Brits dominate Grammys

UK acts triumph at the star-studded 51^st annual awards ceremony

09 February 2009 - It was a good outcome for UK artists at last night’s (08 Feb) 51^st Annual Grammy Awards with Adele, Duffy, Estelle and Coldplay picking up awards.

Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant and the bluegrass singer Alison Krauss took home an impressive five awards for their collaborative, Mercury Prize-nominated album, Raising Sands.

Upon collecting his honours, he said: “I'd like to say I'm bewildered.  I'd like to thank Alison Krauss for a kindness and patience, teaching me to sing in straight lines instead of doing all that twirly stuff and T-Bone Burnett - the conjurer - who has produced us and take us to some great place.”

Radiohead were also honoured with two awards for their latest album In Rainbows, as were Coldplay, who won three awards, accepting them in their now familiar military outfits.

Upon receiving one of their awards, Coldplay main man Chris Martin said: “Thanks to everybody. We’re not, of course, the heaviest of rock bands as you may have noticed. We’re more a sort of limestone kind of rock, a little softer but just as charming.

“Anyway, thank you so much, we’ve never had so many Grammys in our life, obviously Paul [McCartney] has but we feel so grateful to be here, I’m gonna tear up, it’s crazy.”

Drummer Will Champion made an apology to Sir Paul, for their style choices: “I'd like to say first of all, thank you and sorry to Sir Paul McCartney for blatantly recycling the the Sergeant Pepper outfits.  Sorry Boss. ”

Adele pipped Duffy to the post for Best New Artist and when accepting her prize, the soul songstress dedicated the award to her mother, and gushed: “I’m gonna cry. Duffy I love you, I think you're amazing." And then joked: “Jonas Brothers I love you as well.”

Mercury nominated R&B and Rap star Estelle scooped her first Grammy, the award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, for her hit single American Boy.

Although X Factor winner Leona Lewis was up for several awards, the Brit went home empty handed.

Lil Wayne was another big winner taking home four gongs, including the award for Best Rap Song, for Lollypop and Rap Solo Performance for A Milli.

Neyo won two and Jennifer Hudson picked up the award for the Best R&B album.

Taking to the stage

There was a star-studded list of performers too, with U2 opening the show with their new single Get On Your Boots, and Beatle Paul McCartney took to the stage with Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl on drums.

Radiohead took to the stage for a version of their track 12 Step with a huge marching band and a heavily pregnant M.I.A. sang with Jay-Z, Lil Wayne and Kanye West, despite it being her due day.

The event also saw a surprise appearance from Whitney Houston, who presented the award for Best R&B Album to Jennifer Hudson.

However, both Rihanna and her boyfriend R&B star Chris Brown pulled out of their scheduled performances after Los Angeles police announced that Brown was being investigated for allegedly attacking a woman the previous night (7 February).

Al Green perfomed instead, joining Justin Timberlake and Boyz II Men.

Noted winners:

Album of the Year:Raising Sand, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss

Rap Album:Tha Carter III, Lil Wayne

Male Pop Vocal Performance: Say, John Mayer

Record of the Year: Please Read The Letter, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss

New Artist: Adele

Rock Album: Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends, Coldplay (Capitol)

Pop Collaboration With Vocals: Rich Woman, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss

Song of the Year: Viva La Vida, Coldplay

R&B Album:Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Hudson (Arista)

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: Rick Rubin

Female Pop Vocal Performance: Chasing Pavements, Adele

Pop Vocal Album: Rockferry, Duffy (Mercury)

Rap Solo Performance: A Milli, Lil Wayne

Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: Swagga Like Us, Jay-Z and T.I. featuring Kanye West and Lil Wayne

Rap/Sung Collaboration: American Boy, Estelle featuring Kanye West, track from Shine

Rap Song: Lollipop, Lil Wayne

R&B Song: Miss Independent, Ne-Yo

Contemporary R&B Album:Growing Pains, Mary J. Blige (Geffen)

Female R&B Vocal Solo: Superwoman, Alicia Keys, track from As I Am (J)

Male R&B Vocal Solo: Miss Independent, Ne-Yo, track from Year of the Gentleman

R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals: Stay With Me (By the Sea), Al Green featuring John Legend, track from Lay It Down (Blue Note)

Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: You've Got the Love I Need, Al Green featuring Anthony Hamilton, track from Lay It Down (Blue Note)

Urban/Alternative Performance: Be OK, Chrisette Michele featuring Will.i.am

Traditional Pop Vocal Album:Still Unforgettable, Natalie Cole

For the fill list of 110 prizes, head to the Grammys official site.

Georgie Rogers