Brit Awards shortlist announced
Ms Dynamite and The Streets headed the shortlist for the Brit Awards tonight as the UK’s urban music scene was the toast of this year’s event.
The pair are up for four prizes each at the glitzy ceremony to be hosted by Davina McCall next month.
Sugababes, Pink and Will Young compete for three titles after the shortlist was unveiled at a party in London’s legendary Abbey Road studios.
But king of the Brits Robbie Williams is up for just one gong, with his album Escapology – the biggest seller of 2002 – snubbed for the best album category.
Last year he amassed his 13th Brit from his solo career and the years with Take That, but is only nominated for one award this year – best British male.
Among his challengers for the title are The Streets, aka Mike Skinner, whose distinctive blend of rap, garage and hip-hop have made him one of the most critically lauded artists of the past 12 months.
The musician, whose tracks tell of his life as a “geezer” and extol the virtues of kebabs, McDonald’s and drugs, is also up for best album for his debut Original Pirate Material, urban act and breakthrough artist.
Skinner was favourite for the Mercury Music Prize last year and was beaten to the title by rising star Ms Dynamite.
He again goes head-to-head with her for best album, urban act and breakthrough artist. In addition, the pregnant r’n’b queen is nominated for best female.
The pony-tailed star, whose real name is Niomi Daley, has had huge success wither street-wise and socially aware album A Little Deeper.
Will Young’s Pop Idol pal Gareth Gates is up for two titles although with two entries in the best single category, for Anyone Of Us and Unchained Melody, he actually has three nominations.
Other multiple nominees include Coldplay, Craig David, The Coral, Blue, Liberty X, Red Hot Chili Peppers and White Stripes, each up for two awards.
The Coral, Sugababes and Coldplay will fight out with Ms Dynamite and The Streets for the prized best album title.
And the British group award – which has generally been taken by the album winner – will be fought between Blue, Coldplay, Doves, Sugababes and Oasis.
The awards takes place on February 20 and will be screened by ITV1 the same evening.
Among the acts performing on the night will be Coldplay, Sugababes, Nelly & Kelly Rowland and Avril Lavigne.
Nominations:
:: British male solo artist – Badly Drawn Boy; Craig David; David Gray; The Streets; Robbie Williams.
:: British female solo artist – Sophie Ellis Bextor; Ms Dynamite; Beverley Knight; Alison Moyet; Beth
Orton.
:: British album – Coldplay, Rush of Blood to the Head; Ms Dynamite, A Little Deeper; The Coral, The Coral; The Streets, Original Pirate Material; Sugababes, Angels with Dirty Faces.
:: British group – Blue; Coldplay; Doves; Sugababes; Oasis.
:: British single – Atomic Kitten, The Tide is High (Get The Feeling); Gareth Gates, Anyone of Us (Stupid Mistake); Gareth Gates, Unchained Melody; Liberty X, Just A Little; Will Young, Anything Is Possible/Evergreen.
:: British urban act – Beverley Knight; Big Brovaz; Craig David; Daniel Bedingfield; Mis-Teeq; Ms Dynamite; Romeo; Roots Manuva; So Solid Crew; The Streets.
:: British dance act – Chemical Brothers; Groove Armada; Jamiroquai; Kosheen; Sugababes.
:: British breakthrough artist – Liberty X; Ms Dynamite; The Coral; The Streets; Will Young.
:: Pop act – Blue; Enrique Iglesias; Gareth Gates; Pink; Will Young.
:: International male solo artist – Beck; Eminem; Moby; Nelly; Bruce Springsteen.
:: International female solo artist – Missy Elliot; Norah Jones; Alicia Keys; Avril Lavigne; Pink.
:: International album – Eminem, The Eminem Show; Norah Jones, Come Away with Me; Alicia Keys, Songs in A Minor; Pink, Missundaztood; Red Hot Chili Peppers, By The Way.
:: International group – Foo Fighters; Nickelback; Red Hot Chili Peppers; Royksopp; White Stripes.
:: International breakthrough artist – Norah Jones; Avril Lavigne; Nickelback; Shakira; White Stripes.
:: Outstanding contribution to music – Tom Jones.
