Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift and Sam Smith were among the big winners at the 2015 Brit Awards, held Wednesday at London’s O2 Arena.
Sheeran won Best British Male Solo Artist and Best British Album of the Year, for his most recent record X. He also performed the track Bloodstream from the album.
Sheeran said it was a very good year for British music, and said he was nervous about making X.
“I was really worried about this album,” Sheeran said, according to a report from the BBC. “It took a long time to make. I don’t think a statue gives justification of people’s success.”
On the right track
Taylor Swift, who opened the programme with her recent single “Blank Space,” won Best International Female Solo Artist, while Pharrell Williams won Best International Male Solo Artist, and the American rock group Foo Fighters won Best International Group.
Sam Smith won British Breakthrough Act and also won the Global Success Award, recognised for his performance and sales outside the UK. The awards come after Smith won four Grammy’s in the United States earlier this month.
Smith, accepting his award, said this signified he was on the right path in his musical career.
“Since I was a little kid I dreamed of people all over the world singing my songs,” Smith said, according to the BBC report. “Although I’ve got a long way to go, this shows that I’m stepping in the right direction.”
A censored chord
Other winners included Mark Ronson, who won Best British Single for his track “Uptown Funk,” which he made in collaboration with Bruno Mars. The song was also Ronson’s first UK number one, earned just before Christmas last year.
Paloma Faith won the award for Best British Female Solo Artist and Royal Blood won for Best British Group. Additionally, James Bay won the award for Critics’ Choice and Paul Epworth won Best Producer, while the pop group One Direction won for Best British Video with their single “You and I.”
Other performers included Madonna, who returned to the awards for the first time in 20 years. She fell off a set of steps during her performance, but posted on Instagram that she was okay after the ceremony concluded.
Armani hooked me up! My beautiful cape was tied too tight! But nothing can stop me and love really lifted me up!… https://t.co/zrCAqweiLo
— Madonna (@Madonna) February 25, 2015
In addition, controversial rapper Kanye West performed a new single, which had to be heavily censored during the programme’s broadcast by ITV, the BBC report adds.
What do you think? Did you watch the BRIT Awards? Were you happy with the winners? Have your say in the comments section below.
