mercury music prize 2003

Coldplay will be up for it..... maybe Oasis.

Libs are the main British NRR types, unless I've missed something, and I've got this weird feeling the Mercs might wanna keep the NME sweet. Dunno why though.

Let's Have Another Mercury Music Prize Predict0r Thread

Coldplay
Radiohead
Athlete
The Thrills
Lemon Jelly
The Darkness
Dizzee Rascal
Floetry
Terri Walker
Martina Topley-Bird
Eliza Carthy

)no Four Tet :-(

And the winner is: Athlete (well why not?)

Aereogramme
16B
The Durutti Column
John Wolf Brennan
Meanwhile Back in Communist Russia
Porcupine Tree
Matt Elliott
Ed Rush & Optical
Four Tet
Axis of Perdition
Swayzak
Gerard Presencer

Athlete.... hmm.... lovely artwork, that's about it.

I didn't know they were British.

Marsha Ambrosius and Natalie Stewart are the funky divas behind the neo-soul duo, Floetry. Ambrosius and Stewart emerged in the mid-nineties as songwriters in demand. They're behind some of the new millennium's biggest hits, too. The pair has written tracks for Michael Jackson, Jill Scott, Glenn Lewis and Bilal. While they're highly respected behind the scenes, Floetry is their way of moving up front.

Ambrosius is the songstress to Stewart's spoken-word impresario or "floacist" role. The two met due to their love of basketball. Stewart, who hails from London, was superstar on her court while Ambrosius wowed fans in her local English neighborhood. They were competitive, but not rivals, so a friendship was formed. Music was also a passion. Ambrosius relished in her reggae roots while Stewart found herself grooving to funk and soul. While attending Brits Performing Arts School, Ambrosius studied business and finance, but made room for courses in voice, performance technique and recording. Stewart split her time between acting and directing. Later, Ambrosius and Stewart headed to college.

Ambrosius planned to attend Georgia Tech University on a basketball scholarship, but injury forced her to bow out. Stewart headed for Middlesex University, eventually transferring to North London University. Still, they two kept in touch and raved about music. It wouldn't be until Stewart's girl group, 3 Plus 1, disbanded that Floetry would actually give music a serious shot.

In 1997, Ambrosius and Stewart began writing songs and playing shows in and around London. Three years later, they moved to America in search of something bigger. A brief stint in Atlanta didn't pan out, but their time spent in Philadelphia proved golden. Ambrosius and Stewart befriended J. Erving, basketball great Julius Erving's son, in mid-2000. Floetry and Erving clicked instantly. Erving signed on as their manager and hooked the ladies up with Jeff Townes, aka DJ Jazzy Jeff, for some recording. That's when the deals started trickling in — Floetry were official and living out a dream. In 2002, they inked a deal with DreamWorks and touched up their own work for a debut album. Floetic appeared in October 2002.

The Thrills - 'So Much For The City'
Coldplay - 'A Rush Of Blood To The Head'
Radiohead - 'Hail To The Thief'
Athlete - 'Vehicles and Animals'
The Darkness - 'Permission to Land'
Dizzee Rascal - 'Boy In Da Corner'
Lemon Jelly - 'Lost Horizons'
Terri Walker - 'Untitled'
Floetry - 'Floetic'
Martina Topley-Bird - 'Quixotic'
Soweto Kinch - 'Conversations With The Unseen'
Eliza Carthy - 'Anglicana'

Well it happened last year with The Bees, who hardly anyone'd really heard of before the shortlist came out.

But looking at that AMG write-up, I'm not convinced.

ILM "oo the mercury noms are rubbish" shock

/runs away

Is the Darkness album ace throughout? That and Dizzee are the only things there I seem to be able to get vaguely enthused about.

Thankyou Nathan yes I knew something good was missing!

It was absolutely fucking dire.

Where's Hate, for fucks sake? (Well, someone had to say it if WBS didn't?). And Girls Aloud!

