Ivor sings praises of U2’s outstanding song collection

U2 were among the winners at top British music event, the Ivor Novello awards.

Fri, 23 May, 2003 - 01:00

Anthony Barnes

Singer Bono attended the event where the group won the Ivor award for an outstanding song collection.

Chart stars Coldplay were honoured as songwriters of the year. The band were praised for their chart-topping second album A Rush of Blood to the Head, and the prize comes in the wake of a double Brits win earlier in the year.

Solo star David Gray took the title for best song of the year with his hit The Other Side, beating Oasis's Stop Crying Your Heart Out and Aqualung's Strange and Beautiful.

Coldplay, who were unable to attend the event in London, were beaten to the prize for best contemporary song by The Streets aka Mike Skinner for his single Weak Become Heroes. Skinner has won huge critical acclaim for his debut album Original Pirate Material. However, until now he has largely failed to translate that into awards.

He also triumphed over Ms Dynamite for the contemporary song prize, who beat him to the Mercury Music Prize last year.

The Ivors are an annual celebration of songwriting and this year honoured a number of luminaries for their achievements over the decades.

Beach Boy Brian Wilson was handed a special international award for his colossal achievements.

His band's 1966 album Pet Sounds marked a watershed for music with its lush arrangements and carefully constructed harmonies.

Wilson has been almost a recluse for many years, but performed a handful of British shows last year and attended today's ceremony at London's Grosvenor House Hotel.

Roxy Music front-man Bryan Ferry was given an award for his outstanding contribution to British music.

Reggae act UB40 were given the international achievement award to mark their success overseas.

The winners are as follows:

Best song musically and lyrically The Other Side, David Gray.

Best contemporary song Weak Become Heroes, The Streets.

Most performed work Just a Little, Liberty X.

Best-selling British single Anything is Possible, Will Young.

International hit of the year Complicated, Avril Lavigne.

Ivors dance award Lazy, X-Press 2 featuring David Byrne.

Best original film score The Quiet American, Craig Armstrong.

Best original TV music Seltham Sings, Dextrous/Simon Armitage.

Ivors classical music award Boots of Lead, Simon Holt.