Q Awards 2010
BY BURAK ŞAHİN (IR/III)
burak_s@ug.bilkent.edu.tr
Q Magazine, one of the UK's biggest music magazines, announced the winners of its annual and prestigious Q Awards with a fabulous ceremony hosted by comedian Al Murray. It took place at London's Grosvenor House. This year Q Magazine's editors decided to add new categories like Best Male/Female Artist with surprising winners. Let's have a look some important categories:
Best New Act
Nominated: Mumford & Sons (winner), The Drums, The xx, Two Door Cinema Club, Wild Beasts.
This was the hardest category in all awards. Two Door Cinema Club impressed with their debut album, Tourist History this year and also with Wild Beasts with Two Dancers. The xx won the Barclaycard Mercury Prize 2010, and The Drums are listed as future stars, but Mumford & Sons are one step ahead also for me. Their sound can be called indie folk, and it is absolutely fantastic. Mumford & Sons deserved this award among strong nominees with their debut album Sigh No More.
Best Male Artist
Nominated: Paolo Nutini (winner), Brandon Flowers, Dizzee Rascal, Paul Weller, Plan B.
In this new category, the competition was also hard. Dizzee Rascal and Ben Drew are successful rappers with their song-writing talent, and Paul Weller is a legend without any doubt, but contention was between Nutini and Flowers. Brandon Flowers, vocalist of The Killers, released his solo album, Flamingo. The Scottish young talent Paolo Nutini made an impact with Sunny Side Up. The single "10/10" is one of best songs of 2010 but nevertheless I would vote for Brandon Flowers in respect of The Killers. Flamingo duplicates the taste of the songs that we heard from The Killers, however.
Best Album
Nominated: The National, High Violet (winner), Arcade Fire, The Suburbs, Gorillaz, Plastic Beach, Paul Weller, Wake Up The Nation, Plan B, The Defamation Of Strickland Banks. The National won the best album award with High Violet. Arcade Fire was the strongest rival, but The National beat off competition. After walking on with "Bloodbuzz Ohio," Matt Berninger said that after seven years they had finally reached "superstardom," before laughing and then making their thanks. Their album has sold over 300,000 copies worldwide, and I agree that High Violet deserves the title Best Album.
Q Awards 2010: Winners List:
Best Track: Florence And The Machine, "You Got The Love"
Breakthrough Artist: Plan B
Best New Act: Mumford & Sons
Best Video: Chase & Status, feat. Plan B
Best Live Act: Green Day
Hall Of Fame: Take That
Classic Songwriter: Neil Finn
Next Big Thing : Clare Maguire
Q Idol: Madness
Q Hero: The Chemical Brothers
Q Inspiration: Suede
Best Male: Paolo Nutini
Best Female: Florence & The Machine
Innovation In Sound: Mark Ronson
Best Album: The National, High Violet
Best Live Act In the World Today: Kasabian
Q Icon: Bryan Ferry
Classic Album - Wings, Band On The Run