Cut the chase. Find out the winners
The Brits, formerly known as the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) Awards, were established in 1982. Ostensibly rewarding the cream of British and world music over the previous 12 months, the awards have always been primarily an excuse for record companies to slap themselves on the back.
The voting: Votes are cast by 600 selected music industry professionals, (an increase of 100 on last year) including record company executives, promoters, DJs and pluggers. Musicians themselves still do not get a vote.
The timetable: To be nominated for this year's awards, records must have been released between 11 August 1997 and 14 November 1998, and not nominated for the 1998 awards. Ballot forms, listing all eligable acts, were sent to the panel of 500 during the third week of November, and returned by mid-December. The nominations were announced on 11 January 1998, with the awards ceremony following on 15 February. Balloting for the awards decided by the panel started on 19 January; for the awards chosen by the public from the panel's shortlist commenced on 21 January (7 February for the UK Newcomer award). All ballots closed 12 February.
See also, if you wish last year's awards... and the winners
| The Panel's Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Beautiful South Catatonia Gomez Manic Street Preachers Massive Attack |
This is not a bad start. The Beautiful South have produced an album that has more depth than any they've released in a long time, while Catatonia's is just great. Gomez won last years Merc, another significant music prize, while Massive Attack have continued in their familiar trippy vein. Only the piss-poor, unattackable Manic Street Preachers are in to spoil things for us. I'll go for Catatonia in an upset. | |
| Last year, this had the same nominees as Best Group; this year there's a soloist nominated. I suspect the academy will go his way, though I'd prefer Catatonia to double up. | "International Velvet" - Catatonia "Bring It On" - Gomez "This Is My Truth, Tell Me Yours" - Manic Street Preachers "Mezzanine" - Massive Attack "I've Been Expecting You" - Robbie Williams |
|
| BEST BRITISH MALE SOLO ARTIST
Ian Brown Bernard Butler Lynden David Hall Fatboy Slim Robbie Williams |
Robbie Williams popped up on the nominees list last year, but fell to a surprise split decision for Finlay Quaye. The head says nothing can stop him this year; the heart says Bernard Butler. It's interesting that only soulster Hall hasn't been in a big group: Ian Brown's rockish album follows his success with the Stone Roses; Bernard Butler was in Suede; dance-maestro Fatboy Slim was a member of the Housemartins; and Robbie Williams was left from Take That. | |
| Goodness! Neither Lisa Stansfield nor Annie Lennox means there will be a new name on the honour roll. Only seven acts qualified for this category, compared with over 150 for the British group. No surprises to find cruise crooner Jane McDonald fall out; but the absence of British citizen by marriage Tori Amos is a shocker. Billie's pop will win her no friends; PJ Harvey's hard rock is popular, but not going to win. The other three are all soul acts; I'll pick Des'ree to take the cheap bauble. | BEST BRITISH FEMALE SOLO ARTIST Billie Des'ree PJ Harvey Hinda Hicks Billie Meyers | |
| BEST BRITISH DANCE ACT
All Saints Faithless Fatboy Slim Jamiroquai Massive Attack | Nope, it's still not justified its existance. Jamiroquai look to repeat from last year, based only on their "Deeper Underground" single. If any, I'll go with Massive Attack. | |
| The People's Choices | ||
|---|---|---|
| BEST BRITISH SINGLE
Beautiful South - Perfect Ten Catatonia - Road Rage Cornershop - Brimful of Asha Desree - Life Fatboy Slim - Rockerfella Skank Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This, Your Children Will Be Next Massive Attack - Teardrops George Michael - Outside Robbie Williams - Millennium Robbie Williams - Angels | Almost as last year; "Millennium" annoys me, while Fatboy, Manics and Michael have no real place. It's still a popularity contest, which means the Spice Girls (not nominated), All Saints (defending champs, but not nominated) or Boyzone (not British) would expect to win. In their absence, there's going to be no stopping one of the anthems of the time, "Angels" from taking the title. Also look for strong performances from the Beautiful South and Catatonia. | |
Let's face it, there's nothing new out there. Belle & Sebastian, Propellorheads and Cornershop have had a number of album releases before, and can't really be called newcomers by any definition. Five, Another Level and Billie are derivitive pap. It's a popularity concert on a station that's split between uber-trendies (B&S, Gomez) and pop teens (Billie, Steps). The head and heart compromise on Steps. | BEST BRITISH NEWCOMER Five Another Level Belle & Sebastian Billie Cleopatra Cornershop Gomez Hinda Hicks Propellorheads Steps | |
| BEST BRITISH VIDEO
All Saints - Under the Bridge Mel B / Missy Elliot - I Want You Back Cornershop - Brimful of Asha Jamiroquai - Deeper Underground Massive Attack - Teardrop George Michael - Outside Placebo - Pure Morning Radiohead - No Surprises Robbie Williams - Millennium Robbie Williams - Let Me Entertain You | Surely the category that the Spice Girls should be in, if only for their outstanding "Viva Forever" clip. But the closest they get is Mel B's effort. It's not been a vintage year for the shortform video, with the exception of Robbie Williams'. The Kiss pastiche "Let Me Entertain You" is my tip, ahead of the Bond take-off of "Millennium". | |
| The International Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| BEST INTERNATIONAL NEWCOMER
Air B*Witched Eagle-Eye Cherry Natalie Imbruglia Savage Garden | Two solo singers of songs, one songwriting group, one pop group and one dance/techno group make up a quality list. I think the songs will get it, and Natalie Imbruglia to be the first actress to turn credible singer. Put a saver on Air, though; they seem to appeal to the critics more than real people. | |
| Beck gets in for his part-time "Mutations" project; surely he can't win for that. Smith's is popular but crap; Finn's great but almost ignored. Look for Eagle-Eye to be the popular compromise choice. | BEST INTERNATIONAL MALE SOLO ARTIST
Beck Eagle-Eye Cherry Neil Finn Pras Will Smith | |
| BEST INTERNATIONAL FEMALE SOLO ARTIST
Sheryl Crow Lauryn Hill Natalie Imbruglia Madonna Alanis Morissette | Alanis won this one three years ago, while Madge would have had this as her personal fiefdom had the genders been split in the 80s. I suspect Lauryn Hill will win, combining critical and popular appeal, but then she's not been nominated for newcomer. Really, so long as Crow doesn't win, I won't mind. | |
| A second nomination for Air in a category that REM have never lost in. Only the Coors might challenge them, but probably won't. | BEST INTERNATIONAL GROUP
Air Beastie Boys Coors Fun Lovin' Criminals REM | |
| BEST SOUNDTRACK
Boogie Nights Jackie Brown Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels Titanic The Wedding Singer | This award always seems to go to the biggest film or show, regardless of quality of music. In this case, though, "Titanic" is just about the best of the bunch - though how one can judge a neo-classical piece against an 80s compilation album is beyond me. | |
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Create: 12 Jan '99
Revise: 22 Feb 99