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The BRIT Awards are taking place in London tonight, 19 February 2014. Right now, names are being sealed inside small, shiny envelopes revealing who will be taking home the biggest music awards on the UK calendar. A lot of those probably read 'Arctic Monkeys'.
The BRIT Awards are generally seen as a safe award show, with awards easily handed to the night's performers and public votes ALWAYS giving gongs to One Direction. However, while some of the categories this year have a name that stands out greatly from the competition, other fields are more open and more likely to surprise audiences with the winner. Here's our predictions for this year's BRIT Awards.
May the best man, woman or French robotic duo win...
British Male Solo Artist
David Bowie
Jake Bugg
James Blake
John Newman
Tom Odell
David Bowie: It has to be Bowie, right? Jake Bugg, Tom Odell and John Newman have all achieved decent solo success in their short careers, and yes, James Blake did deserve the Mercury Music Prize in 2013. But this is DAVID BOWIE we are talking about here, and the idea that any of these artists could pull the rug out from under one of the biggest artists of all time is, frankly, laughable. 'lol' etc.
British Female Solo Artist
Birdy
Ellie Goulding
Jessie J
Laura Marling
Laura Mvula
Ellie Goulding: Ellie Goulding will win this. Not only is she a former recipient of the BRIT Awards Critics Choice award, the past 12 months have seen the singer go from decent-ish pop singer to proper global superstar, thanks to her epic album, Halcyon. Birdy is decent but hasn't made much of a splash, Jessie J's popularity has waned and the two Lauras, while the most credible choices, are perhaps too worthy in the face of such commercial and critical success. All hail Goulding.
British Group
Arctic Monkeys
Bastille
Disclosure
One Direction
Rudimental
Arctic Monkeys: 2013 was the year that Arctic Monkeys went from being one of the biggest bands in the UK, to being one of the biggest bands on the planet. AM was hailed as their best album yet (rightfully so) and most crucially? They are performing live on the show, which is always a good indicator. One Direction could possibly be in with a shout here, due to the sheer amount of money they bring to the UK music industry. Sadly Bastille, Rudimental and Disclosure don't stand a chance.
British Breakthrough Act
Bastille
Disclosure
Laura Mvula
London Grammar
Tom Odell
Bastille/Disclosure: Tom Odell was the 2013 winner of the Critics Choice award, but to honour his work over the success of Bastille or Disclosure would be a pat-on-the-back too far. Bastille and Disclosure are two of the biggest groups of the past 12 months, both are equally worthy winners of the 'breakthrough' title. Mvula and London Grammar have each achieved critical and commercial success, but are in no way the same league as these two. Plus, both are performinng...
Critics' Choice
Sam Smith (WINNER)
Chlöe Howl
Ella Eyre
Sam Smith: We predict Sam Smith, the winner of the 2014 Critics Choice, will win the 2014 Critics Choice prize at the BRIT Awards.
British Single
Bastille - 'Pompeii'
Calvin Harris/Ellie Goulding - 'I Need Your Love'
Disclosure ft AlunaGeorge - 'White Noise'
Ellie Goulding - 'Burn'
John Newman - 'Love Me Again'
Naughty Boy ft Sam Smith - 'La La La'
Olly Murs - 'Dear Darlin'
One Direction - 'One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)'
Passenger - 'Let Her Go'
Rudimental ft Ella Eyre - 'Waiting All Night'
One Direction: When it comes to anything voted for by the public, it all comes down to the fanbase. We doubt anyone loves Naughty Boy enough to hammer those phone votes. One Direction WILL win this. Next.
Mastercard British Album of the Year
Arctic Monkeys - AM
Bastille - Bad Blood
David Bowie - The Next Day
Disclosure - Settle
Rudimental - Home
Arctic Monkeys - AM: The best thing about tipping Arctic Monkeys to win this, is that they truly deserve it. It's not just an attempt to seem credible or cool. All five albums here are impressive in their own right, but AM stands head and shoulders above the rest. The AM album helped make British rock music mainstream again. This one belongs to the Sheffield boys.
International Male Solo Artist
Bruno Mars
Drake
Eminem
John Grant
Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake: Bruno Mars is performing, but come on - Justin Timberlake was the biggest international male artist of the past year. His return with The 20/20 Experience was a huge success and caused rabid furore online when he made his comeback. Poor old John Grant doesn't stand a chance - which is a massive shame.
International Female Solo Artist
Janelle Monae
Katy Perry
Lady Gaga
Lorde
Pink
Lorde: There are some big names competing for this one, and while it would make sense to tip Katy Perry for this one (album Prism was a huge success - and she's performing), Lorde's impact on the music world has been phenomenal. Single 'Royals' launched a superstar primed for worldwide stardom from an artist shrouded with mystery, and one who almost immediately amassed a legion of fans. It's Lorde's year.
International Group
Arcade Fire
Daft Punk
Haim
Kings of Leon
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Daft Punk: Four bands on this list have had a good year. One has had a PHENOMENAL year, going from cult heroes to one of the biggest bands on the planet, it's amazing what one album can do for your profile. This one is a no brainer. Daft Punk ARE the biggest International Group of the past 12 months. They will win, but they won't show up.
Below: the BRIT Awards nominees who don't stand a chance of winning
