Finally the biggest night in British music is back! Although the ceremony was postpone from February 2021, we can breathe a sigh of relief as the Brit Awards returned offering us a sense of normality being one of the Government’s first live indoor pilot events.
After 14 months of live music shutdowns, fans and organisers were delighted that the Brit Awards hadn’t succumbed to the pandemic like many other live music events, and was able to take place last night for its 41st annual event. As usual, the Brits were held at the O2 Arena in London with 4th year host Jack Whitehall. Only this time with a limited live audience of just 4,000 guests as oppose to its 20,000 capacity as part of the UK Government’s events research programme to trial live crowds with no social distancing or face masks. Audience members had to prove they tested negative for Coronavirus before entering the venue, as well as taking another test after the event. Geoff Taylor, Chief Executive of BPI & BRIT Awards Ltd said “We want to make sure that The BRITs delivers the outstanding production levels, superstar performances and live excitement that make it the biggest night in music.” He added “[the] event will remind us how important music has been in getting us all through these difficult times”.
The Brits certainly didn’t disappoint as it kick-started the return of live music, with Coldplay opening the event performing on the River Thames, Dua Lipa blessing us with a medley of her greatest hits and a surprise performance from Elton John and Years & Years. Other live performances from this year’s hottest acts included AJ Tracey, Headie One, The Weeknd, Olivia Rodrigo, Rag’n’Bone Man, Pink, Arlo Parks and this year’s BRITs Rising Star award winner Griff. As the nomination winners started to announce, we saw Arlo Parks win her first ever Brit Award for Breakthrough Artist, followed by Little Mix making history being the first all-girl group to win a BRITs Best British Group award. Jade Thirlwall reminded us of women solidarity in her part of the groups acceptance speech by honouring all the girl bands that rose before them “so this award isn’t just for us, it’s for the Spice Girls, Sugababes, All Saints, Girls Aloud, all of the incredible female bands, this one’s for you”. After the group’s award, Nicola Roberts from Girls Aloud congratulated the girls for their incredible milestone:
After Dua Lipa’s jaw-dropping performance, she took to the stage again, this time to accept her first award of the night for Female Solo Artist, as well as later taking home Mastercard’s Album of the year award. Lipa in her acceptance speech chose to give the other part of her award to frontline nurse Dame Elizabeth Anionwu, and called for a pay rise for NHS staff insisting “[it’s all] very good to clap for them but we need to pay them”. She also recognised this year’s strong female representation stating she was “so proud”. Lipa also reminisced about her last time at the Brits in 2018 where there was a lack of female performers with just Dua, Jorja Smith and Rita Ora performing, whereas this year she insists “I’m so proud three years later to be part of this wave of women in music”.
The star of the night of course has to be Taylor Swift for accepting the most honourable award at the Brits, the Global Icon award. In the event’s history, the award has only been presented three times to Elton John, David Bowie and Robbie Williams, making Taylor Swift the first female artist, the youngest, and the first non-Brit to receive this price – once again making history. It’s at no surprise as to why with her impressive 11 Grammys and 200 million record sales worldwide, the award is “in recognition of her immense impact on music across the world and incredible repertoire and achievements to date”. Swift collected her award in person, walking to the stage to the song that brought her to fame, Love Story. Before finishing her speech, she took time to highlight the importance of the NHS and address the “incredible new artists” in the room. “When you put your whole heart and soul into something and it’s met with cynicism or skepticism. You can’t let that crush you. You have to let that fuel you”.
The rip-roaring ceremony showed just how much live music has been missed! With this year’s Brit Awards, female acts have victoriously dominated the event which hopefully provides a sign of hope for female artists moving forward in the music industry. Here’s to the next Brit Awards and to plenty more live music events for 2021!
All the BRIT Award 2021 winners:
Male Solo Artist: J Hus
Female Solo Artist: Dua Lipa
British Group: Little Mix
British Single: ‘Watermelon Sugar’ – Harry Styles
Breakthrough Artist: Arlo Parks
International Female Solo Artist: Billie Eilish
International Male Solo Artist: The Weeknd
International Group: Haim
Global Icon: Taylor Swift
Mastercard Album: ‘Future Nostalgia’ – Dua Lipa
Announced in March 2021 – Rising Star: Griff
You can watch and rewatch the performances on YouTube, and follow @BRITs across socials for all the highlights!
*Originally posted of Safe and Sound UK on 12/05/2021
Written by Nicole Horwood / Twitter: @Whorewoods
Nicole Horwood 