardi B
Miley Cyrus
Taylor Swift

International Male
The Weeknd
Childish Gambino
Tame Impala
Burna Boy
Bruce Springsteen

A powerful message from @DUALIPA tonight 🙌💙 #BRITs pic.twitter.com/KwP7tOr5dE

— BRIT Awards (@BRITs) May 11, 2021