It could not have the common attraction of the illustrious Grammy Awards, however the annual British Document Trade Trusts Present Awards (aka the BRITs) stays the UK’s most prestigious music awards ceremony, attracting home viewing figures of effectively over 5 million. First held in 1977 to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s silver jubilee, the occasion has since performed host to a legion of legend-enshrining moments starting from the poignant (Queen frontman Freddie Mercury’s remaining public look, in 1990) to the provocative (Oasis brazenly taunting their Britpop rivals Blur in 1996), and together with a lot of historic BRIT Awards reside performances which have helped make the ceremony a necessary calendar occasion.
In tribute to this venerable British establishment, we salute the Greatest BRIT Awards reside performances of all time.
Spice Women (1997)
Arguably probably the most iconic BRIT Awards reside efficiency of all of them, Spice Women’ triumphant slot has gone down in historical past. That is partly on account of their supercharged efficiency of signature hits “Wannabe” and “Who Do You Think You Are,” but in addition due to Geri Halliwell’s outfit. With Spicemania at its zenith and the band having simply celebrated their debut album, Spice, topping the US Billboard chart, Halliwell carried out “Who Do You Think You Are” clad in a gown her sister made out of a Union Jack tea towel, with a peace signal on the again. In 2010, this much-acclaimed extravaganza received the retrospective BRITs Hits 30: Greatest Dwell Efficiency At The BRITs Award.
Amy Winehouse (2008)
Amy Winehouse was enduring an particularly turbulent time when she appeared on the 2008 BRITs. Her non-public life was being raked over by the tabloids, who had been additionally criticising the requirements of her stage present. She emphatically silenced her detractors on the BRITs, performing an excellent model of The Zutons’ “Valerie” with Mark Ronson, and returning to the stage alone for a show-stopping rendition of “Love Is A Losing Game.”
The KLF (1992)
Having shared the Greatest British Group award with Merely Purple, electro-pop agent provocateurs The KLF had been booked for the 1992 ceremony because the night’s opening act. As a substitute of faithfully reproducing their hit “3am Eternal,” The KLF – who comprised Jimmy Cauty and former Echo & The Bunnymen supervisor Invoice Drummond – carried out an ear-splitting steel remodeling of the observe in collaboration with grindcore outfit Excessive Noise Terror.
On the tune’s conclusion, Drummond fired blanks from a classic machine gun over the viewers, and their publicist, Scott Piering, declared, “Ladies and gentlemen, The KLF have now left the music business!” He wasn’t kidding. This much-publicized occasion marked the tip of the duo’s musical profession.
Kanye West (2015)
Previous to 2015, hip-hop celebrity Kanye West had already received three Worldwide Male Solo Artist BRIT Awards, and in 2006 he carried out a medley of his hits “Diamonds From Sierra Leone,” “Gold Digger” and “Touch The Sky.”
In 2015, nevertheless, he stole the present in no unsure phrases. Launched by his spouse Kim Kardashian, West took to the stage with an entourage together with UK MCs Skepta, Krept, Konan, Jammer and Novelist, in addition to two huge flame-throwers, whereas he debuted his newest single, “All Day.” Nonetheless one of many BRITs’ most controversial performances, it was broadly publicized – and genuinely provocative.
Michael Jackson (1996)
On the 1996 BRITs, Michael Jackson obtained a particular Artist Of A Technology award. Throughout the ceremony, Jackson accompanied a efficiency of his single “Earth Song” with an formidable stage present, culminating with the artist backlit as a messianic determine surrounded by kids. Nonetheless, outraged Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker mounted the stage in protest, lifted his jacket and waggled his (clothed) bottom in Jackson’s course. Cocker’s controversial interruption however, Jackson’s dramatic efficiency ranks among the many most memorable BRIT Awards reside performances.
Prince (2006)
Having lengthy mastered the artwork of utilizing a single key TV look to make headlines world wide, Prince selected his one and solely BRIT Awards reside efficiency to tease two tracks from his forthcoming 3121 album (“Te Amo Corazón,” “Fury”) earlier than ripping into “Purple Rain” and “Let’s Go Crazy.” The efficiency gained added poignancy 10 years later; having invited Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman to play reside with him for the primary time in years, this BRIT Awards reside look would mark the ultimate time Prince shared a stage along with his former Revolution bandmates.
