"Rain on Your Parade" live on Wetten, dass...?

The one and only Duffy performing "Rain on Your Parade" from the re-release of Rockferry. This is a GREAT performance. I'm really shocked she didn't perform this at the BRITs since it never was the mega hit it deserved to be--despite selling about a billion albums in the UK. Hopefully, she will extend her reign as queen on the European continent!

BRIT Awards Performances!

Here are a few of my favourite performances from the big night! There were some truly amazing performances that totally outdid the Grammy's in my opinion. I still can't believe the Grammy's didn't have Duffy perform during the live show--at least the Brits got that right!!

Co-hosts Kylie Minogue, James Corden and Matthew Horne opening the evening in quite a comical ode to Kylie.


Girls Aloud performed "The Promise" and shockingly it was their first performance ever at the BRITs! The girls did a great job and it was a fun performance. I was waiting for the big reveal of their outfits for the entire time! I just really wish the girls could actually dance(other than Cheryl).


I was super excited to hear that two of my fave artists were performing together! The Ting Tings and Estelle brought down the house by the end of their number! At first it started off a bit disastrous when they tried to mash up "Shut Up and Let Me Go" along with "American Boy" but the songs just do not go well together. Things finished off at a high point with "That's Not My Name," the song that put The Ting Tings on the map.


Duffy performed a gorgeous rendition of "Warwick Avenue." She can do no wrong in my eyes. She is just perfection! Though I'm a bit surprised she didn't perform her newer single "Rain on Your Parade."


The Pet Shop Boys were honored and performed a long medley of their biggest hits. Lady Gaga and Brandon Flowers from The Killers joined them on stage. Decent performence, but a bit long even for a medley. I also can't say that Gaga's and Flower's vocals really mesh well together.

BRIT Award Winners 2009!!!

Here are the big winners at this year's BRIT awards in bold! Duffy was the BIG winner of the night which left Adele along with the Ting Tings empty handed. Duffy was absolutely deserving having the biggest album of the year in the UK and also being hailed by the critics. In a somewhat shocker Girls Aloud walked away with the award for "British Single," which makes me incredibly happy!!!! Check out of the rest of the best below! So sad I couldn't be in Earl's Court tonight.

British Male Solo Artist
Ian Brown
James Morrison
Paul Weller
The Streets
Will Young

British Female Solo Artist
Adele
Beth Rowley
Duffy
Estelle
M.I.A.

British Group
Coldplay
Elbow
Girls Aloud
Radiohead
Take That

British Single
Coldplay - 'Viva La Vida'
Duffy - 'Mercy'
Girls Aloud - 'The Promise'
Leona Lewis - 'Better In Time'
Scouting For Girls - 'Heartbeat'

British Album
Coldplay - Viva La Vida
Duffy - Rockferry
Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Ting Tings - We Started Nothing

British Breakthrough Act
Adele
Duffy
The Last Shadow Puppets
Scouting For Girls
Ting Tings

British Live Act
Coldplay
Elbow
Iron Maiden
Scouting For Girls
The Verve

International Male Solo Artist
Beck
Neil Diamond
Jay-Z
Kanye West
Seasick Steve

International Female Solo Artist
Beyoncé
Gabriella Cilmi
Katy Perry
Pink
Santogold

International Group
AC/DC
Fleet Foxes
The Killers
Kings of Leon
MGMT

International Album
AC/DC - Black Ice
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
The Killers - Day & Age
Kings of Leon - Only By The Night
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular

Critics' Choice Award
Florence and the Machine

Outstanding Contribution to Music
Pet Shop Boys

BRIT Award Nominations Revealed!!

The day we've all been waiting for has finally arrived!! The BRIT Award nominations have been revealed!! There aren't too many surprises here really, but there is certainly a lot of stiff competition. British Album is really a tough category...though I'm pulling for Duffy or the Ting Tings..but Coldplay and Radiohead certainly have a shot. I would love for Girls Aloud to win British Group, but I hear that's unlikely as basically any of the others are Brit favorites. I think the toughest competition comes in the British Female and International Female categories. I really couldn't predict who will win. The Adele/Duffy choice proves quite difficult in the end with both of them so deserving of the award. I wouldn't think MIA would get the statue (she has a better chance at the Grammys actually) as she hasn't had as much recognition in the UK despite how phenomenal both her albums have been. International female should in no way go to Beyonce for her latest effort, but the other 4 all have a good shot. It comes down to whether sales (Katy Perry/Pink) or freshness and indie cred (Gabriella Cilmi/Santogold) win out in the end. Kanye should absolutely win International Male, but British single will certainly be a surprise that only time can reveal!

