The Ivor Novellos are the ‘musicians music awards’ – without the gossip column appeal of The BRITs or the obscurity of some of the Mercury nominees – the Novellos are the awards artists seem to enjoy the most. And we wouldn’t turn them down either, now in their 54th year the Ivor Novello awards are renowned for recognising genuine talent – be it big hitting names like Radiohead or the lesser known Cherry Ghost’s, awarding not only prizes but huge amounts of prestige and industry kudos.
The nominees for this year’s awards are out now out – and t5m aren’t the only ones who have noticed that this year’s categories are full of much more mainstream acts than previous years – with Dizzee Rascals ‘Dance wiv me’ up for Best Contemporary song alongside nu-rave poster children The Ting Tings who also nominated for Best Album. Add to this M.I.A, Duffy and Coldplay who are all up for awards, and the Novellos begin to look a lot like the other music ceremonies we’ve seen this year.
In fact, the only category that isn’t dominated by headlining acts is ‘Contenders for Best Song Musically and Lyrically’ with the unsigned unknowns the Leisure Society pitted against the Last Shadow Puppets and Elbow.
Whether this means that pop music is gaining in integrity, and that pop consumers are becoming more refined in their tastes, or that the Ivor Novello’s are looking to shift their identity remains to be seen – but we’re all hoping that new-mum, style icon and all round star, M.I.A walks away with ‘Best selling British song’ for the playlist essential Paper Planes.
The Ivor Norvello Awards take place 21st May at the Grosvenor Hotel.
The nominations are:
Best Song Musically And Lyrically:
The Last Shadow Puppets – ‘My Mistakes Were Made For You’
Elbow – ‘One Day Like This’
The Leisure Society – ‘The Last Of The Melting Snow’
Best Contemporary Song:
Dizzee Rascal – ‘Dance Wiv Me’
Elbow – ‘Grounds For Divorce’
The Ting Tings – ‘That’s Not My Name’
Best Original Film Score:
David Arnold – ‘Quantum of Solace’
Benjamin Wallfisch – ‘The Escapist’
Jonny Greenwood – ‘There Will Be Blood’
Best Television Soundtrack:
Ben Bartlett – ‘Fiona’s Story’
Anne Dudley – ‘Trial and Retribution 2008′
Julian Nott – ‘Wallace And Gromit (A Matter of Loaf and Death)’
PRS For Music Most Performed Work:
Duffy – ‘Mercy’
Gabriella Cilmi – ‘Sweet About Me’
Coldplay – ‘Viva La Vida’
Best Selling British Song:
Duffy – ‘Mercy’
M.I.A – ‘Paper Planes’
Coldplay – ‘Viva La Vida’
Album Award:
Duffy – ‘Rockferry’
Coldplay – ‘Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends’
The Ting Tings – ‘We Started Nothing’
