Most aver that music is the universal language; there is substantial evidence to back that claim up.
Every culture has its own music. The melodies and songs of lives the world over reflect our shared experiences and tell about heroic deeds. The language of music is as complex and distinct from one society to the next as the world's spoken and written languages are.
Which begs the question: why don't we celebrate polyglots the way we do musicians?
Probably because, while their accomplishments are praiseworthy, multi-lingual people enjoy little public exposure and it would be difficult to parlay their talent for languages into something with mass appeal - let alone any type of entertainment.
Music has the power to soothe our souls and gives us a sense of shared identity. Soaring vocals can bring us to tears and powerful lyrics can provoke us to action. Or, at least, give us something to think about. And who can resist a lively dance beat?
That's why we recognise and celebrate the work of those who tell our stories and enrich our lives through music.
And, going by who will perform at this year's biggest UK music awards ceremony, our lives must be very rich, indeed.
| Main Show Performances: | Nomination Show Performances: |
|---|---|
| Santan Dave | Anne-Marie |
| Ed Sheeran | Glass Animals |
| Adele | Mimi Webb |
| Liam Gallagher | Joe Corry, featuring Gracey |
| Holly Humberstone | |
| Anne-Marie, KSI and Digital Farm Animals | |
| Little Simz | |
| Sam Fender |
Let's talk a little about what the show and each of these artists might have in store for us.
What's New for the 2022 Brit Awards
Perhaps the greatest change in the Brits this year is the abandonment of gendered categories: Best Male/Female artists and the like.
This evolution came as a result of Sam Smith's observation, after last year's show, that gendered categories do not serve artists who identify as other than binary. There's no arguing that his commentary is on-point for this day and age, but would changing the status quo result in more controversy?
And what would take the abandoned categories' place?
Fortunately, that question was easily answered. Throughout the Brits' history, various categories have been adopted and discarded; divisions such as Best Dance and Best Urban/Street Act. It only took a bit of tweaking to render them suited to today's musical styles, paving the way for Best Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act, Best Rock/Alternative Act, Best Pop/R&B and Dance Acts to receive special focus on the Brits stage.
Previously, these genres were celebrated in other UK Music Awards programmes. And they might still be, but we're grateful for their inclusion in the Brits.
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Who Performed during the Nominations Show
As the show hasn't yet aired and precious little has been published about this year's line-up, particularly the order in which the acts will perform, we have to draw upon past information to try to predict what we can look forward to.
We can easily talk about the nominations show, though. That one already happened and one of the easiest acts to talk about is Anne-Marie, who had teamed up with Little Mix to record Kiss My Uh Oh. You might remember Little Mix as the group that made history during the 2021 Brit Awards by being the first all-female group to win the award for Best British Group.
Little Mix-less, we could still count on Anne-Marie doing her saucy best to deliver the song with her usual style and panache.
In contrast to Anne-Marie's spirited anthem, Glass Animals turned things around with their sorrowful Heat Waves. It might be a bit difficult to recall the heat waves of last summer but, surely, everyone can relate to the despair and heartbreak of knowing you're not well-matched to a partner you deeply care for.
Mimi Webb's Good Without was a great clap-back to Heat Wave. In fact, wouldn't it be rather neat to hear the two songs back to back - the man's interpretation of the relationship followed by the woman's? However, through such a discourse, a battle of the songs, if you will, we risk missing the anger and disillusionment underpinning Mimi's song.
At this point, things need to lighten up. This is a celebration, after all. Joel Corry to the rescue!
Out Out always gets everyone out of their seats and onto the dance floor, if only metaphorically. Indeed, this would be a rather nice segue if the songs were performed in this order because this tune describes a woman wondering why she's sitting around on her own when she could be out having fun.
And then, to follow that song up with the irrepressibly cheerful Bed! But then, where would we fit the equally lively I Wish?
As you might have guessed, Joel Corry (with Gracey) performed three songs during the nominations show. Probably, nobody complained about that.
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Joel Corry and Gracie will drive the nominations show with three of their hottest tunes. Source: Wikipedia Credit: Beatport.com
Main Show Performers
Here, our crystal ball gets hazy. We know who will perform but not what they have in store for us. We do know that Doja Cat was among the line-up but had to cancel due to some members contracting COVID. Still, we're left with a pretty stellar array of vocal talent, four of whom have been nominated for a record number of awards.
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They are:
- Adele, for British Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, Best British Song - Easy on Me, and Best Pop/R&B act
- Ed Sheeran: Best Pop/R&B act, Best British Song, Album of the Year and Artist of the Year
- Dave, for Artist of the Year, British Album of the Year, Best British Song, and Best Hip Hop/Grime/Rap act
- Little Simz: British Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, Best New Artist and Best Hip Hop/Grime/Rap act
Clearly, these phenomenal talents battling for the same prizes makes for a lot of speculation and even better viewing. What makes things even better is that all four of them will also perform live. We just don't know how or with whom they might perform, or what they will sing.
Might Adele and Ed Sheeran perform a duet? Could Little Simz and Dave engage in a rap battle to duke it out for the title? How great would it be if Holly Humberstone and Liam Gallagher teamed up for a song?
On a down note, now.
As keenly anticipated as Adele's performance is and as beloved an artist she is, there's nevertheless a great deal of negative public sentiment towards her, just now. Her fans didn't care for the way she announced her appearance at the Brit Awards this year, and they especially did not care for her cancelling her Las Vegas residency on short notice, especially when so many had already bought tickets and booked flights.
As of yet, there's been no word from Adele or her team on whether those shows will be rescheduled or refunds issued.
Clearly, she's well-regarded; being up for four awards proves that. However, she (and we) might be treated to a chilly audience reception, and critics won't soon let these fan slights go.
Still, the fact that she will most likely be among the 2022 Brit Awards winners shows that, in music, talent matters more than stumbles.
42nd Brit Award Hosts
A large chunk of entertainment at The Brits comes not from the performers but from the hosts, whose lively patter and musical trivia keep the show interesting and, crucially, moving along. Granted, they follow a script, so half of the praise belongs to the show's writers but it's their delivery of the lines they're given that makes them so memorable.
The show has enjoyed a variety of hosts over the years, Elton John, James Corden and Jack Whitehall among them. Indeed, Mr Whitehall hosted the awards for four consecutive years but, this year, we'll be treated to Mo Gilligan's brand of humour.
Back in the grand ole days of galas, when television, radio and print media were all there was, a single host would have sufficed. However, now that we have live stream, one host simply won't do. Who will fill the space between show segments, the time taken up by adverts in the televised format that won't feature in the streamed version?
That job falls to a fantastic group of hosts.
Munya Chawawa and Nella Rose will provide coverage of Red Carpet activity: who's approaching, who are they with and what they're wearing. You can count on short interviews and lots of excitement with them before the actual awards ceremony gets underway.
The Brits is one of the biggest music events in the UK but that doesn't stop international music fans from wanting to enjoy the show, too. Welcome AJ Odudu and Reece Parkinson, who will tag-team to keep the show lively and entertaining for international audiences.
Ms Odudu is an old hat at presenting; we all know her from Big Brother's Bit on the Side and Married at First Sight: Afters, but Reece Parkinson gushed that this was the first Brits, and that getting to host the Brits... He can barely contain his excitement.
With such a stellar line-up of performing talent and hosts, the Brit Awards 2022 promises to be a show like no other. Let's meet afterwards to compare notes about our favourite moments, shall we?
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