MASTERCARD BRITISH ALBUM
Coldplay: Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends
Duffy: Rockferry
Elbow: The Seldom Seen Kid
Radiohead: In Rainbows
The Ting Tings: We Started Nothing

BRITISH GROUP
Coldplay
Elbow
Girls Aloud
Radiohead
Take That

BRITISH MALE SOLO ARTIST
Ian Brown
James Morrison
Paul Weller
The Streets
Will Young

BRITISH FEMALE SOLO ARTIST
Adele
Beth Rowley
Duffy
Estelle
M.I.A.

INTERNATIONAL ALBUM
AC/DC: Black ice
Fleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes
The Killers: Day & Age
Kings of Leon: Only By the Night
MGMT: Oracular Spectacular

INTERNATIONAL GROUP
AC/DC
Fleet Foxes
The Killers
Kings of Leon
MGMT

INTERNATIONAL MALE SOLO ARTIST
Beck
Neil Diamond
Jay-Z
Kanye West
Seasick Steve

INTERNATIONAL FEMALE SOLO ARTIST
Beyoncé
Gabriella Cilmi
Katy Perry
Pink
Santogold

BRITISH SINGLE
Adele: Chasing Pavements
Alexandra Burke: Hallelujah
Coldplay: Viva La Vida
Dizzee Rascal Featuring Calvin Harris and Chrome: Dance Wiv Me
Duffy: Mercy
Estelle ft Kanye West: American Boy
Girls Aloud: The Promise
Leona Lewis: Better in Time
Scouting for Girls: Heartbeat
The X Factor Finalists: Hero

BRITISH BREAKTHROUGH ACT
Adele
Duffy
The Last Shadow Puppets
Scouting for Girls
The Ting Tings

BRITISH LIVE ACT
Coldplay
Elbow
Iron Maiden
Scouting for Girls
The Verve

CRITICS’ CHOICE AWARD
Florence and the Machine
RUNNERS' UP
Little Boots
White Lies

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO MUSIC
Pet Shop Boys

BBC's Sound of 2008 Poll

More than 150 music experts were polled for BBC's Sound of 2008. Journalists rank artists that broke in 2008 and should give us some exciting tunes in the upcoming twelve months. The list is usually quite accurate with Mika coming in at #1 in 2007 and Corrine Bailey Rae at #1 in 2006. Here's a breakdown of some of my faves from the list:

1. Adele

She is ABSOLUTELY one of my favorite artists of all time which is quite a feat for a) not being part of a girl group, b) not singing pop music, and c) having only one record released. I'm quite surprised her album 19 was not nominated for Album of the Year at the Grammy's. At least "Chasing Pavements" was nominated 3 times. Check out her video for "Cold Shoulder" below:


2. Duffy
Duffy is simply amazing. She's like a pretty version of Amy Winehouse with a mix of Dusty Springfield. I'm glad she's received so much success and so many Grammy nominations as well. It's going to be a battle between Adele and she for statues. Check out the video for "Rain on My Parade" from the Deluxe Edition of Rockferry:

3. The Ting Tings
I've also played this group on repeat for a majority of 2008. Their album is full of gems and they were even (deservingly) nominated for Video of the Year at the VMAs. Check out a video for "That's Not My Name"


4. Glasvegas
Not one of my fave bads, but they deserve a mention because of their clever name owing to the fact that they're from Glasgow!
5. Foals

6. Vampire Weekend


7. Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong
8. Black Kids
9. MGMT
10. Santogold
She's a Brooklyn native who fuses many different styles including punk, hip hop, pop and electronica to form her own musical style. Her closest musically is probably the very talented MIA. Each of her tracks is really unique but also really catchy.


11. Ida Maria
12. One Night Only

13. Alphabeat
Danish and Amazing--that's all!

I've listened to "Fascination" literally thousands of times this year.

14. Laura Marling
15. Cajun Dance Party
16. The Courteeners

17. Gabriella Cilmi (pronounced Chill-Me--you're welcome!)
She's another (Australian) singer with a soul influence a la Duffy and Adele. She has some great tracks including "Sanctuary" and "Sweet About Me," which is below:


18. Late of the Pier
19. Black Mountain
20. Lil' Wayne
He probably doesn't deserve to be on this list. Journalists are probably just mentioning him because he has been such a cultural influence--but I don't think his music is really above average for rap artists. I'm VERY surprised he was nominated for Album of the Year at the Grammy's--despite how many he's sold.