Pop sensation Charli XCX turned the Brit Awards into the brat awards on Saturday as she claimed 5 gongs on the annual celebration of UK music.
Fresh from profitable three Grammys, the 32-year-old behind the cultural motion “brat summer” received Album Of The Year, the night’s most coveted gong, on the forty fifth annual awards ceremony in London’s O2 Arena.
“Brat”, the artist’s sixth album and launched in June with its lime-green cowl and celebration of a relaxed, partying life-style, remodeled her into one of many high music stars in 2024.
It redefined the phrase “brat”, which even turned related to Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris when followers started making use of the coloured “brat” filter to the nominee’s photos.
“I am living proof that you don’t need to compromise,” she mentioned on selecting up the award.
The album beat off competitors from veteran band The Cure, seven-time Brit winner Dua Lipa, jazz group Ezra Collective and indie-rockers The Last Dinner Party.
Charli XCX — full identify Charlotte Aitchison — additionally received track of the yr for “Guess”, that includes Billie Eilish, and thanked the US singer for the collaboration.
“I’m really happy a song about underwear now has a Brit Award,” she joked.
Her different two awards on the night time had been for greatest artist and greatest dance act, including to the most effective songwriter prize she was awarded on Wednesday.
However, she requested to not carry out as she didn’t need the “added pressure”, however laughed at her desk when host Jack Whitehall advised it was as a result of she wished to get drunk.
U.S. star Sabrina Carpenter kicked off the present, which featured a tribute to late One Direction star Liam Payne, with a efficiency of her world hit “Espresso”, flanked by dancers dressed as British troopers in bearskin-style hats.
Carpenter was introduced with The BRITs Global Success award, following an introduction by Motown legend Diana Ross, in recognition of her mammoth gross sales in 2024.
Other acts to play reside included US rapper Teddy Swims and indie singer Sam Fender, who received the most effective different act award.
Ezra Collective claimed the most effective group award, whereas The Last Dinner Party received greatest new artist.
Carpenter misplaced out on the International Artist Of The Year Award, which boasted a shortlist together with Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Beyonce and Kendrick Lamar, to U.S. singer/songwriter Chappell Roan, who additionally received worldwide track of the yr.
The Brit Awards have recognised the cream of British pop music since they had been first held in 1977, however have usually been peppered with scandal and farce.
The 1989 Brits are greatest remembered for the shambolic presenting expertise of mannequin Samantha Fox and Fleetwood Mac’s Mick Fleetwood and a comical collection of mishaps.
Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker stormed the stage in protest whereas Michael Jackson carried out surrounded by youngsters in 1996.
And Madonna suffered whiplash accidents on the 2015 version when she fell off the stage carrying an enormous cape and surrounded by dancers carrying bondage-style costumes and horns on their heads.
After years of chart success by stars equivalent to Ed Sheeran and Adele, British music artists didn’t make it into the worldwide annual charts of the yr’s high 10 bestselling singles and albums in 2024 — the primary time this has occurred in additional than 20 years.
© 2025 AFP