mercury music awards (1 Viewer)

[moc]

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=musicNews&storyID=6177296

By Tom Ferguson


LONDON (Billboard) - Scottish alternative rock act Franz Ferdinand has won Britain's coveted Mercury Prize for its eponymous debut album.

The annual music-industry award, recognizing the U.K. or Irish album of the year, was presented Tuesday night at the Grosvenor House hotel in London.

"We didn't expect to win this," said lead vocalist Alex Kapranos upon accepting the honor. "The bands (nominated) this year reflect a trend in the U.K. toward fantastic music."

Franz Ferdinand and U.K. garage act the Streets, a.k.a. rapper Mike Skinner, had been 3/1 joint favorites to win the award, according to bookmaker William Hill.

The winner was chosen from a shortlist of 12 albums by a 11-strong panel comprising media representatives and artists, headed by author Simon Frith. The shortlist was announced July 20, having been selected from a pool of 180 nominated albums.

The prize ceremony was broadcast live nationally by Top 40 station BBC Radio 1 and on digital TV channel BBC 4..

The full shortlist was: Basement Jaxx, "Kish Kash"; Belle & Sebastian, "Dear Catastrophe Waitress"; Franz Ferdinand "Franz Ferdinand"; Jamelia, "Thank You"; Keane, "Hopes and Fears"; Snow Patrol, "Final Straw"; The Streets, "A Grand Don't Come for Free"; Joss Stone, "The Soul Sessions"; Ty, "Upwards"; Amy Winehouse, "Frank"; Robert Wyatt, "Cuckooland"; the Zutons, "Who Killed ... The Zutons."

Last year's winner was teen-aged hip-hop artist Dizzee Rascal.

Reuters/Billboard

© Reuters 2004. All Rights Reserved.

seems franz ferdinand won it...

 

[IFF]

first band to win it since Gomez in 1998

most people that were nominated seem happy that franz ferdinand won it. The only exception being Ty who would have prefered belle &sebastian to win

 

[krystal]

I might like Friends Ferdinand if I didn't actually already like the Gang of 4

 

[egg_]

I kind of approve of the Mercury Music Awards, but I can't say why, I very seldom particularly like anyone that wins (exception: last year's winner)

 

[taubstumm]

I might like Friends Ferdinand if I didn't actually already like the Gang of 4

gang of four? i thought they sounded more like a cheap, dancier strokes. best gang of four rip-off band is erase errata.

 

[ostrichsyndrome]

I might like Friends Ferdinand if I didn't actually already like the Gang of 4

i might like them if they were any good, but they're not

 

[krystal]

yeah, I think the Friends of Ferdinand have a Gang o' 4 Record or 3. And an Orange Juice long player or 5.

 

[thegoone]

music awards are for people who wash in whores milk

 

[mitochondrian]

is it just me or have the mercuries gone very pop orientated of late
like jamelia & basement jaxx amongst others.i thought the whole point was to highlight less commercial music,no?

 

[dirtydishes]

Franz Ferdinand are The Feelies crossed with A Gang of Four. There is a photo of The Feelies inside Crazy Rhythms LP that looks exactly like FF. They might not have heard any of their stuff but it is quite similiar. Still good though.

 

[spiritualtramp]

is it just me or have the mercuries gone very pop orientated of late
like jamelia & basement jaxx amongst others.i thought the whole point was to highlight less commercial music,no?

[size=-1]"the annual Panasonic Mercury Music Prize aims to celebrate the best in British music"

so maybe pop is getting a bit better?

I think basement jaxx and Jamelia are pretty alright for pop music.
[/size]

 

[egg_]

I think M-People won the Mercury Music Prize back in maybe 1994, so the appearance of pop is not a new thing

 

[cassette/tape]

i think its all got a bit footbally recently:
keane, les ferdinand, there's also a band called rooney...

 

[mitochondrian]

i've nothing against the whole pop thing it just seems there are so many other awards out there that celebrate pop music that it would be nice to see a high profile awards ceremony for smaller artists that are making as good as and usually better music.
yis are probably right about the ever-present inclusion of pop in the mercuries i think when i see them i usually brush over those big acts and
concentrate/root for the less well known stuff.

 

[ostrichsyndrome]

Franz Ferdinand are The Feelies crossed with A Gang of Four. There is a photo of The Feelies inside Crazy Rhythms LP that looks exactly like FF. They might not have heard any of their stuff but it is quite similiar. Still good though.

franz ferdinand are the darkness crossed with indie crap

 

[ddmurph]

"The bands (nominated) this year reflect a trend in the U.K. toward fantastic music."

haha

 

[Audiodelic]

its great to see franz ferdinand win the mercury haircut prize.

haha

 

[nlgbbbblth]

yay well done
Franz Ferdinand

 

[billygannon]

 

[Lili Marlene]

Elastica were much better at ripping off those kinda bands