Chart-topping Adele gets emotional with big Brit Awards win

LONDON — A tearful Adele was crowned queen of the British music scene — and banished memories of Grammy Awards sound glitches — with four prizes and a soulful performance at the Brit Awards on Wednesday.

“Not bad for a girl from Tottenham that don’t like flying,” said the North London-born singer as she accepted the Global Success Award.

The world-conquering diva also took trophies for British female solo artist of the year; British single of the year, for lovelorn ballad “Hello”; and album of the year for 15 million copy-selling “25.”

Adele has seen “25” — her first album in almost five years — top charts around the world, though her performance at last week’s Grammy Awards was unsettled when a microphone fell into a piano during the tender song “All I Ask.”

There were no such glitches Wednesday during her performance of “When We Were Young,” though the singer choked up as she accepted the Global Success award — presented by astronaut Tim Peake from the International Space Station.

“You’re getting … bored of me,” she quipped, accidentally slipping an expletive into the live telecast.

“I got really lost for a while — I didn’t know if I’d ever come back,” she added. “And for you all to be so kind to me…”

Later she apologized for losing her composure.

“I’m really sorry for the ugly crying face,” she said.

Adele also sent a message of public support to “Tik Tok” singer Kesha, who is fighting to get out of a contract with record producer Dr. Luke, who she says sexually assaulted her.

The Brits ceremony, performed to music-industry figures and thousands of fans at London’s O2 Arena, also featured performances from Coldplay, Justin Bieber and Rihanna — joined onstage by Drake for a sultry “Work.”

Singer-songwriter James Bay was named best British male solo artist, while Bieber was named best international male artist. The 21-year-old Canadian star, who has endured some wayward behavior and scrapes with the law, thanked his fans, saying “everybody has their own journey. Everybody has their ups and downs.”

The prize for best British group went to dependable crowd-pleasers Coldplay. Singer Chris Martin dedicated the award “to all the young men and women musicians in refugee camps around the world. We could be them and they could be us.”

The awards — which celebrate international as well as British acts — have been accused of failing to represent the industry’s ethnic diversity, in an echo of the debate raging around the Academy Awards. All the British nominees this year were white.

Singer Jack Garratt, who won the critics’ choice prize, said “it is a shame that half of U.K. music has been somehow forgotten about.”

Awards organizer the British Phonographic Industry has promised to look at how nominees and winners are selected, and has announced a new advisory committee made up of black and ethnic minority music-industry figures.

U.S. band Eagles Of Death Metal, whose concert was targeted in the November Paris attacks, lost out to Australia’s Tame Impala in the international group category.

Before the show, Eagles singer Jesse Hughes thanked everyone who had supported the band, which returned to the Paris stage last week, three months after Islamic extremists massacred 89 people during the band’s show at the Bataclan theater.

“The reception we’ve received since coming back to Europe has truly been humbling and has helped us get back to doing what we do — playing kick-ass butt-shaking rock ‘n’ roll music,” he said.

The Brits were once renowned for chaos, enlivened by incidents including a 1992 stunt in which British band the KLF left a dead sheep at the after-show dinner.

The ceremony has been transformed in recent years into a slick, often predictable, talent showcase — though Madonna gave audiences a shock last year when she got tangled in her flowing cape and tumbled off the stage mid-performance.

This year’s show was short on surprises — apart from Bjork beating bigger-selling artists to female international artist of the year — but strong on spectacle, with an opening number featuring dozens of dancers in red helmets and skirts that suggested flamenco centurions.

Jets of flame erupted liberally during Bieber’s performance of “Sorry.”

“I thought you were going to set us all on fire, Justin,” said Adele.

Singer Annie Lennox and actor Gary Oldman paid homage to David Bowie, who died last month aged 69, before a musical tribute by New Zealand singer Lorde and Bowie’s touring band.

“It’s almost impossible to mention Bowie’s name in the past tense,” Lennox said.

“The legend of his extraordinary sound shall be revered for as long as the Earth shall spin.”

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Taylor Swift wins top Grammy Award, Kendrick Lamar wins 5

LOS ANGELES—Taylor Swift’s official switch from country to pop with her multi-hit, best-selling “1989” album brought the singer her second Grammy Award win for album of the year.

Swift was shocked when she won the night’s top prize, beating out Kendrick Lamar, Chris Stapleton, Alabama Shakes and the Weeknd. Swift used her speech to encourage young women who feel defeated at times or discouraged by others.

