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Story: Jack Foley
THE current welcome revival in bands continued apace with the
announcement of this year's Brit Award nominations, as the likes
of Keane, Franz Ferdinand, Muse, Kasabian and Snow Patrol all
emerged as favourites for top accolades.
Scottish rockers, Franz Ferdinand, capped a fantastic year by
leading the field with five nominations, including best rock act,
best breakthrough act and best album.
But they face stiff opposition from the likes of Muse (four nominations),
The Streets, Kasabian, Keane and Snow Patrol (all with three).
The nominations were announced on Monday, January 10, 2005, at
a central London location, one month ahead of the Earls Court
awards ceremony, on February 9, which will be hosted by Chris
Evans.
Of the main categories to keep an eye on, Franz Ferdinand will
battle it out with Kasabian, Keane, Muse and Snow Patrol for best
British group, while Morrissey is shortlisted for best British
male artist, alongside Jamie Cullum, Lemar, The Streets and Will
Young.
Young soul sensation, Joss Stone, is up for best British female,
but is likely to be pushed hard by Natasha Bedingfield (who will
perform live with her brother, Daniel, at the ceremony for the
first time), as well as PJ Harvey, Amy Winehouse and Jamelia.
The title of best album will go to one of Franz
Ferdinand, Keane (Hopes
& Fears), Muse (Absolution),
Snow Patrol and The Streets (A Grand Don't Come For Free).
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Yet with five nominations, Franz
Ferdinand look to be the early favourites for Brits success, especially
since their album also won 2004's Mercury Music Prize.
That said, the Brits do tend to be more commercially-minded and
more mainstream and Keane enjoyed a similarly successful 2004,
only being pipped to the best-selling album of 2004 by Scissor
Sisters on the last day of sales.
Kasabian, too, will be seen as a good outside bet for success,
given the critical acclaim surrounding their debut album, which
was only released in September.
The 2005 Brit Awards will mark the 25th anniversary of the event,
a landmark that will be marked with a special prize for the best
British song of the past quarter-century.
The five finalists in the poll have been chosen by BBC Radio
2 listeners from a shortlist compiled by industry experts and
is comprised of the tracks, Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division,
Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush, We Are The Champions by Queen,
Angels by Robbie Williams and Leave Right Now by Will Young.
The 2005 awards will also see the introduction of a best British
live act category, with Franz Ferdinand again leading the nominations,
alongside Jamie Cullum, Kasabian, Muse and The Libertines.
In the international male category, Tom Waits and Brian Wilson
feature prominently, while Band Aid founder Bob Geldof will be
given an outstanding contribution to music award on the night.
Interestingly, the recent remake of Do They Know It's Christmas?
is on the best British single shortlist (despite drawing
many negative reviews from critics), along with Jamelia's Thank
You, Will Young's Your Game, Shapeshifters' club
anthem Lola's Theme, and LMC vs U2's Take Me To The
Clouds Above.
It was also announced at the nominations bash that at least £500,000
from the ceremony will go to a two-year project with charity Save
the Children to help those affected by the tsunami in southern
Asia.
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