The Darkness should win!

jazzwise, tipped him last week:
http://jazzwise.blogspot.com/
Hotly tipped this year is alto saxophonist Soweto Kinch whose album Conversations with the Unseen came out earlier in the year. The Birmingham-based saxophonist was on the cover of Jazzwise in April. The album, which features Kinch on saxophone and rapping, is on the Dune label.

...it really is as if this year they've included a host of acts no-one really cares anything about or will buy anything by....?

"Yeah, but all those bands are American and some of them are noisy."

"Bugger. Oh well, let's pick some British rock bands then!"

this is the worst list of music i have ever seen and has thus redeemed the mercury's own lame-o selection

I won £90 from predicting Ms Dynamite last year, the same principles apply this year.

Last year, only three artists could have won (Dynamite, Manuva, Streets). This year, there are four possible winners. Coldplay, Athlete, The Darkness, The Thrills. Coldplay won't win. Athlete aren't big enough to win. This leaves us with D and T. Can you really picture the Darkness winning the Mercury? I mean, really? The Thrills are the only logical choice. And, like all other Mercury winners, they are the shite.

Anyone got the odds yet?

"oh-oh-oh let's tip the BIG GUNS, this tactic ALWAYS works doesn't it? oh"

Radiohead's Hail to the Thief became their third LP to make the the short-list, while Coldplay's A Rush of Blood to the Head follows their debut as a Mercury nominee.

Both are ranked 4-1 to take the title by bookmaker William Hill when the winner is announced on September 9.

Radiohead - Hail To The Thief 4/1

Coldplay - Rush Of Blood To The Head 4/1

The Thrills - So Much For The City 6/1

The Darkness - Permission To Land 6/1

Dizzee Rascal - Boy In Da Corner 6/1

Floetry - Floetic 8/1

Athlete - Vehicles & Animals 8/1

Terri Walker - Untiltled 10/1

Soweto Kinch - Conversations With The Unseen 10/1

Martina Topley Bird - Quixotic 12/1

Lemon Jelly - Lost Horizons 12/1

Eliza Cartht - Anlicana 12/1

nick hornby's probably on the panel.

Unfortunately, Coldplay will win.

Predictions: Alexis Petridish & similar to write editorials slagging the entire event off, which are so jawgrindingly dull that listening to Athlete suddenly seems a comparitively exciting alternative.

But what would you prefer? Articles about how great it is to see British rock music "finally" getting some mainstream exposure or something? No music-related article about *anything* *ever* will *ever* pass muster with ILM's hyper-critical denizens.

Oh, unless it's written by an ILMer, of course. Which it probably won't be. Which may well be the *real* reason for all the dissent ;-)

Good christ no! Can you imagine? The world would be knocked off its axis and collide with all the other planets like some crazy pool competition (or that bit in Third rock From The Sun) and...werewolves would rule us all!

Or something.

You're right tho, it's only the negative comments that anyone takes any time over - pity, sez I. More positivity!

ha, Connor tried but failed.

I disagree.

as for the winner, i've gone full circle and decided radiohead will get it (anti-bush title capturing mood of moment + they haven't won before = triumph). if not, i'd say coldplay and dizzee rascal are next in line.

(Fun and) GAMES WITH THE MERCURY MUSIC PRIZE 2003 NOMINATIONS

FACT 1: The 5 big major labels are BMG, EMI, Sony, Universal & Warner

FACT 2: Here are this years nominations as announced today:

1. Athlete - Vehicles and Animals
2. Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head
3. Dizzee Rascal - Boy in Da Corner
4. Eliza Carthy - Anglicana
5. Floetry - Floetic
6. Lemon Jelly - Lost Horizons
7. Martina Topley-Bird - Quixotic
8. Radiohead - Hail to the Thief
9. Soweto Kinch - Conversations with the Unseen
10. Terri Walker - Untitled
11. The Darkness - Permission To Land
12. The Thrills - So Much for the City

QUESTION 1: For 1 point each match the following labels with the above albums:

1. Regal
2. Def Soul
3. Must Destroy
4. Virgin
5. Parlophone
6. XL Recordings
7. Topic
8. Dreamworks
9. XL Recordings
10. Independiente
11. Parlophone
12. Dune

QUESTION 2: Remembering the 5 major labels mentioned at the beginning, and using the following information regarding who owns the above labels, count the occurrences of those same 5 major labels.

