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 Bowie, a pop chameleon who won legions of fans with his
ground-breaking music, released his last album, "Blackstar,"
days before his death from cancer at age of 69 in January 2016.
At the British Record Industry Trust (BRIT) awards, Bowie beat
off competition from the likes of grime artist Skepta, rapper
Kano and singer Michael Kiwanuka in both the "British male solo
artist" and "Mastercard British album of the year" categories.
"He's always been there supporting people who think they’re a
little bit weird or a little bit strange, a little bit
different, and he's always been there for them," Bowie's son,
Duncan Jones, said as he collected the album award. "This award
is for all the kooks and all the people who make the kooks."
Held in the capital's O2 arena, the televised BRITs are the
mainstream British music industry's top awards ceremony. The
evening saw performances from Katy Perry, Robbie Williams, Bruno
Mars and Ed Sheeran.
American singer Perry performed her single "Chained to the
Rhythm" alongside dancers wearing models of white houses.
Perry, who wore an armband reading "Persist" when she performed
the song at this month's Grammy Awards, was joined by two giant
skeletons. British media and viewers taking to social media said
the skeletons appeared to be dressed in outfits similar to what
U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa
May wore when the two recently met in Washington.
Singer George Michael, who died in December, was honored with a
tribute of his song "A Different Corner," performed by Coldplay
frontman Chris Martin. Clips of the ex-Wham! singer appeared on
stage, speaking as well as singing the same song.
[to top of second column] |
ADELE WINS AGAIN
Other winners included girl band Little Mix, who won the "British
single" prize for the song "Shout Out to My Ex." Singer Emeli Sande
picked up the "British female solo artist" prize. The "British
Group" accolade went to band The 1975.
Songstress Adele, whose album "25" triumphed at last year's BRITs
and the Grammys, won the "BRITS global success award" for
international sales of that same chart-topping work.
Singer-songwriter Rag'n'Bone Man, who was already announced as the
"Critics Choice" pick for this year's awards, took "British
Breakthrough Act." He also beat Skepta, who performed but went home
empty-handed despite three nominations.
While the ceremony mainly honors British music and artists, it also
has categories for international male and female solo artists as
well as international group. Drake, Beyonce and A Tribe Called Quest
won those categories, respectively.
Criticized last year for not representing non-white artists,
organizers in November said they had invited more than 700 potential
new voters to join the BRITs Voting Academy in a bid to "achieve
greater gender balance as well as increased black, Asian and
minority ethnic representation."
(Reporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Editing by Toby Chopra and
Leslie Adler)
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