Topical Tuesday 17.01.17

We love the drama, the surprise nominees, the snubs, just everything! Heading towards the Brit Awards 2017, there’s a lot to look forward to… The Brit Awards will be handed out to the best music acts from the UK and beyond at the O2 Arena in London on 22 February. David Bowie –Blackstar David Bowie has been nominated for best British male solo artist and best British album at the 2017 Brit Awards - a year after his death. The singer will go up against Craig David, Michael Kiwanuka and Skepta for the solo artist prize. Rock legend Bowie has been a Brit winner in the past, taking the best male category in 1984 and receiving an "outstanding contribution" award in 1996. At the 2016 ceremony, following Bowie's death in January 2016, actor Gary Oldman accepted a Brits Icon Award on the singer's behalf, and Lorde performed a heartfelt rendition of Life On Mars?

The 1975 – Girls The 1975 will be performing at the Brits for the first time, just months after they were shortlisted for the Mercury Prize. The group are up for the best British group award, where they face Little Mix, Radiohead, Bastille and Biffy Clyro.

Little Mix - Shout Out To My Ex Zayn and Perrie are going head to head. Both are up for British Single (Little Mix are up for three awards in total) for their scathing post-break up tunes. While Zayn took Pillowtalk as an opportunity to show off his new arm candy, supermodel Gigi Hadid, Little Mix took a more upfront approach with their nominated anthem Shout Out to My Ex. Little Mix have already enjoyed a successful 2017, as their album Glory Days became the longest reigning number one for a girl group since the Spice Girls' debut 20 years ago. Needless to say, they’re strong contenders.

Bastille – Good Grief It’s about time they made their return to the BRITS. In 2014 the British group were nominated for four awards, picking up breakthrough award. Now, three years later, they’re back, this time for Best British Group.

Rag’N’Bone Man – Human While he may not have take home the BBC Sound of 2017 award at the beginning of January, there’s a very high chance Rag’N’Bone Man – also known as Rory Graham could be collecting not one but two BRIT awards next month. Having already been announced as the winner of the Critics’ Choice award, the artist is also nominated for British Breakthrough Act.

Clean Bandit - Rockabye It’s not at all difficult to understand why this phenomenal chart topper is having a look in for the Best British Single gong. Having spent seven consecutive weeks at NO.1 following its release (only dropping following the surprise release of Ed Sheeran’s new tracks) it’s still a crowd favourite to pick up the Brit.

Meanwhile, Laura Mvula has responded to being snubbed by this year’sBRIT Awards, Tweeting that she is “genuinely hurt” to have missed out on a nomination. Mvula released her second album, ‘The Dreaming Room’, in June 2016, which would have qualified her to be nominated – the album was included on the shortlist for the Mercury Prize last year. The full list of nominations is as follows: BRITISH MALE SOLO ARTIST In association with Apple Music Craig David David Bowie Kano Michael Kiwanuka Skepta BRITISH FEMALE SOLO ARTIST In association with Apple Music Anohni Ellie Goulding Emeli Sandé Lianne La Havas Nao BRITISH GROUP The 1975 Bastille Biffy Clyro Little Mix Radiohead BRITISH BREAKTHROUGH ACT Anne-Marie Blossoms Rag’n’Bone Man Skepta Stormzy CRITICS’ CHOICE Rag’n’Bone Man BRITISH SINGLE Alan Walker - Faded Calum Scott - Dancing On My Own Calvin Harris featuring Rihanna - This Is What You Came For Clean Bandit featuring Sean Paul & Anne-Marie - Rockabye Coldplay - Hymn For The Weekend James Arthur - Say You Won't Let Go Jonas Blue featuring Dakota - Fast Car Little Mix - Shout Out To My Ex Tinie Tempah featuring Zara Larsson - Girls Like Zayn – Pillowtalk MASTERCARD BRITISH ALBUM OF THE YEAR The 1975 - I Like It When You Sleep For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It David Bowie - Blackstar Kano - Made In The Manor Michael Kiwanuka - Love And Hate Skepta – Konnichiwa BRITISH ARTIST VIDEO OF THE YEAR Adele - Send My Love (To Your New Lover) Calvin Harris featuring Rihanna - This Is What You Came For Clean Bandit featuring Sean Paul & Anne-Marie - Rockabye Coldplay - Hymn For The Weekend James Arthur - Say You Won't Let Go Jonas Blue featuring Dakota - Fast Car Little Mix featuring Sean Paul - Hair One Direction - History Tinie Tempah featuring Zara Larsson - Girls Like Zayn – Pillowtalk INTERNATIONAL MALE SOLO ARTIST Bon Iver Bruno Mars Drake Leonard Cohen The Weeknd INTERNATIONAL FEMALE SOLO ARTIST Beyoncé Christine And The Queens Rihanna Sia Solange INTERNATIONAL GROUP A Tribe Called Quest Drake And Future Kings Of Leon Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds Twenty One Pilots