“There are going to people out there that try to undercut your success or take credit for your fame … you don’t let those people sidetrack (you),” she said.

Swift won Grammy album of the year for “Fearless” in 2009. She won three awards Monday, including best pop vocal album and best music video for “Bad Blood,” at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Alabama Shakes also won three awards, though Lamar was the night’s big winner with five.

He won best rap album for “To Pimp a Butterfly” as well as rap performance, rap song, rap/sung performance and music video. Along with his wins, Lamar also had a show-stopping moment when he took the stage.

He started as he appeared beaten, in handcuffs, with chains around his hands and a bruise on his eyes. He went on to fuse rap, jazz, reggae and African sounds for a commanding performance as he rapped “The Blacker the Berry” and the Grammy-nominated “Alright” passionately. He ended with a map of Africa, and the city of Compton imprinted in it.

“Hip-hop, Ice Cube, this for hip-hop, this for Snoop Dogg …this for Nas. We will live forever, believe that,” said Lamar onstage when he won best rap album.

Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars won two awards for “Uptown Funk,” including record of the year. Ronson gave a shout-out to Prince, James Brown and George Clinton for being leaders in funk.

“This is dedicated to the fans right here,” Mars added.

Mars introduced Adele, who sang “All I Ask,” which they wrote together for her new album “25.” She was accompanied with a piano behind her, but the audio sounded off and appeared to throw off her performance.

“There was a brief 5-8 second technical issue that was out of our control,” a CBS spokesperson said.

Justin Bieber started “Love Yourself” on guitar in good form, but ended with a vocal struggle. Little Big Town and Demi Lovato, however, had shining moments during their performances, hitting impressive and smooth high notes.

But Bieber also had a shining moment: He won his first Grammy on Monday night for best dance recording for “Where Are U Now” with Skrillex and Diplo.

The Grammys also marked first-time wins for Alabama Shakes, the Weeknd, Stapleton, Pitbull and Ed Sheeran, who won song of the year for “Thinking out Loud.”

“We wrote it on a couch in my house,” he said of his hit song he wrote with Amy Wadge, which also won him best pop solo performance.

Alabama Shakes’ three wins included best alternative music album for “Sound & Color,” as well as rock song and rock performance for “Don’t Wanna Fight,” which they performed.

“My heart is beating a mile a minute,” said frontwoman Brittany Howard. “I promise we’re going to keep going.”

The Weeknd, who won two awards, performed in a cube that was brightly lit for “Can’t Feel My Face” until he switched to piano-tinged version of his upbeat hit “In the Night.” Stapleton, who has written for dozens of country acts, won best country album for “Traveller.”

“This is something you never ever dream of so I’m super grateful for it,” he said.

Stapleton walked in with four nominations, including album of the year, but lost best country song to “Girl Crush.”

The night featured touching tributes: Lady Gaga was in David Bowie-inspired makeup and gear as she ran through 10 of the icon’s hits, including “Space Oddity,” ”Changes,” ”Fame,” ”Let’s Dance” and “Heroes.”



B.B. King was remembered with a rousing performance by Chris Stapleton, Gary Clark. Jr and Bonnie Raitt — all on guitar and vocals — with “The Thrill Is Gone.”

The Hollywood Vampires, a supergroup of Johnny Deep, Alice Cooper and Joe Perry, performed in their first televised performance and honored Motorhead’s Lemmy Kilmister. Stevie Wonder, joined with Grammy-winning a capella group Pentatonix, sang “That’s the Way of the World” in honor of Earth, Wind & Fire’s Maurice White, while members of the Eagles and Jackson Browne sang “Take It Easy” for Glenn Frey at the Staples Center.

Collaborative performances were one of the themes of the Grammys: Carrie Underwood sang with Sam Hunt; Ellie Goulding and Andra Day performed; and while Lovato, Legend, Luke Bryan and Tyrese sang with Lionel Richie to honor the icon.

Rihanna, who was supposed to perform near the top of the show, couldn’t due to doctor’s orders.

“Rihanna’s doctor put her on vocal rest for 48 hours because she was at risk of hemorrhaging her vocal chords,” a statement from her representative read.

Swift kicked off the Grammys with performance of her latest hit single, “Out of the Woods,”

Meghan Trainor, who was nominated for two Grammys last year for “All About That Bass,” won best new artist.

“Thank you to the Grammys, I love you so much,” said a teary-eyed Trainor, who also thanked her parents and Epic Records CEO L.A. Reid.

Other winners include D’Angelo, Kirk Franklin and Jason Isbell.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net