And the nominees are...
The latest list of nominees are OUT for the next event in this year’s Awards season. The nominees for the BRIT Awards are generally reflective of whichever British artists have been doing bits in the charts this year, and so Dave, Stormzy and Lewis Capaldi are this year’s big news.
Harry Styles also has a couple of nominations under his belt, but at this stage I would like to think that Stormzy’s talent and contributions to the British music scene will be recognised over the lacklustre album that was Fine Line. Michael Kiwanuka deserves to take home the award for Best Album, however, whilst Stormzy or Dave would be more suited to the Male Solo Artist gong.
Lewis Capaldi’s ‘Someone You Loved’ is probably in with a good shot of winning Song of the Year, due to its worldwide success. We could also see him taking home Best New Artist or Male Solo Artist, simply due to his social media presence, humour and intensely likeable personality (but we still have our fingers crossed for Stormzy!) - and his revolutionary marketing campaign.
If there is any justice in the world, FKA Twigs will win Best Female Artist. Her sophomore album, MAGDALENE proved that she is here for the long run, building upon her initial musical experiments from debut LP. She effortlessly combines elements of electronic music, choral styles, trip hop and avant garde - and managed to bring it all into the mainstream. She is one of the most exciting chart musicians around at the moment, and she deserves this award (and many others).
None of the Best Group nominations are particularly exciting. Coldplay have done nothing especially of note over the last year, ditto Bastille. Bring Me The Horizon’s latest album was incredibly divisive, alienating a lot of long-time fans who had been there since the beginning. Foals would be a worthy winner, but we wouldn’t mind seeing a little more imagination in this category’s nominees next year.
For International Female Artist there is, in my opinion, only one winner. Lizzo, robbed at The Grammys (read our article on that here: https://www.fifthelement.biz/news/2020/1/28/grammys-rundown-was-lizzo-robbed) has started a debate in the mainstream about self-love and self-acceptance, something which was way overdue. She is talented, beautiful and an incredible entertainer, as well as speaks out about her experience of life as a fat, black woman in addition to telling us all to love ourselves. Her music is catchy as hell and she has improved mainstream music tenfold by simply existing. We wouldn’t be surprised if Eilish snags this one again, though.
For International Male Artist, again, there is one correct choice, and that is Tyler, the Creator. Igor, one of the best releases of the last decade, saw him shedding his tired and, to say the least, problematic younger personality. This album stuns from beginning to end, making use of funk, rap, R&B, neo soul and jazz in one glorious mish-mash. The album has already scooped Best Rap Album at The Grammys, so here’s hoping Tyler can edge out the competition!
