Arts & Culture

The BRIT Awards 2022: My glittery and glam experience

28 February 202227 February 2022By
The BRIT Awards 2022: My glittery and glam experience

The 2022 BRITs celebrated inclusivity, creativity and talent in the most extravagantly glittery way. 

From my seat high above the glamour in the O2 arena, I could feel the excitement buzzing around the room. It all started as quiet chatter which then exploded as soon as the first person spotted Adele make her way into the room. Adele scooped up three out of the four awards she was nominated for at the 2022 BRIT awards. She took home the award for Best Artist, Best Album and Song of the Year, just missing out on a full set by losing out to Due Lipa for Best Pop/R&B artist.

She dedicated her Album of the Year win to her son and ex-husband, saying “this album was all of our journeys, not just mine.” The album, 30, explores her heart-breaking divorce and exposes the pain she has gone through. It is this she is most proud of, as she says, “not many people do stuff like that anymore.”

As well as collecting two arms’ worth of awards she also stunned the audience with a jaw-dropping performance. Draped in glitter and sat beneath a disco ball, she sang her song I Like Wine with relaxed elegance, making it look effortless. 

Gender Neutral Categories:

The Brits mixed it up this year by introducing gender-neutral categories. Instead of two separate categories for male and female artists, there was just one category for best artist across all genders. The change was made to make the ceremony more inclusive. This inclusivity is paramount as last year Sam Smith missed out on a nomination as he identifies as non-binary. The new chair of the BRITs, Tom March, has stated that “it is important that the BRITs continue to evolve and aim to be as inclusive as possible.”

But the decision is not without criticism. Adele herself made a point to mention it in her acceptance speech for Best Artist. As she picked up her award to walk off the stage she said, “I understand why the name of this award is changed but I really love being a woman and being a female artist.”

It is a change that has sparked debate, but music is for everyone. It is part of everyone’s lives in many different ways. The beauty of music is how we can all find something to relate to when listening. So, naturally, it must be something that celebrates everyone.

My Name is Simbiatu Abisola Abiola Ajikawo:

Little Simz also had a successful night winning the award for Best New Artist and giving an incredible performance. She also brought one of the best moments of the night by bringing her mum onto the stage with her, which made every heart in the O2 melt. She dedicated her success to all those “kids dreaming” who may have obstacles in their way. She made sure to inspire those back home watching with her victory saying, “I am living proof that if you work hard at something no matter what, no matter your background, no matter your race, you can do something extraordinary.”

Her effortlessly cool performance started with a procession of people walking through the crowd waving flags high. It felt like a real celebration of life and showed the power of people standing together. Little Simz then emerged from the crowds, opening with Sometimes I Might be an Introvert, where we see Emma Corrin take the stage to give a monologue about the journey of being a woman. As Cosmopolitan said, “unexpected but we are obsessed”. Little Simz then jumps into the song Woman, as well as a peppermint green oversized pantsuit to close the performance. The Guardian has said how she put the “previous try-hard performances to shame”, as she rapped “with spirit and admiration and well-earned confidence.” It was joyful, effortless, inspirational and simply f****** badass.

 

 

The night was packed full of performances. Ed Sheeran and Bring Me the Horizon opened the night with a pop/rock rendition of Bad Habits, which after falling asleep on the train to the O2 shook me wide awake. The chill vibes of Ed Sheeran with Bring Me the Horizon’s front man’s Oli Sykes’ screams were the combination I never knew I needed in my life. Add some trapeze artists hanging from the ceiling and I was ready for the rest of the night.

Dave then closed the night. Speechless is too small a word to describe how I felt afterwards. The performance of In the Fire was a masterpiece and Dave stunned with his musical prowess, playing the acoustic guitar, piano and electric guitar.

He was accompanied by a powerful gospel choir and rappers Giggs, Ghetts, Meekz and Fredo, who all ended up sitting around the fire, creating a profoundly intimate moment amongst the flames.

 

The night was an ode to creativity, inclusivity and talent, with Adele unsurprisingly reigning supreme. Full List of Winners:

Album of The Year – Adele (30)

Artist of the Year – Adele

International Group of the Year – Silk Sonic

International Artist of the Year – Billie Eilish

Best New Artist – Little Simz

Song of the Year – Adele (Easy on Me)

International Song of the Year – Olivia Rodrigo (good 4 u)

Best Group – Wolf Alice

Best Rock/Alternative Act – Sam Fender

Best Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act – Dave

Best Pop/R&B Act – Dua Lipa

Best Dance Act – Becky Hill

Producer of the Year -Inflo

Songwriter of the Year – Ed Sheeran