Adele reigned supreme at this year’s Brit Awards, the British equivalent of the Grammys. The singer took home four of the night’s top prizes, including best British single, female solo artist, and album of the year. She also won the night’s “Global Success” award.
“I’m really sorry about swearing earlier, and I’m sorry for the ugly cry face,” she said during one of several acceptance speeches scattered throughout the night. Her four-award haul is the most wins for any individual act since 1995, when Blur took home four Brit Awards.
A slew of big names took the stage for live performances during the ceremony, held Wednesday night at London’s O2 Arena. Coldplay kicked off the show with “Hymn for the Weekend,” which they performed against a backdrop of colored flowers. The band won for best British group for the fourth time, making them the most successful act in the category’s history.
Justin Bieber won for best international male solo artist, and performed a flame-heavy rendition of “Love Yourself” and “Sorry.” A crew of dancers moved around a giant bonfire onstage, against a video projection of an oversized moon, while Bieber sang. “Man, I’m shaking a little bit right now,” he said, on accepting the award.
Rihanna gave a futuristic performance of “Work,” from her recent album “ANTI,” wearing a white crop top and fringe-covered flare pants. A grid of laser lights played over her and her cadre of backup dancers, in an act which also included an appearance by Drake.
Björk accepted the award for best international female solo artist by video, in a headdress which partially obscured her face. James Bay, who also performed “Hold Back the River” onstage, won for best British male solo artist, while Australian band Tame Impala won for best international group. Catfish and the Bottlemen took home the award for best British breakthrough act.
The night was full of shout outs, with Coldplay dedicating its win to musicians in refugee camps, and Adele recognizing Kesha during her first acceptance speech. “I’d also like to take this moment to publically support Kesha,” she said.
Later, accepting her “Global Success” award, a crying Adele thanked her fans. “I got really lost for a while, I didn’t know if I’d ever come back,” she said. She accepted the award by video from astronaut Tim Peake, whom she also thanked. “I hope you’re ok, and not too hungry!” she said.
But the night’s biggest tribute went to David Bowie, who received a special posthumous award presented by Annie Lennox to his friend Gary Oldman. Lennox called Bowie, who died earlier this year, a “cutting-edge artistic genius” and “the ultimate iconoclast.” “His outlook was always positive and I never once heard him complain,” said Oldman. “I can share with you that David faced his illness with enormous courage, dignity, grace and customary humor.”
Bowie’s touring band performed a medley of his songs, while Lorde received a standing ovation for a cover of “Life on Mars,” which she sang wearing what looked like a Bowie-inspired white dress shirt and black vest. The awards themselves, by fashion designer Pam Hogg, carried a Ziggy Stardust theme, with tiny metallic stars at their bases.
Adele closed the night with a glitch-free rendition of “When We Were Young,” performed before a backdrop of glittering panels resembling one of Yayoi Kusama’s mirrored “Infinity Rooms.” “You remind me of when I was young, you lot down there,” she said between lyrics, to the audience.
Source: Wall Street Journal