1. Regal ie: Parlophone ie: EMI
2. Parlophone ie: EMI
3. XL Recordings
4. Topic
5. Dreamworks ie: Universal
6. XL Recordings
7. Independiente ie: Sony Music
8. Parlophone ie: EMI
9. Dune
10. Def Soul ie: Universal
11. Must Destroy ie: EMI
12. Virgin ie: EMI

QUESTION 3: In less than 100 words discuss the meaning of the following statements that all appear on the Mercury Music Prize's website.

a. "The music on the album is the only thing the judges discuss."
b. "Mercury Music Prize aims to celebrate the best in British music."
c. "(Mercury Music Prize is) an independent panel of judges."

QUESTION 4: Given that this might be true, explain the inclusion of Athlete?

QUESTION 5: By how many sales will the Athlete album gain by being nominated?

QUESTION 6: To whom does being nominated benefit the most?

a. The record label
b. The record label
c. The record label

QUESTION 7: Given that the Mercury Music Prize was set up originally to be different and original from major label's run BRIT AWARDS, which of the following words best now explains the difference between both awards?

a. Very Little
b. Very Little
c. Very Little

QUESTION 8. For extra points which of the above albums came out this month (ie: after the competition deadline?!?!) and which one has been 'declared' a 'classic' 2003 album despite the fact it only came out yesterday?

HOMEWORK PART 1
For a complete guide to the 5 major labels various disguises please read...
http://www.bl.uk/collections/sound-archive/record.html

HOMEWORK PART 2
a. Ignore awards.
b. Continue to download albums and burn copies for your friends.
c. Laugh as the music industry collapses under the weight of it's own cocaine

Stevem.... forgot about Beth Gibbons.... but it's not a great record throughout, really, I don't think...

As usual, there will be as much debate about the exclusions as the inclusions. Where is Beth Gibbons and Rustin Man's enormously acclaimed Out Of Season, or for that matter, the corking Killing Joke comeback album?

There's a moment that the judges of the Panasonic Mercury Music Prize anticipate and dread in equal measure. It happens sometime in mid-June when a Securicor van arrives to deliver a box containing almost 200 CDs. The hapless - and unpaid - judges then have about a month to whittle them down to a shortlist of just a dozen.

This summer, I retired from the judging panel. For the first time in five years, I did not have that daunting mountain of records to wade through and, yes, in a way I missed it.

Actually, I own and like four of the albums on that list (Radiohead, Dizzee, Lemon Jelly, The Dakrness). I think this could be the year of the insane curveball, so Floetry to win. Failing that I've got a feeling about The Darkness - they're exactly the sort of band to win the thing and then sink without trace, as is traditional.

i doubt it. TN haven't released an album this year that would even be likely to reach the shortlist. Misty Dixon would be "too indie" and DOT feature a guy who's been a missing person for nearly a year.

explain?

and don't slag Holmes, he album make good

okay but i think XL are or were - always been confused by this. When there used to be a proper indie chart Beggars Banquet acts like The Charlatans would always be in it but XL artists were not.

I used to be a massive UK music fan, but nowadays I listen to more music that originates from Scandinavia than I do from the UK.

Sad, this. But good on those Swedes.

No offence blutroniq, but doesn't this just translate as "if you consider things from my point of you rather than your own there has been less muic I personally have liked coming out of the UK and more from Scandinavia in the last few years"?

scandinavia has lots of rock bands...
we have dizzee... i'm still glad i'm british!

The Dizzee album is very good and very very important but to be honest it's not nearly my favourite of the year. Maybe once Summer ends I'll think differently.

Conversely, the talent everywhere else seems to have caught up to the UK. I'm not just talking one or two acts here, I'm talking on the whole.

BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-perl/whatson/search/advance_search.cgi?keyword=mercury

only on TV: BBC four - digital

1. who do you want to win?
2. who would you hate to win?
3. who will win?

i think the list is extremely poor - Radiohead the best of a bad bunch.

But this happens every year. People claims its a fix, theres loads of bets, the 'favourite' doesnt win as the judges wont give it to the favourite and give it to someone else on the night.
So if youre a clear favourite you can forget about winning.

Ladbrokes, the world's biggest bookmaker, say that punters in west London are still trying to place hundreds of pounds on the band's chart-topping album 'Permission To Land' winning the event, which takes place tomorrow (September 9) in central London.

Ladbrokes spokesman Warren Lush said : "We are inclined to believe there are dark forces at work. Hundreds of people have been trying to back The Darkness to win, especially in our shops in west London.

"Dizzee Rascal remains our 4/1 favourite to scoop the prize."

When betting closed the prices were as follows:

Dizzee Rascal - 'Boy In Da Corner' (4/1)
The Darkness - 'Permission To Land' (5/1)
Athlete - 'Vehicles And Animals' (5/1)
Coldplay - 'A Rush Of Blood To The Head' (6/1)
Radiohead - 'Hail To The Thief' (7/1)
The Thrills - 'So Much For The City' (8/1)
Martina Topley-Bird - 'Quixotic' (10/1)
Lemon Jelly - 'Lost Horizons' (10/1)
Floetry - 'Floetic' (12/1)
Eliza Carthy - 'Anglicana' (14/1)
Soweto Kinch - 'Conversations With The Unseen' (14/1)
Terri Walker - 'Untitled' (20/1)

I want Dizzee Rascal or Eliza Carthy, or maybe Martina Topley-Bird to win, but I have this feeling that they might give it to Coldplay in a fit of 'look! British band rule the world and especially/even America!' patriotism.

Dizzee Rascal wins Mercury
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/3092520.stm

Last Updated: Tuesday, 9 September, 2003, 21:32 GMT 22:32 UK

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Dizzee Rascal wins Mercury


Rascal won for his debut album
British hip hop singer Dizzee Rascal is the winner of the prestigious 2003 Mercury Music Award.
The singer won for his debut album Boy in Da Corner, beating favourites The Darkness and high-profile bands such as Coldplay and Radiohead.

Albums by 12 acts were shortlisted for the award at the 12th annual ceremony in London.

The prize reflects the best of British music and has become synonymous with new music in the UK.

More than two-thirds of the winners of the prize have been for debut albums.

East London garage MC Rascal has been widely praised for his first album which combines stark urban lyrics with experimental beats.

Find out more about the 12 nominees

Audio gallery

Receiving his award from last year's winner Ms Dynamite, he said: "I want to thank God, my mum and my family and everyone in the underground."

He added: "Remember to support British talent - because it is there."

The contest is open to British and Irish acts who have released an album during the 12 months from June last year.

Judges deciding the winner at London's Grosvenor House hotel include music journalists, DJs, an academic and a composer.

The award is seen as a more credible alternative to the higher-profile Brits because of its reputation for backing non-established acts across many genres.

It is often accused of tokenism for including artists in categories such as jazz, classical and folk - a charge rejected by the judges.

And the runner-up was Soweto Kinch!!

All this is meaningless anyway, right about now we SHOULD have been celebrating the win of Sound of the Underground. But noooo...

So call it '... The Corner', natch.

Underground urban artist Dizzee Rascal spoke to the press after being named winner of this year's prestigious Mercury Music Prize.

Dizzee Rascal wore a T-shirt with his own face on it
"Who is Dizzee Rascal?" a journalist asked one of the UK's hottest but least-known stars minutes after he picked up the prize for album of the year.

It is a question that will be on many lips after the name was added to the prestigious list of winners that also features the likes of Ms Dynamite, PJ Harvey and Badly Drawn Boy.

