Florence and the Machine wins Brits Critics' Choice Award 2009

 

Florence and the Machine has been announced as the winner of the Critics' Choice award at the Brits 2009. The 22-year-old will be the second recipient of the award, voted for by a journalists and broadcasters from across the music industry. The award recognises emerging British talent and was given last year to Brixton-born soulstress Adele, who went on to sell 1.2m copies of her debut LP.

 

Florence, full name Florence Welch, is followed by electro-synth act Little Boots, real name Victoria Hesketh, and London indie-pop band White Lies in second and third place respectively. The award can only be given to a British act who has not released a debut album. Brits chairman Ged Doherty said: "The aim of introducing this award last year was to help boost the career of a new British artist by giving them a platform to reach a wider audience. Adele clearly fulfilled all our hopes and ambitions for this award. I hope Florence and the Machine goes on to enjoy similar success."

 

Celebrated for her original folk-pop style, Welch had a lot to say about her win. "Blimey, a Brit Award wowtheworldsgoneweird. Thank you so much to the critics." She went on, "I'm making my album at the moment, it's sort of sounding like a choir, a harp, some metal chains and a piano all put through a car crusher, then hit with wooden planks really hard. I will see you at the awards. I'll be the one trying to get off with Katy Perry and passed out next to Leona Lewis."

 

That's quite a promise. Welch will be performing at the Brits Nominations Launch at The Roundhouse on 20 January 2009, and will collect her award (and possibly pass out) at the actual ceremony on Earl's Court on 18 February 2009.

 

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The Guardian // 12-12-08

 

So the top 03 as voted for by the Brit Critic people:

 

01 Florence and the Machine

02 Little Boots

03 White Lies

This is how I expect the BBC Sound of 2009 poll to end up...

I hope she breaks her leg on the way up to collect the award. :puke2: The Critics Choice award is so pointless.

she's superb - a really well-deserved award.

she's superb - a really well-deserved award.

:mellow:

 

Russ! She's the epitome of vile!

 

Nothing worse than a faux-kooky, art school drop out with a penchant for copying Kate Bush. Not to mention a load of hyperbole and a generally obnoxiously arrogant personality. She's sacked "her band" three times! :|

I've had a 6-track sampler of hers for about a month now - and each and every track on it is excellent....

:mellow:

 

Russ! She's the epitome of vile!

 

Nothing worse than a faux-kooky, art school drop out with a penchant for copying Kate Bush. Not to mention a load of hyperbole and a generally obnoxiously arrogant personality. She's sacked "her band" three times! :|

 

Picture the scene in a Record Exceutive Boardroom:

 

MD of Island Records: "Right guys/girls we need to put together an artist who is cool & cred and will go down with the indie kids who despise X-Factor but like Girls Aloud ya! Like Amy Winehouse & Mika have done in the past."

 

A&R guy: "Let's see so what you are looking for is a female singer like that Diana off of X-Factor except good?"

 

MD: "Exactly, a new young kooky Kate Bush for the 21st Century."

 

A&R guy: "I thought that was Alison Goldfrapp?"

 

MD: "Yeah but she's on Mute, and besides she is nearly 40 or something. We want something a bit down with the kids, with a dollop of that retro-white soul of Amy/Adele/Duffy/Cilmi & the folk/blues of Laura Marling/Cat Power/Joan As Policewoman with a bit of indie PJ Harvey & old school gothic punk Siouxsie Sioux thrown in."

 

A&R guy: "Okay, I'll call up my contacts at the BRIT school, LIPA, Brighton's PA; Guildhall School of PA; etc & see what I can find. Thinking about it ..... Leave it with me I remember the Klaxons who had a friend who dressed like a gothic hippy and looked a lot like a younger Anna Friel who could sing a bit and was into Edgar Allan Poe poetry.... Leave it with me I know exactly what we need as the next Big Thing of 2009"

 

 

 

Or am I getting too old & cynical. :lol:

Picture the scene in a Record Exceutive Boardroom:

 

MD of Island Records: "Right guys/girls we need to put together an artist who is cool & cred and will go down with the indie kids who despise X-Factor but like Girls Aloud ya! Like Amy Winehouse & Mika have done in the past."

 

MD: "Yeah but she's on Mute, and besides she is nearly 40 or something. We want something a bit down with the kids, with a dollop of that retro-white soul of Amy/Adele/Duffy/Cilmi & the folk/blues of Laura Marling/Cat Power/Joan As Policewoman with a bit of indie PJ Harvey & old school gothic punk Siouxsie Sioux thrown in."

 

A&R guy: "Okay, I'll call up my contacts at the BRIT school, LIPA, Brighton's PA; Guildhall School of PA; etc & see what I can find. Thinking about it ..... Leave it with me I remember the Klaxons who had a friend who dressed like a gothic hippy and looked a lot like a younger Anna Friel who could sing a bit and was into Edgar Allan Poe poetry.... Leave it with me I know exactly what we need as the next Big Thing of 2009"

Or am I getting too old & cynical. :lol:

 

tho maybe too cynical would be putting "Yeah but she's on (EMI owned former indie label) Mute" and MD of (Universal owned former indie label) Island Records" into your critique...tho maybe that could be seen as being too pedantic as well :lol: :lol:

 

 

I hope she breaks her leg on the way up to collect the award. :puke2: The Critics Choice award is so pointless.

 

and kinda obv...not really life changing in their selections...tho i guess the resulting media omnipresence could be worse..lets hope the media dont create another blur vs oasis or even duffy vs adele hyperbole by squaring Florence and the Machine up to Rosie And The Goldbug :lol: :lol: