Effiong Eton: Brit Awards 2016: Adele Dominates Ceremony With Four Awards

Thursday 25 February 2016

Brit Awards 2016: Adele Dominates Ceremony With Four Awards

Adele has been crowned Queen of the Brits, winning four prizes including best British female and best album.

"To come back after so long away and be so warmly received means so much," she said.

The star, who closed the show by performing When We Were Young, also received best British single and the Global Success award.

The show also featured an emotional tribute to David Bowie, led by Annie Lennox and his friend Gary Oldman.

Lennox called Bowie, who died of cancer last month, "a quintessential visionary" and "the ultimate iconoclast."

Oldman then accepted a Brits icon award on behalf of the singer and his family.

"David you were mortal, but your potential was superhuman," he said, "and your music lives on".

Bowie's band then performed a medley of his hits, before New Zealand singer Lorde joined them to sing Life On Mars.

The ceremony was opened by Coldplay, who gave a colourful, floral performance of their single Hymn For The Weekend, showering the audience with confetti petals as they played on one of two separate stages at London's O2 arena.

They went on to win best British group - making them the most successful band in the ceremony's history.

Chris Martin and co now have nine trophies to their name, although the figure pales in comparison to Robbie Williams' 17 awards (12 as a solo artist and five with Take That).

Other awards went to James Bay, for best male, and Australian psych-rock band Tame Impala, who picked up best international group.

Canadian singer Justin Bieber, who performed his chart topping singles Love Yourself and Sorry, won best international male.

"Man, I'm shaking right now," he said as he took the stage, thanking his fans for their support after a couple of years where he appeared to go off the rails.

"Life is a journey," he said. "Everyone has their ups and downs."

One Direction, who are officially on hiatus, also picked up best video for the space-themed Drag Me Down.

"We've been away for a little while, so it's been a bit like getting back on a bike tonight," said singer Liam Payne.

One Direction's victory in the fan-voted best video category robbed Adele of the opportunity to become the most-garlanded artist in a single Brits ceremony.

As it stands, her total of four awards is equalled only by Blur, who won the same number in 1995 for their album Parklife.

Adele became more emotional as the ceremony continued, bursting into tears after accepting the global success prize - which recognises success overseas.

"I got really lost for a while and I didn't know if I'd ever come back," she said, referencing the writer's block that delayed her much-anticipated third album.

"For you all to be so kind to me is so nice."

MasterCard British Album of the Year
Adele, 25 -- WINNER
Coldplay, A Head Full of Dreams
Florence & the Machine, How Big How Blue How Beautiful
James Bay, Chaos & the Calm
Jamie XX, In Colour

British Artist Video of the Year
Adele, "Hello"
Calvin Harris & Disciples, "How Deep Is Your Love"
Ellie Goulding, "Love Me Like You Do"
Jessie J, "Flashlight"
Little Mix, "Black Magic"
Naughty Boy Ft. Beyonce, Arrow Benjamin, "Runnin (Lose It All)"
One Direction, "Drag Me Down" -- WINNER
Sam Smith, "Writing's on the Wall"
Years & Years, "King"

International Female Solo Artist
Ariana Grande
Bjork -- WINNER
Courtney Barnett
Lana Del Rey
Meghan Trainor

British Breakthrough Act
Catfish & the Bottlemen -- WINNER
James Bay
Jess Glynne
Wolf Alice
Years & Years

International Male Solo Artist
Drake
Father John Misty
Justin Bieber -- WINNER
Kendrick Lamar
The Weeknd

British Group
Blur
Coldplay -- WINNER
Foals
One Direction
Years & Years

British Single
Adele, "Hello" -- WINNER
Calvin Harris & Disciples, "How Deep Is Your Love"
Ed Sheeran & Rudimental, "Bloodstream"
Ellie Goulding, "Love Me Like You Do"
James Bay, "Hold Back the River"
Jess Glynne, "Hold My Hand"
Little Mix, "Black Magic
Olly Murs ft. Demi Lovato, "Up"
Philip George, "Wish You Were Mine"
Years & Years, "King"

British Female Solo Artist
Adele -- WINNER
Amy Winehouse
Florence & the Machine
Jess Glynne
Laura Marling

British Male Solo Artist
Aphex Twin
Calvin Harris
James Bay -- WINNER
Jamie XX
Mark Ronson

International Group
Alabama Shakes
Eagles of Death Metal
Major Lazer
Tame Impala -- WINNER
U2

Critics' Choice
Jack Garratt -- WINNER
Izzy Bizu
Frances

British Producer of the Year
Charlie Andrew -- WINNER
Mark Ronson
Mike Crossey
Tom Dalgety