By Sammie Jones-
Adele was the star winner at this year’s female-dominated Brit awards, taking home the prizes for artist of the year, album of the year for her fourth record, 30, and British song of the year for its lead single, Easy on Me.
The victory saw her leaving the 02 with her head up high in the first ever gender neutral awards which sought to be as inclusive as possible and accommodate those he neither identify as a man or a woman.. She now has a total of nine Brit Awards, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, fifteen Grammy Awards, eighteen Billboard Music Awards, five American Music Awards, and two Ivor Novello Awards for Songwriter of the Year.
The idea was off putting to many fans of the programme, but its essence was obvious to see.
Adele dedicated the award for album of the year to her son, Angelo, and her ex-husband, Simon Konecki. “This album was all of our journey, not just mine, and I’m very proud of myself for sticking to my guns and putting out an album that was so personal to me – ’cause not many people do that any more. My son has been so kind and gracious and patient with me over the years.”.
In her celebratory speech, she said: “I can’t believe a piano ballad beat all those bangers,” she said, basking in the of of beating Elton John, Dua Lipa and KSI to win the award.
‘Grand gestures wielded elegantly’ … (L-R) Joel Amey, Ellie Rowsell, Theo Ellis and Joff Oddie of Wolf Alice.
British categories were completed by two first-time winners. London band Wolf Alice beat Coldplay among others to best group after releasing their acclaimed third album Blue Weekend last year, and independent London rapper Little Simz, AKA Simbiatu Ajikawo, was named best new artist – despite releasing her debut album more than six years ago.
The change to the gendered awards came after criticism of the 2021 ceremony by non-binary singer Sam Smith, whose gender identity meant they couldn’t be nominated in the male or female artist awards. They said: “I look forward to a time where awards shows can be reflective of the society we live in.”
Ed Sheera won a new award-songwriter of the year- voted for by an independent panel, despite failing to win any of the four categories he was nominated for. He performed twice to celebrate it. In 2021, in addition to writing his fifth studio album, , he co-wrote songs for artists including Rita Ora, Maisie Peters, BTS, Anne-Marie and JLS, in addition to collaborations with Elton John, LadBaby, Nigerian singer Fireboy DML, Ghetts and Taylor Swift.
In the ceremony’s first year without gendered categories, women and female-fronted acts dominated proceedings, winning 10 out of 15 prizes – defying concerns expressed by culture secretary Nadine Dorries that women would be disfranchised by the BPI’s “sad decision”.
Collecting the award for best artist, Adele said: “I understand why they changed the name of this award [from best female/male artist], but I really love being a woman, I really love being a female artist.”
The change to the gendered awards came after criticism of the 2021 ceremony by non-binary singer Sam Smith, whose gender identity meant they couldn’t be nominated in the male or female artist awards. They said: “I look forward to a time where awards shows can be reflective of the society we live in.”
Collecting the award for best artist, Adele said: “I understand why they changed the name of this award [from best female/male artist], but I really love being a woman, I really love being a female artist.”