Well, if Brits were awarded based on a clap-ometer on the night then Madonna would have been the big winner this year, she getting by the far most applause, from the punter audience at least, although she was closely followed by American Idol Kelly Clarkson in terms of audience appreciation. As it was Madonna took one gong - Best International Female - while Clarkson left the awards empty handed.
In the end, and perhaps unsurprisingly, the Brits 2006 really belonged to Kaiser Chiefs who won in three of the five categories in which they were nominated. They took the awards for Best Live Act, Best Rock Band and over all Best Band at the West London awards bash last night. During the first of three somewhat disorganised acceptance speeches, the band's Ricky Wilson told the awards event: "This is our first Brit. We weren't meant to win this one so I don't know what to say. This means the world", while during their third visit to the stage they were, without explanation, joined by one Vic Reeves who told the awards audience: "I am the ambassador for Leeds, and this is the best band in the world from Leeds".
The other big performers on the night were Coldplay who took two of the flagship prizes - Best Single for 'Speed Of Sound' and Best Album for 'X&Y'. Hinting they now planned to take some time out of the spotlight, Coldplay's Chris Martin said: "It's hard for us sometimes because we are English and we do not like to admit that we think we are great - so tonight we would like to agree with you for giving us this award".
Martin also had something to say about the other multiple winner of the night - Mr James Blunt (Best Pop, Best Male) - who, as previously reported, has been getting a particularly unfair amount of stick in certain parts of the press (especially the music press) in the last few months. The Coldplay man told those critics to stop giving Blunt a hard time, adding "Be proud, he's British". He's right of course, and we should stress we've never dissed poor old James here in CMU, mainly because we're too busy dissing Coldplay (best album of 2005 my arse), but that's not the point. That Chris Martin quite often makes a good point you know - it's a shame his music's so dull.
Anyway, back to the Brits. The full list of winners checked out like this:
British Male Solo Artist: James Blunt
British Female Solo Artist: KT Tunstall
British Group: Kaiser Chiefs
British Album: Coldplay - X&Y
British Single: Coldplay - Speed Of Sound
British Breakthrough Act: Arctic Monkeys
British Urban Act: Lemar
British Rock Act: Kaiser Chiefs
British Live Act: Kaiser Chiefs
Pop Act: James Blunt
International Male Solo Artist: Kanye West
International Female Solo Artist: Madonna
International Group: Green Day
International Album: Green Day - American Idiot
International Breakthrough Act: Jack Johnson
Outstanding Contribution To Music: Paul Weller
The live bit of the awards show somehow lacked the stand-out-Scissor-Sisters type set of recent years, though a performance of Gorillaz' 'Dirty Harry' involving a stage full of school children, and a set from Kanye West featuring 77 models clad in bikinis and gold paint, possibly got close. Brit winners Kaiser Chiefs, James Blunt and Jack Johnson turned in performances of their big hits, Prince proved he's still got it with a three track set (even if the decision to book him for the Brits this year in particular wasn't really apparent) while Paul Weller closed the show having picked up his Outstanding Contribution To Music award. My personal highlight though was probably KT Tunstall, but that's because I'm a sucker for a drum solo.
The Brits will be aired on the telly tonight on ITV1 at 8pm.