Once again, women dominate the BRITS for the second year in a row—as they should.
This year's BRIT Awards did not disappoint with performances from fan favourites such as Adele, Dave, Little Simz, Sam Fender and Anne-Marie and women bagging many of the new gender-inclusive awards.
The BRIT Awards started with an iconic collaboration between Ed Sheeran and Bring Me The Horizon—an unlikely, but welcome collaboration nonetheless.
This year was the start of the new genderless categories, attempting to create a more inclusive environment for gender minorities. However, the combining of gendered awards did generate concerns about the exclusion of women. It was a nice surprise that last night; we were proven wrong, though it is only the first year of the categories. Meet us back here in a decade to hopefully celebrate some well deserved equality.
Album Of The Year
Adele emerged victorious in the album of the year category with her fourth studio album, 30, going up against some stiff competition. The full list of album of the year nominations were:
Sam Fender - Seventeen Going Under
Dave - We're All Alone In This Together
Ed Sheeran - =
Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
Adele - 30
Best Hip Hop/Rap/Grime Act
This category was full of strong contenders: AJ Tracey, Central Cee, Ghetts and Little Simz, all worthy of the award. However, the man of the evening Dave bagged the titular hip hop award at the BRITS and concluded the evening with a show-stealing performance.
Performing his track “In The Fire” alongside his peers and fellow rhymers Meekz and Fredo as well as UK rap legends Giggs and Ghetts, Dave shut down the O2. Dave gave Brit-rap a necessary spotlight after years of under-representation and under-appreciation by awarding institutions by letting four of his hip hop bredren make Black British history.
The performance featured fire arrangement, a full-fledged choir and Dave manning the piano and guitar.
Rising Star Award
Last year's Rising Star Award was given to Griff. This year the sad pop queen Holly Humberstone won the award alongside giving a gripping performance at the award ceremony.
Producer Of The Year
Inflo broke BRIT history by becoming the first ever black producer to win the award. After bagging notable producer credits on Adele’s latest album, 30, it was only a matter of time before he was nominated for such a big award. Inflo has had quite the career in the shadows, working with some of the biggest artists in the music industry from The Kooks, to The Saturdays and Little Simz.
Song Of The Year
As expected, Adele won the award for Best Song with one of her popular singles from album 30, with pop ballad, “Easy on Me”.
International Song Of The Year
There were some strong contenders for international song of the year from the likes of Billie Eilish, Doja Cat, Lil Nas X, Måneskin and The Weekend. Pop newcomer, Olivia Rodrigo took home the award with her song “Good 4 U”. Last year she played at the BRITS, her first ever performance, and now taking home her first BRIT Award. An exciting time for women in music.
Best Pop/R&B Act
Dua Lipa, Adele, Ed Sheeran, Griff and Joy Crookes were nominated for the Best Pop/R&B award, newly instated this year. Critics predicted Adele to win this award, but the voting power was given to TikTokers who chose pop titan, Dua Lipa.
The Best Pop/R&B award was recently under controversy after the BRIT Awards were slammed for not including any R&B artists in the category. Which does bring into question why the genres were combined.
Best Rock/Alternative Act
Sam Fender won his second BRIT award for Best Rock/Alternative Act. His first BRIT award received in 2019 now lives permanently in the Low Lights Tavern in North Shields where he was discovered. Sam Fender has said his second BRIT Award will join his first as another beer hand pull at his local pub.
Best Dance Act
Becky Hill won her first ever BRIT Award. As it’s the first time the award has been issued in years, the fact it has been claimed by a woman is the stuff of legend. On the brink of tears, she thanked her manager in her speech for his prolonged support.
"I need to thank my manager Alex who funded me when I was 18 just off The Voice and I had no money, who saw me through getting dropped from a record deal, started my own record deal and signed again to the amazing Polydor, said Hill. “I want to say thank you again to you guys because you have been amazing. Thank you so much. I’m going to go have it large."
Best Group
Industry giants, Coldplay were nominated for this award alongside D-Block Europe, Wolf Alice, London Grammar and last year's winners, Little Mix. Wolf Alice won the award, their first ever award.
Best International Artist
For the second year in a row, Billie Eilish has taken home an international artist award. Last year, receiving an award for Best International Solo Female Artist, now combined with the male equivalent to create the new gender neutral award.
Best New Artist
Despite putting out music for well over a decade and having four full-length studio albums under her belt, Little Simz received the Best New Artist award following her highly successful Sometimes I Might Be Introvert LP, from last year. Simz also broke music history last November when she became the first British female artist to headline three nights at O2 Academy Brixton, and sell them out!
Upon receiving her award, Simz said: "I am living proof that if you work hard at something, no matter where you come from, no matter your background, no matter your race, you can do something extraordinary."
Best International Group
American R&B supergroup Silk Sonic (Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars) bagged the BRIT Award for Best International Group in wake of their acclaimed eponymous debut album released at the end of last year. Although Silk Sonic couldn’t be present at the BRITS, they did release a hilarious acceptance speech where Mars and .Paak argue over who deserves the trophy.
Silk Sonic were up against Eurovision favourites Mankeskin alongside War On Drugs, K-Pop superstars BTS and Abba.
Artist Of The Year
No shocker here either. Adele swept up yet another award as she was crowned the 2022 Artist Of The Year, a living legend.
Songwriter Of The Year
Ed Sheeran took home the songwriter of the year award after years of penning countless UK #1 singles for himself and others.
What did you think of the BRITS? Let us know what you think!