The Brits and the Star Awards

The tradition goes that it is the Grammy Awards early in the new year that closes the award-giving season for music of the previous year. And that is just what happened last Sunday, Jan. 26 in Los Angeles. 

However, given the fact that the music industry is truly global in scope. Priests in Tibet are said to enjoy listening to pop tunes from Ed Sheeran when not in prayer. Some hinterlands in this country still have to get supplied with electricity but the residents know how to dance to Old Town Road, thanks to battery-powered radios.

And still given the fact that a big number of pop stars are from the United Kingdom, there is just no way we can ignore the results of the upcoming 2020 Brit Awards. This will be held at the huge O2 Arena in London on Feb. 18.

 The Brits is now 42 years. It was first given out in 1977. This is the annual awards given by the British Phonographic Industry to accomplishments in the field of music as chosen by artists and industry members. It does not use fan voting at all. 

Among the first winners on the first year of the Brits were Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by the Beatles as Album of the Year and Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen as Single of the Year.  The British artist who has won the most number of Brits is Robbie Williams with 13, as a solo artist and as a member of Take That. Last year’s big winner was the rock band 1975.

And now here are those on the race to match or surpass Williams this year. They all have a long way to go. The nominees for the 2020 Brit Awards are the following:

•British Album of the Year: Psychodrama by Dave; Fine Line by Harry Styles; Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent by Lewis Capaldi; Kiwanuka by Michael Kiwanuka; Heavy is the Head by Stormzy.

•Song of the Year: Ladbroke Grove by AJ Tracey; Giant by Calvin Harris and Rag’n’Bone Man; Location by Dave featuring Burna Boy; I Don’t Care by Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber; Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi; Don’t Call Me Up by Mabel; Nothing Breaks Like a Heart by Mark Ronson featuring Miley Cyrus; Dancing with a Stranger by Sam Smith and Normani; Vossi Bob by Stormzy; Just You and I by Tom Walker.

•Male Solo Artist: Dave, Harry Styles, Lewis Capaldi, Michael Kiwanuka, Stormzy.

•Female Solo Artist: Charli XCX, FKA Twigs, Freya Ridings, Mabel, Mahalia.

•Group: Bastille, Bring Me the Horizon, Coldplay, D-Block Europe, Foals.

•New Artist: Aitch, Dave, Lewis Capaldi, Mabel, Sam Fender.

•International Male Solo Artist:  Bruce Springsteen, Burna Boy, Dermot Kennedy, Post Malone, Tyler the Creator.

•International Female Solo Artist: Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Camila Cabello, Lana Del Rey, Lizzo.

Chosen earlier were the winners of the Rising Star Award, which was jazz and soul vocalist Celeste, and British Producer of the Year which went to Fred Again, who is known for his work with Ed Sheeran, Stormzy and Brian Eno.

And now on to another award. The Philippine Movie Press Club gave out its Star Awards for Music last Saturday, Jan. 25.  Top honors of the evening were singer and songwriter Jose Mari Chan for the Parangal Levi Celerio and Regine Velasquez-Alcasid for the Pilita Corrales Lifetime Achievement Award. 

The other winners were: Album of the Year, Jaya, Queen of Soul; Song of the Year, JK Labajo, Buwan; Male Recording Artist, Christian Bautista, Aking Mahal and Jed Madela, Di Matitinag; Female Recording Artist, Moira dela Torre, Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko; Concert of the Year, Lea Salonga, The 40th Anniversary Concert; Male Concert Performer, Ogie Alcasid, OA 30th Anniversary Concert; Female Concert Performer, Morisette Amon, Lani/Morisette: A Musical Journey; Duo/Group Concert Performer, Aegis, Doble Dekada: Ang Soundtrack ng Buhay Mo;

Music Video, This World for Us All by El Gamma Penumbra featuring Aekaye;  Male Pop Artist, Eric Santos, Nais and Mario Mortel, Habang Ako’y Mag-isa; Female Pop Artist, Janah Zaplan, Di Ko Na Kaya; Pop Album, Until I See You Again by Alden Richards; Duo/Group Artist of the Year, TNT Boys, Show Me A Smile; New Female Recording Artist, Jayda Avanzado, Happy for You and Via Ortega, Paghanga; New Male Recording Artist, Garrett Bolden, Lilipad Na and Gari Escobar, Baguio; New Group Recording Artist, This Band, Kahit Ayaw Mo Na;

Collaboration, December Avenue & Moira dela Torre, Kung Di Rin Lang Ikaw; Acoustic Artist, Juris, Say That You Love Me; Revival Recording, Handog by Jojo Mendrez and Don’t Know What to Do, Don’t Know What to Say by Joaquin Garcia; Dance Recording, Chambe by Alex Gonzaga; Rock Album, Alon by Hale; Rock Artist, Sponge Cola, Kunwari; R&B Album, Hanggang Dito Na Lang by Jaya; R&B Artist, Young JV, Ghost; Folk/Country Recording, Start All Over Again by John Rendez; Novelty Artist, Mojack Perez, Katuga; Novelty Song, Dahil Kasama Mo Siya by Vice Ganda; Rap Artist, Ex-Battalion, Superhero Mo; and Compilation Album, Himig Handog, 2018.

Congratulations to all the winners.