Predictably, the answer from the 19-year-old rapper and MC, standing on a podium facing a bank of cameras and reporters, was: "I am Dizzee Rascal."

To convince anyone who thought he was an impostor, he wore a T-shirt with his own face on it and his name on the sleeve.

Trying to appear cool in the face of the media melee, Rascal still seemed a little overwhelmed by the attention.

Firing off his answers as rapidly as he spits out his lyrics, he often spoke in disjointed phrases and looked like he would have been more comfortable rapping.

Acknowledged

The unenlightened journalist tried again, this time asking about stories of rivalry with So Solid Crew.

"There ain't no story - the story is that I was doing my music, I'm another artist in the scene, know what I'm saying?

"I'm doing what I'm doing, and I think that's being acknowledged now so that's what I care about."

They're not showing a lot of UK love

Dizzee Rascal on record companies' attitudes to underground urban music
Asked whether acknowledgement was important, he said: "Of course because I come from nothing, man - I come from the underground and that.

"Pirate radio scene, I come from the ground, man."

He had not expected to win but had been "just happy to be a nominee", he said.

But now he had the title, it was "a sign to me to excel and stay focused".

He thanked DJs like Zane Lowe, Jo Whiley, Zoe Ball who were "in the mainstream who have made a difference and made people understand".

'Deal with it'

He dodged some questions about his stabbing in Cyprus in July, saying he was not allowed to talk about it.

"It happens - shit happens and you do deal with it just like anything else. You deal with it, know what I'm saying?"

Rascal was handed his trophy by last year's winner, Ms Dynamite - another graduate of the London pirate radio scene.

And Rascal revealed that he had appeared alongside Ms Dynamite on one radio station, Rumble, when they were both starting out.

'New generation'

But record companies in the UK were still not giving underground music the attention it deserved, he said.

"They're not showing a lot of sounds, they're not showing a lot of UK love," he said.

"I'm not showing them what to do, you know what I'm saying - people just break through anyway, it's like that.

"A new generation, so it's up to you

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/3095502.stm

By Chris Heard
BBC News Online entertainment staff

BBC News Online talks to one of the Mercury Music Prize judges to find out how they go about selecting the winner.

Ms Dynamite showed just how it felt to win last year's prize
The 10 men and women choosing the recipient of Britain's most influential music award face a barrage of criticism - whoever they pick.

The Mercury has established a reputation for championing lesser known artists - but if one should win they are dismissed as "obscure".

The prize extends its reach to cover styles such as classical, folk and jazz - for which it stands accused of "tokenism".

At the same time the shortlists rarely fail to embrace the mainstream - yet major rock acts such as Travis, Coldplay and Radiohead have lost out to rank outsiders.

The inclusion of these bands at all is enough to upset some critics who deride them as predictable choices in little need of exposure.

"Whoever wins you will always get stick," admitted Mercury judge Colin Irwin, who will sit down with nine colleagues on Tuesday night to determine the winner.

Mr Irwin, 49, a former assistant editor of Melody Maker and the panel's folk and roots expert, joins a string of fellow specialists in fields such as dance, classical and jazz.

Find out more about the 12 nominees

Audio gallery

"There is no pattern. People try and say, 'this is a Mercury record', but it isn't really like that because the judges change each year anyway.

"There's no ground rules. They don't say, 'this year we want an urban record, or a progressive record'.

"Look at this year - The Thrills and The Darkness have both made retro records and both are included. I don't think you can make any hard and fast rules."

Previously, acts as diverse as Talvin Singh, Gomez, Portishead and Badly Drawn Boy have lifted the prize.

This year's list again reflects a vibrant cross-section of styles - from rock giants Coldplay and Radiohead to UK garage newcomer Dizzee Rascal, jazz musician Soweto Kinch and soul duo Floetry.

It can get quite heated - I've never known it come to blows but voices are raised

Colin Irwin, Mercury judge
Although the bookies have their favourites, Mr Irwin insisted the winner was as impossible to predict now as when the prize began 12 years ago.

