brits nominations hold no surprises

Duffy and Coldplay lead with four nominations each

It’s a bit of a moot point, if a widely shared view, but it’s tough to get excited about the BRIT Awards these days. The nominations are typically more predictable than sunrise, yet somehow always disappointing. OK, so 2008’s Best British Female Solo Artist nods in the directions of Bat For Lashes and PJ Harvey were a nice surprise, but no such luck this year. Not even a wink or a smile in Laura Marling’s direction, which is odd. It’s annoying to see Adele nominated for Best British Breakthrough Act when they formed an award especially for her last year – the so-called Critic’s Choice award for best emerging talent – and smacks a little of self-fulfilling prophecy. That award is going to Florence & The Machine this year, which makes us wonder whether we’ll be really bored of her too this time in 2010. At least the songs she co-wrote with Razorlight’s insufferable Johnny Borrell won’t be making the cut of her album (due in early July).

It’s nice to see Beth Rowley get a nomination for Best British Female Solo Act, but up against Duffy, Adele, M.I.A. and Estelle, we can’t see her winning. The Ting Tings have also done well – too well, even. We Started Nothing was good fun in the summer but among the top five British albums last year? We’re not convinced. They’re up for Best British Breakthrough Act too, alongside Duffy, Adele, Scouting For Girls and The Last Shadow Puppets. Girls Aloud will be hoping to get their first ever Brit Award – hard to believe they’ve never had one – with two nominations in Best British Group and Best Single for ‘The Promise’. They’ve been nominated four times before, however, so won’t be counting their chickens.

On the international front, it’s strange to have a year where there’s no Madonna, Kylie or Björk in the running for Best International Female Solo Artist. The ubiquitous Beyoncé is there though, alongside Pink, Katy Perry and our personal favourite, Santogold. Kylie is confirmed as a presenter for the ceremony that takes place at Earl’s Court in London on February 18th. See below for the full list of nominees.

Best British Album
Coldplay, Viva La Vida, Or Death & All His Friends
Duffy, Rockferry
Elbow, The Seldom Seen Kid
Radiohead, In Rainbows
The Ting Tings, We Started Nothing

Best British Group
Coldplay
Elbow
Girls Aloud
Radiohead
Take That

Best British Single
Adele, ‘Chasing Pavements’
Alexandra Burke, ‘Hallelujah’
Coldplay, ‘Viva La Vida’
Dizzee Rascal feat. Calvin Harris and Chrome, ‘Dance Wiv Me’
Duffy, ‘Mercy’
Estelle feat. Kanye West, ‘American Boy’
Girls Aloud, ‘The Promise’
Leona Lewis, ‘Better in Time’
Scouting For Girls, ‘Heartbeat’
The X Factor Finalists, ‘Hero’

Best British Male Solo Artist
Ian Brown
James Morrison
Paul Weller
The Streets
Will Young

Best British Female Solo Artist
Adele
Beth Rowley
Duffy
Estelle
M.I.A.

Best British Breakthrough Act
Adele
Duffy
The Last Shadow Puppets
Scouting For Girls
The Ting Tings

Best British Live Act
Coldplay
Iron Maiden
Scouting For Girls
The Verve

Best International Album
AC/DC, Black Ice
Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes
The Killers, Day & Age
Kings Of Leon, Only By The Night
MGMT, Oracular Spectacular

Best International Group
AC/DC
Fleet Foxes
The Killers
Kings of Leon
MGMT

Best International Male Solo Artist
Beck
Neil Diamond
Jay-Z
Kanye West
Seasick Steve

Best International Female Solo Artist
Beyoncé
Gabriella Cilmi
Katy Perry
Pink
Santogold

British Producer Of The Year
Bernard Butler
Brian Eno
Steve Mac

Critic’s Choice Award
Florence & The Machine 

Outstanding Contribution Award
Pet Shop Boys

Alan Pedder

Written by: Wears The Trousers magazine

Tags: adele, alan pedder, alexandra burke, beth rowley, beyoncé, brit awards, duffy, estelle, florence and the machine, gabriella cilmi, girls aloud, katy perry, kylie minogue, laura marling, leona lewis, MIA, news, pink, santogold, the ting tings

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