UK: Newcomer Ed Sheeran leads BRITs nominations with four nods, over higher-profile acts Adele and Jessie J.

Record ID: 342894

  • Title: UK: Newcomer Ed Sheeran leads BRITs nominations with four nods, over higher-profile acts Adele and Jessie J.
  • Date: 13th January 2012
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (JANUARY 12, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF JESSIE J POSING FOR PICTURES (SOUNDBITE) (English) JESSIE J, SAYING: "Last year no one really knew who I was, I won the Critics' Choice, and here I am nominated for three and being able to pass onto Emeli Sande is just amazing, I really respect her, her music is amazing. I just feel like I'm at a party with my
  • Embargoed: 28th January 2012 12:00
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  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Arts
  • Reuters ID: LVAEAG36VLEZNTW6CPOIT3168ZAE
  • Story Text: The BRIT Awards championed the solo artist on Thursday with nominations dominated by the likes of Ed Sheeran, Adele and Jessie J.
    The annual honours, Britain's top pop awards, will be handed out at London's O2 Arena on Feb. 21, and leading the pack is English singer-songwriter Sheeran who has yet to match the profile of his female rivals.
    The 20-year-old, whose debut album "+" topped the UK charts and has so far sold nearly a million copies in Britain, scooped four nominations, including the coveted British Album of the Year.
    He is also in the running for British male solo artist, British breakthrough act and British single for "The A Team".
    "I'm ecstatic yeah, over the moon and just a bit surprised if I'm honest," he told Reuters Television.
    For his latest music video "Lego House", Sheeran recruited look-a-like actor, Rupert Grint. The singer joked that he used to get teased at school about his physical similarity to the Harry Potter star.
    "I went to school and was a ginger kid so you're obviously going to get the Ron Weasley comments at some point so I just thought I would take the piss out of myself and get him to play me," Sheeran said.
    Just behind Sheeran with three nominations apiece are Adele, last year's global chart queen, and Jessie J, the 2011 winner of the Critics' Choice award for rising music stars.
    Adele is up against Sheeran in the British Album category for her best-selling "21" as well as British female solo artist and British single for "Someone Like You", the music video of which was filmed at last year's BRITs.
    Jessie J competes in the female solo artist, British breakthrough and single categories, the latter for "Price Tag".
    "Last year no one really knew who I was, I won the Critics' Choice, and here I am nominated for three and being able to pass onto Emeli Sande is just amazing, I really respect her, her music is amazing. I just feel like I'm at a party with my mates. Everyone gets on and likes each other's music," she said.
    With British acts topping music charts around the world, the "Do It Like A Dude" singer said it was down to a few characteristics, unique to the British isles.
    "Because it's raw and honest and I don't think we've got any barriers up. I think we just let people into our lives and I think British humour people always find funny whether they're laughing with us or at us."
    Jessie J symbolically passed the Critics' Choice award to Scottish singer Emeli Sande, before the winner took to the stage to perform. The newly-engaged Sande said she hoped 2012 would be her year.
    "It's just incredible because I remember being at the BRITs last year when I was just a guest and I hadn't really brought anything out. It feels fantastic to be here and have the acknowledgment from the BRITs and to know so many people here, it's great," she said.
    Florence & the Machine and Coldplay are each nominated twice, as is Sande, and Americans Bon Iver and Aloe Blacc.
    Playing at the awards ceremony next month are expected to be Adele, Bruno Mars, Coldplay, Sheeran, Florence & the Machine, Rihanna, Noel Gallagher and Blur, recipients of the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award.
    Following is a full list of the 2012 nominees: BRITISH MALE SOLO ARTIST: Ed Sheeran; James Blake; James Morrison; Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds; Professor Green BRITISH FEMALE SOLO ARTIST: Adele; Florence & The Machine; Jessie J; Kate Bush; Laura Marling BRITISH BREAKTHROUGH ACT: Anna Calvi; Ed Sheeran; Emeli Sande; Jessie J; The Vaccines BRITISH GROUP: Arctic Monkeys; Chase & Status; Coldplay; Elbow; Kasabian BRITISH SINGLE: Adele/Someone Like You; Ed Sheeran/The A Team; Example/Changed The Way You Kiss Me; Jessie J Ft B.o.B./Price Tag; JLS Ft Dev/She Makes Me Wanna; Military Wives and Gareth Malone/Wherever You Are; Olly Murs Ft Rizzle Kicks/Heart Skips A Beat; One Direction/What Makes You Beautiful; Pixie Lott/All About Tonight; The Wanted/Glad You Came MASTERCARD BRITISH ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Adele/21; Coldplay/Mylo Xyloto; Ed Sheeran/+; Florence & The Machine/Ceremonials; PJ Harvey/Let England Shake INTERNATIONAL MALE SOLO ARTIST: Aloe Blacc; Bon Iver; Bruno Mars; David Guetta; Ryan Adams INTERNATIONAL FEMALE SOLO ARTIST: Beyonce; Bjork; Feist; Lady Gaga; Rihanna INTERNATIONAL GROUP: Fleet Foxes; Foo Fighters; Jay Z and Kanye West; Lady Antebellum; Maroon 5 INTERNATIONAL BREAKTHROUGH ACT: Aloe Blacc; Bon Iver; Foster The People; Lana Del Rey; Nicki Minaj OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO MUSIC AWARD: Blur CRITICS' CHOICE: Emeli Sande BRITISH PRODUCER: Paul Epworth; Flood; Ethan Johns
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