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Lady Gaga accepts Brit award - Source: Reuters -
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Glam pop artist Lady Gaga dominated the 30th BRITs, winning a
trio of awards at the British pop music industry's flagship
ceremony, the first international act to do so for five
years.
Gaga, dressed in a ghostly carnival headdress and skimpy lace
outfit, picked up awards for International Female Solo Artist,
International Breakthrough Act and Best International Album for The
Fame, winning every category in which she was nominated.
The singer, on top of the British music charts for most of the last
12 months, dedicated an eerie live performance to fashion designer
Alexander McQueen, who died last week.
"Thank you so much for believing in me," she told her fans.
British boy band JLS, who finished second in TV talent show The X
Factor in 2008, polished off a year of number one singles and a
top-selling album with two awards - best British group and best
British single for Beat Again.
Lily Allen was crowned best British female artist and Dizzee Rascal
was named best British male, capping his successful transition from
rapper to bona fide pop star.
Rascal's latest album Tongue N' Cheek has yielded three number one
singles - Dance Wiv Me, Holiday and Bonkers - which have had as
much to do with house music as rap.
It was a big night for hip hop.
US rapper Jay-Z won the International Male Solo Artist award and
delivered a powerful rendition of his hit Empire State of Mind with
Alicia Keys.
Jay-Z's star has been on the rise in Britain since he won over
thousands of new fans as the first hip hop act to headline the
Glastonbury festival in 2008, traditionally a rock event.
"We proved that hip hop could play anywhere in the world," Jay-Z
said.
Pomp and ceremony
The event, which has been criticised for failing to recognise
artists beyond the major labels, brings together hordes of record
company executives, artists and hangers-on to celebrate the
previous year's successes at London's Earls Court.
"Twenty minutes of entertainment dragged over a two-hour show,"
cracked presenter comedian Peter Kay.
Undeterred by a wet winter's night, hundreds of star-struck fans
toughed it out outside the west London venue hoping to catch a
glimpse of their idols.
The event has become known for overblown performances by the
winning artists and Tuesday ran true to form.
Allen opened the night with a rendition of The Fear, backed by male
dancers who dropped to the stage dressed in pink camouflage,
brandishing machine guns and Union Jack umbrellas.
Indie rockers Kasabian, winners of best British group, played their
song Fire behind a wall of flames and the four members of JLS began
Beat Again as four crucifixes hung high above the stage.
Oasis singer Liam Gallagher produced the night's only moment of
mischief, tossing his microphone and award into the crowd after
accepting the BRITs Album of 30 Years for their 1995 album (What's
the Story) Morning Glory?.
Florence and the Machine grabbed the best album award for Lungs and
former Take That member Robbie Williams, who went on to success as
a solo artist, received an Outstanding Contribution to Music
award.
"Yeah, I've chipped in," said Williams, who delivered a medley of
hits such as Angels.
"Odds and sods over the years."
Full list of winners at the Brit Awards 2010:
British Male Solo Artist - Dizzee Rascal
British Female Solo Artist - Lily Allen
British Breakthrough Act - JLS
British Group - Kasabian
British Album - Lungs, Florence and the Machine
British Single - Beat Again, JLS
Brits performance of 30 years - Wannabe/Who Do You Think You Are,
Spice Girls
International Male Solo Artist - Jay-Z
International Female Solo Artist - Lady Gaga
International Breakthrough Act - Lady Gaga
International Album - The Fame Lady Gaga
Brits Album of 30 Years - 'What's The Story (Morning Glory) -
Oasis
Outstanding Contribution to Music - Robbie Williams