Judges could argue passionately for their choice, but it relied on support from colleagues to stand a chance.

"As an individual judge you can certainly make a case. For instance, I've championed Eliza Carthy and said people should listen to it, but I couldn't have done it on my own."

Chaired by rock academic Simon Frith, the group is mixed in race, age and gender. It includes Daily Mail journalist Adrian Thrills, composer Kate St John and DJ Gilles Peterson.

Rock band The Darkness are among this year's favourites to win
They embark on the long process of whittling down upwards of 150 albums from a longlist - to a more manageable 30 or 40, then to the shortlist of 12.

Describing the final judging process, Mr Irwin said: "You sit in a room, go around a table and say what you think, which one you like, and gradually knock off albums.

"You are left with three or four who will have their champions, and you just argue - and the arguments can go on a long time.

"It can be pretty vigorous - it's quite animated. It can get quite heated. I've never known it come to blows but voices are raised."

Mr Irwin angrily rejected charges of tokenism in the Mercurys. "It's such a lazy term - a record is there by right," he said.

"Surely we have learned now what is good music and what isn't, and people are opening their ears to certain things - that's partly the beauty of the prize, if it encourages people to listen to different things."

Mr Irwin's personal choice for this year? Dizzee Rascal - "the one that rocked me back on my heels."

The Darkness deserved to win, there is too much coverage of rap, and urban music, and it's not like it's anything new or different, whereas the Darkness are!
Katy, England

No, he didn't deserve it. There were real bands standing for this award, and it's been given to a talentless nomark who rambles incoherently over computer generated noise. I've seen more talented street buskers. In recent years the increasing tendency to award the prize to either the most politically correct choice or obscure artists with little chance of gaining mainstream attention has turned the award into an irrelevance and a joke.
Robert Hill, England

This just proves that Mercury is all about the latest fad, and nothing to do with acknowledging actual talent.
Aaron, UK

Of course Dizzee Rascal didn't deserve it. It's impossible to believe that the judging panel own one other garage record (apart from maybe The Streets), in the same way that they didn't own one other drum n bass record other than Reprazent when they won. Fix Up Look Sharp aside, Boy In Da Corner is a depressingly dull album, even by UK Garage's extremely low standards, and its Mercury Prize just stinks of middle aged middle class people tapping the young MC on the head and patronisingly saying "well done talented urban British man". There's been so many better UK urban albums this year and it just proves how well XL's marketing team have done in pushing the Rascal onto the mainstream.
Simon Singleton, Scotland

What a farce! This competition clearly isn't judged on talent or achievement. I'm a big fan of the urban scene, and although Dizzee's music does appeal to me, I can say objectively that his competitors tonight have worked much harder and have achieved a more detailed, sophisticated sound overall.
Anil Vij, UK

The daaaaaaarrrrrrrrknessss were robbed... One last chance to salvage some dignity for the UK music scene has been lost.
paul p0d, UK

Did Dizzee Rascal deserve to win? Certainly not, if the Mercury Prize is supposed to be a talent contest.
Sam, UK

Im flabbergasted that The Darkness didn't win. They've put the fun & pop back into rock. But the best album of the year wasnt even nominated Girls Aloud should've won it. An album thats reinvigorated pop music. The Mercury Music Prize is elitist and doesn't represent what the people thinks, the TRUE music fans/buyers.
Thomas Ewing, England

and Tom, I disagree, even though the Girls Aloud album was pretty ace.

Er, Tom *has* defended the Darkness quite a bit on the boards. He very much likes them.

That's some bad grammar, Tom.

Captain Roscoe shits on The Darkness, and anybody out there winging about it can just shut the fuck up.

If you pardon me for being blunt...

(Also the Dizzee album is better than the GA album, not that it would matter. The Dizzee album is better than the Darkness album too but hand on heart I've listened to the Darknes about 10x more.)

Word of caution re. Mercury boosting yr sales: New Forms has now become the dance equivalent of No Parlez as far as MVE bargain basements are concerned.

