So, the Brits 2005 officially launch today, which is always fun. The main pre-launch story this morning seems to be that Live 8 live sets aren't eligible for the Best Live category because gigs have to be properly ticketed to count. Because Live 8 was essentially a free gig none of the sets from the lobby-fest can be shortlisted. According to some in the press this is an "outrage", with one Brits Academy member quoted as saying: "It is ridiculous. Pink Floyd's performance was clearly one of the biggest talking points of 2005 in the music world". Personally, seems fair enough to me. Commendable and exciting as Live 8 was, it was an event very much bigger than the sum of its parts, and frankly it seems unfair for artists who have invested huge amounts of time, money and creative energy into their own live shows to have compete with such an extravaganza. And anyway, am I alone in thinking that none of the sets at Live 8 would be that stand out if taken out of the context in which they appeared? Personally, my Live 8 highlight was Snoop Dogg shouting "mother-fucker" on prime time teatime BBC 1. Now if there was a Brit for Best Use Of An Expletive In Pop, then Live 8 would have to count.
Jan 10, 2006
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1 min read
Brits launch today
The Brits launch today, with Live 8 sets ruled ineligible for the Best Live category because the events were free, a decision one Academy member called ridiculous.