Sam Smith (2015)
The 2015 BRITs was undeniably a momentous event for Sam Smith, who took residence two awards (British Breakthrough Act, British World Success award) and celebrated these milestones in model with a really heartfelt efficiency of “Lay Me Down.”
Girl Gaga (2010)
In 2010, Girl Gaga took residence three Worldwide BRIT awards: Greatest Feminine Performer, Greatest Breakthrough Act and Greatest Album (for The Fame). To mark the event, she wore an arresting ensemble, resembling a tiered marriage ceremony cake as she arrived on the ceremony. For her BRIT Awards reside efficiency (which she devoted to the late designer Alexander McQueen) she stepped out of her gown to disclose a lace bodysuit and performed “Telephone” and “Dance In The Dark.”
Stormzy (2018)
Grime MC Stormzy had a giant night time on the 2018 Brit Awards, taking residence British Album Of The 12 months for his acclaimed debut Gang Indicators & Prayer, in addition to the prize for British Male Solo Artist. Nonetheless, he additionally used his 2018 BRITs efficiency to take a swipe at Prime Minister Theresa Might over her dealing with of the Grenfell tragedy of 2018.
Following a memorable efficiency of “Blinded By Your Grace,” Stormzy broke out right into a politically-fuelled freestyle the place he lashed out on the PM for the way in which she responded to the tower-block hearth. “Like yo, Theresa May, where’s the money for Grenfell?” he spat, earlier than including ”What, you thought we simply forgot about Grenfell?”
Katy Perry with Skip Marley (2017)
The US and the remainder of the world are represented by the BRITs’ Worldwide Feminine and Male Solo awards, and the Worldwide Group Award. US pop celebrity Katy Perry received the Worldwide Feminine Solo award in 2009, and whereas she wasn’t a winner in 2017, her efficiency of “Chained To The Rhythm” (only a month after US President Donald Trump’s inauguration) attracted international consideration after she was joined by two giant skeletal puppets dressed as Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa Might. Perry is once more nominated for 2 awards – for British Single and British Video – in 2018.
Women Aloud (2009)
The soon-to-be huge Women Aloud made their first-ever tv look on the 2009 BRITs, with the 5 band members seemingly performing “The Promise” bare, although their modesty was truly coated by outfits made out of pink feathers. On the following 12 months’s occasion, this eye-catching efficiency was nominated for the retrospective BRITs Hits 30: Greatest Dwell Efficiency At The BRITS Award, but it surely narrowly misplaced out to Spice Women’ iconic 1997 slot.
Oasis (2007)
Point out Oasis together with the BRITs and other people typically recall 1996, when the Mancunian stars received Greatest British Band and the Gallagher brothers taunted their arch rivals, Blur. Nonetheless, Oasis returned to simply accept a BRIT for Excellent Contribution To British Music in 2007, and carried out an imperious set together with a number of of their most influential tunes, “Cigarettes & Alcohol,” “Rock’n’Roll Star” and “Don’t Look Back In Anger.”
Lorde (2016)
The 2016 BRITs came about inside weeks of David Bowie’s loss of life and the occasion featured an emotional tribute to the late star which additionally included contributions from Annie Lennox and actor Gary Oldman. Nonetheless, the pièce de résistance was certainly Lorde performing a uncooked and emotional model of the timeless “Life On Mars?” with Bowie’s reside band. Each heartfelt and heart-breaking, it rewarded Lorde with a standing ovation and can stay one of many important BRIT Awards reside performances for years to return.
Adele (2011)
Solely weeks after the discharge of her second album, 21, Adele carried out an emotional model of the report’s (then little-known) “Someone Like You,” accompanied solely by piano. She was seemingly so nervous that she broke down in tears backstage, however her spellbinding recital stole the present. Her BRIT Awards reside efficiency helped elevate “Someone Like You” to No.1 on either side of the Atlantic and made Adele a family identify within the course of.
