Emeli Sande wins big at predictable BRIT awards

Scottish singer Emeli Sande won the coveted best album honour at the BRIT Awards on Wednesday for Our Version of Events, confirming her status as the favourite going into British pop’s big night of the year.

The 25-year-old, who received a major boost by appearing at the Olympics opening and closing ceremonies last summer, also picked up the best British female artist on a night of few surprises in terms of winners and on-stage antics.

Sande capped her success by performing a medley of Clown and Next to Me to close the ceremony, broadcast live on commercial channel ITV.

Speaking backstage following her closing song, Sande said that 2012 had proved that leaving a career in medicine to pursue music had been the right choice.

“I feel over the moon,” she said. “It’s a dream year, when you’re eight years old you think of these type of years, so for all of these things to have happened to me. I feel very grateful and I’m glad that the risk of leaving med school paid off, so this is fantastic.”

The other multiple winner was singer-songwriter Ben Howard, who picked up two of the dotted statuettes designed by Damien Hirst, for British breakthrough act and British male solo.

One Direction received one of the loudest screams of the night as they took to the stage to sing charity single One Way Or Another, which has reached No. 1 in 60 countries, underlining their status as global stars.

In recognition of that international reach, they were honoured with the BRITs global success award. The band’s heart throb singer Harry Styles said they felt honoured to be part of the BRIT awards.

“Massive massive year for British music” Style said.

“We’re very honoured to be part of that, and you know people recognise British music in general and it’s nice that tonight that’s celebrated, as the year seems to have been especially kind of big for British music, so it’s great, we’re happy, it’s great.”

Fellow bandmate Niall Horan said that the award was just the beginning of what was going to be a big year for the group.

“This was a good start to the week because on Saturday we open up our world tour here at the O2, so it’s going to be a great year.”

During the award ceremony, host comedian James Corden, made joking reference to Harry Styles and his highly public love life.

“Sharon Osbourne is here, Annie Lennox is here. Who have you got your eye on?” Corden asked.

Styles, seated along with his bandmates at a dinner table in a room packed with hundreds of other stars and industry bigwigs, smiled sheepishly and hid his face behind an awards program.

Several acts performed during the night. Robbie Williams, who has won a record-breaking 12 BRIT Awards as a solo artist, sang Candy, and Mumford & Sons, winners of the British group award, performed I Will Wait.

Mumford & Sons’ Ben Lovett said that despite the band spending a lot of time in the U.S. and winning a Grammy, it was important to recognise British music.

“Doing the UK tour last December was a great reminder of why we love touring the UK so much. So we’ll never forget the fact that we’re British. Although a lot of our activities are based over there (the United States), we’re touring there a lot, we got a bloody Grammy…we really don’t expect any of that stuff, so we’re just happy to be back here for now, and here tonight this is more important.” he said.

Bandmate Marcus Mumford said that despite music awards being silly it was good to celebrate the music, and he paid tribute to the band Coldplay who won the best live act prize, beating the Rolling Stones.

“You know these award things are silly, and making music into a competition is a silly idea in the first place, and we really do believe that. But at the same time, celebrating it, and recognising it is really nice.” Mumford said.

“It makes sense to me that Coldplay won the live act one as well, it really made sense to me because they played so much live, and they put so much into their live thing, it’s cool, it’s cool.”

Veteran rockers the Stones were shortlisted after returning to the stage for a short, sellout tour of London and the United States at the end of 2012 to mark 50 years in the business.

The last time they were nominated for a BRIT was in 1996.

Devon rockers Muse got the annual awards ceremony off to a rousing start with Supremacy, complete with fireworks and a full orchestra standing on balconies behind them.

Justin Timberlake wore a tuxedo to perform Mirrors, continuing his pop comeback ahead of the March release of The 20/20 Experience, his first album since 2006.

Taylor Swift donned a white, floating gown for I Knew You Were Trouble before an instant change into a figure-hugging black outfit complete with skimpy shorts and knee-length boots.

In the most hotly contested best album category, Sande had been up against Mumford & Sons for Babel, Alt-J (An Awesome Wave), Paloma Faith (Fall to Grace) and Plan B (Ill Manors).

Sande’s was Britain’s best-selling album in 2012, but the ongoing slump in CD sales last year loomed over what should be a celebration of the vibrant state of the country’s pop music scene.

According to official figures, overall British album sales fell 11.2 percent to 100.5 million in 2012, despite a rise of nearly 15 percent in digital album sales.

While digital downloads account for an increasing share of record label revenues, the bulk still comes from physical CDs, and the steady decline blamed on online piracy and a shift towards buying singles online is a major concern.

Adele added to her groaning trophy cabinet with the best single award for James Bond theme Skyfall. She was in Los Angeles rehearsing for her performance at the Oscars ceremony on Sunday and so was unable to collect the trophy in person.

American singer Lana Del Rey scooped the international female award, saying that she was honoured to win a BRIT because she lives in the UK and wrote her album there

“Really honoured, and like really excited.” she said.

“Like I said I do live here and I did write the record here so it’s exciting.”

“It’s a blessing to be able to do what you love, and to do it here…..I talked to the people who listen to the music and they’ve really been supportive and helped me,” she added.

Among the most popular triumphs was that of Frank Ocean, American R&B star who beat acts including Bruce Springsteen and Jack White to land the international male solo artist prize.

Winning the prize was like “skydiving.” Ocean said, adding that when he heard his name called “It’s like when you’re at the door and about to jump.”