This year’s BRIT Awards nominations have thrown up a fair few surprises, and one category in particular that has raised eyebrows is the British Female Solo Artist, says Russell Iliffe.
While it is no shocker to see Adele nominated, there has been somewhat of a curve ball with the inclusion of Amy Winehouse in the category this year.
The troubled singer-songwriter died in 2011 but scores a posthumous nod as best female, due to the release of the Amy film soundtrack last year.
It’s a decision that caused internet confusion when nominations were announced, especially as Ellie Goulding hasn’t been included in the running for the category.
Despite scoring the fourth biggest hit of 2015 with her Fifty Shades of Grey song Love Me Like You Do, plus top three album Delirium, Goulding has to settle for nominations in the Best Single and Video categories.
The nomination is in fact Winehouse’s second posthumous appearance, having been put forward in 2013 following the release of Lioness: Hidden Treasures, only to be beaten by Emeli Sande.
Of course, the main contender on the night must surely be Adele. The superstar clocked up UK sales of almost 2.5 million of her third album 25 last year, despite it only being released in mid-November.
YouTube also confirmed that Adele’s smash single Hello has notched up its one billionth view in 87 days, outdoing Psy’s Gangnam Style, which previously held the record for fastest video to hit one billion views.
Adele has good form in this BRITs category having won the Female Solo Artist award in 2012, only to be infamously cut off mid-speech during her Best Album victory, leading her to flip the finger at the camera.
Joining Adele and Amy on the shortlist is Florence and the Machine, who topped both the UK and US charts with third studio offering How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful.
Florence Welch has been nominated in this category before, but has so far failed to secure the best female crown.
The album was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize and has also bagged five Grammy nominations for one of the UK’s most unique talents.
Meanwhile, there is one first-time nominee in the category - Jess Glynne. The London singer had number one hits with Clean Bandit on Rather Be, and with Route 94 on My Love during 2014.
However, last year Glynne bettered that, scoring three more chart-toppers with solo hits Hold My Hand and Don’t Be So Hard on Yourself, in addition to featuring on Tinie Tempah’s number one smash Not Letting Go.
By the end of the year, her household name status had been confirmed with her track Take Me Home being the official BBC Children in Need single for 2015.
Jess’s total of five chart-toppers now ties her with Cheryl Fernandez-Versini as the British female solo artist with the most number one singles.
Additionally, the fact that Glynne’s debut album I Cry When I Laugh reached pole position certainly verifies her position on the list.
The BRITs does of course tread a careful line between the commercial and the alternative with fifth nominee Laura Marling being testament to this. The folk star is a favourite with the BRITs having been nominated a total of four times in six years.
Marling, who triumphed in 2011, enjoyed a top 10 longplayer with the critically acclaimed Short Movie last year, which appeared in the album of the year lists in NME, Q and The Guardian amongst others.
While it is no shocker to see Adele nominated, there has been somewhat of a curve ball with the inclusion of Amy Winehouse in the category this year.
The troubled singer-songwriter died in 2011 but scores a posthumous nod as best female, due to the release of the Amy film soundtrack last year.
It’s a decision that caused internet confusion when nominations were announced, especially as Ellie Goulding hasn’t been included in the running for the category.
Despite scoring the fourth biggest hit of 2015 with her Fifty Shades of Grey song Love Me Like You Do, plus top three album Delirium, Goulding has to settle for nominations in the Best Single and Video categories.
The nomination is in fact Winehouse’s second posthumous appearance, having been put forward in 2013 following the release of Lioness: Hidden Treasures, only to be beaten by Emeli Sande.
Of course, the main contender on the night must surely be Adele. The superstar clocked up UK sales of almost 2.5 million of her third album 25 last year, despite it only being released in mid-November.
YouTube also confirmed that Adele’s smash single Hello has notched up its one billionth view in 87 days, outdoing Psy’s Gangnam Style, which previously held the record for fastest video to hit one billion views.
Adele has good form in this BRITs category having won the Female Solo Artist award in 2012, only to be infamously cut off mid-speech during her Best Album victory, leading her to flip the finger at the camera.
Joining Adele and Amy on the shortlist is Florence and the Machine, who topped both the UK and US charts with third studio offering How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful.
Florence Welch has been nominated in this category before, but has so far failed to secure the best female crown.
The album was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize and has also bagged five Grammy nominations for one of the UK’s most unique talents.
Meanwhile, there is one first-time nominee in the category - Jess Glynne. The London singer had number one hits with Clean Bandit on Rather Be, and with Route 94 on My Love during 2014.
However, last year Glynne bettered that, scoring three more chart-toppers with solo hits Hold My Hand and Don’t Be So Hard on Yourself, in addition to featuring on Tinie Tempah’s number one smash Not Letting Go.
By the end of the year, her household name status had been confirmed with her track Take Me Home being the official BBC Children in Need single for 2015.
Jess’s total of five chart-toppers now ties her with Cheryl Fernandez-Versini as the British female solo artist with the most number one singles.
Additionally, the fact that Glynne’s debut album I Cry When I Laugh reached pole position certainly verifies her position on the list.
The BRITs does of course tread a careful line between the commercial and the alternative with fifth nominee Laura Marling being testament to this. The folk star is a favourite with the BRITs having been nominated a total of four times in six years.
Marling, who triumphed in 2011, enjoyed a top 10 longplayer with the critically acclaimed Short Movie last year, which appeared in the album of the year lists in NME, Q and The Guardian amongst others.