(and can we stop using New Forms as code for all that sucks - I still like that album, AND it turned me on to jungle... i'm going to start a thread)

I thought that was obvious, but as usual overestimated the basic intelligence of ILM posters.

Who is he?
Craig, UK

Definitely not! The Darkness should have won, they have talent, they're new, and fresh, they're brilliant!
This kid should have stayed in the underground 'hip-hop' scene to save the ears of those who actually have taste in music! I think it's terrible that he even got nominated in the first place.
Mich, UK

I do not like rap music so I do not think he should have won. As far as the award is concerned - well it is just another award
Richard, UK

I never heard from this Dizzee fella

Martin, England
I never heard from this Dizzee fella. Not saying his album maybe good but a virtual unknown against Coldplay, arguably the best album of the year so far, I don't think so.
Martin, England

Well done Mr. Dizzee Rascal. A very young talented black brother, credit was given where it was due. Good to hear some positive news about a young black youth.
Marisha, England

The Mercury award is becoming the Turner prize for music. The award goes to the pile of bricks rather than the Rembrandt.
Iain, England

The Darkness? Original sounding? Has it escaped everyone's attention that they are essentially a rip off band? Just because the sound hasn't been heard in the mainstream for quite a while does not make it original? Dizzee, whilst not really my cup of tea, deserved to win because he is clearly a very talented musician and his album sounds fresh and new (unlike the Darkness).
Chris Allison, England

Dizzee is just one of the many examples of today's music that just doesn't come up to par. There were many, long serving bands up for the prize, that should have won it by a mile. However plastic pop appears to have won the day (again)!
Andy, UK

I cannot comment on Dizzee's music, but I hope he uses some of the money on English lessons after hearing him burbling on the radio this morning.
Mark, UK

I can't understand everyone's fascination with The Darkness. Back in 1988 there were DOZENS of bands like that around. You saw them on MTVs Metal Hammer and Head-bangers Ball. The good bands of that period we still like and remember (Guns N' Roses, Skid Row) the cheesy rubbish was immediately forgotten. The Darkness would have been in the latter category, I'm afraid. There's certainly nothing "fresh" or "original" about them at all. So I suppose Mr Rascal does deserve it more than them - whoever he is.
Simon Jones, UK

Seeing as most past winners fade back into obscurity and achieve very little else, I'm glad he won. The Darkness have been saved for us to enjoy in the future!
Ed Walford, Scotland

Anyone who was nominated deserved to win it

Creena, Isle of Man
Of course he did. Anyone who was nominated deserved to win it. Don't let your fear of the unknown and/or prejudice blind you to a true talent. What's a 'real' band these days anyway? Dizzee means more to most than a glam rock outfit. At least he's original!
Yossarian, England

Coldplay should have won their alum is by far best this year! It's time the best artist gets the award. Urban music gets to much coverage, whereas people making real music are pushed to the side!
Creena, Isle of Man

Dickon Edwards to thread.

Perhaps the most interesting of those twats?

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Did Dizzee Rascal deserve the Mercury Prize?


Dizzee Rascal has been named the Mercury Prize winner of 2003.

The prize of £20,000 is one of the most prestigious in the music industry.

Judges had to choose from albums by 12 acts - including eight debuts - for the award at the 12th annual ceremony in London.

The shortlist covered diverse styles such as rock, garage, soul, jazz and folk.

Dizzee Rascal's prize winning album, Boy In Da Corner combines stark urban lyrics with experimental beats.

Did Dizzee Rascal deserve to win? Is the Mercury Music award a worthwhile a prize? Tell us what you think.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I find it hard to believe some of the ludicrously ignorant comments people have made about hip hop and urban music. Why is music made with guitars any more real than electronic or rap? Of course Dizzee Rascal is a talented artist - in fact he's one of the finest rappers this country has ever produced. His album is fresh, and musically-speaking far more original and interesting than the tired old hair metal re-runs that The Darkness are peddling.
Nick, Britain

How can people say he did not deserve it because either: a) they have not heard of him, b) there were bigger bands there, c) they do not like MC'ing or the style? I detect undertones of ignorance, closed mindedness and fear. I bet they are all middle class, middle of the road and middle England. You sound like a broken record. FIX IT! The whole point of the Mercurys as an award was illustrated beautifully yesterday.
Joel H, UK

I hadn't really heard of Dizzee before but after listening to Fix Up Look Sharp, he sounds talented. I think to judge him as a producer I'd have to listen to his album against the other entries. I mean The Darkness, Coldplay might be big bands but how original is their music? Not very. Congratulations to Dizzee.
Tom, England

Mercury MUSIC Prize? Rap isn't music, it's rhythm with shouting over the top of it. Ok, so occasionally there's samples of other people's music crowbarred in, but apart from that, there is little that's musical about rap.
Jon Talbot, UK

Is he simply the one that is lucky enough to be marketed hard by his label?

Tony, UK
Many people have made unfair comments about Dizzee Rascal based on their own musical tastes. The judges have to take into account how good an artist is within their own genre and then compare it to how the other entrants perform within theirs. By that rationale perhaps Dizzee did deserve to win, sandwiched in among the bland chart-rock of Coldplay, the entertaining but self consciously retro glam of The Darkness, the obviousness of Radiohead and of course the persistent obscurity of the remaining entrants. Having said that do you think that he is truly representative of the massive and vibrant underground hip-hop scene in Britain? Or is he simply the one that is lucky enough to be marketed hard by his label?
Tony, UK

Music is not athletics. It is ridiculous to pick one album over another, it's all down to personal taste. However, if Mr Rascals' music reflects the personal taste of the judges, I'm a saucepan. They are making a statement in awarding the prize to him, about being inclusive. After years of white boys with guitars from Chelmsford and Manchester, why not a black kid from London?
Justin, UK

What is so good about the winning album? It's Poor compared to the other bands. And if people think Dizzee Rascal is highlighting social problems, check out Grandmaster Flash who did the same thing but much better in the 80s.
Mike, UK

How can people say he did not deserve it because either: a) they have not heard of him, b) there were bigger bands there, c) they do not like MC'ing or the style? I detect undertones of ignorance, closed mindedness and fear. I bet they are all middle class, middle of the road and middle England. You sound like a broken record. FIX IT! The whole point of the Mercurys as an award was illustrated beautifully yesterday.
Joel H, UK

I hadn't really heard of Dizzee before but after listening to Fix Up Look Sharp, he sounds talented. I think to judge him as a producer I'd have to listen to his album against the other entries. I mean The Darkness, Coldplay might be big bands but how original is their music? Not very. Congratulations to Dizzee.
Tom, England

Mercury MUSIC Prize? Rap isn't music, it's rhythm with shouting over the top of it. Ok, so occasionally there's samples of other people's music crowbarred in, but apart from that, there is little that's musical about rap.
Jon Talbot, UK

Is he simply the one that is lucky enough to be marketed hard by his label?

Tony, UK
Many people have made unfair comments about Dizzee Rascal based on their own musical tastes. The judges have to take into account how good an artist is within their own genre and then compare it to how the other entrants perform within theirs. By that rationale perhaps Dizzee did deserve to win, sandwiched in among the bland chart-rock of Coldplay, the entertaining but self consciously retro glam of The Darkness, the obviousness of Radiohead and of course the persistent obscurity of the remaining entrants. Having said that do you think that he is truly representative of the massive and vibrant underground hip-hop scene in Britain? Or is he simply the one that is lucky enough to be marketed hard by his label?
Tony, UK

Music is not athletics. It is ridiculous to pick one album over another, it's all down to personal taste. However, if Mr Rascals' music reflects the personal taste of the judges, I'm a saucepan. They are making a statement in awarding the prize to him, about being inclusive. After years of white boys with guitars from Chelmsford and Manchester, why not a black kid from London?
Justin, UK

What is so good about the winning album? It's Poor compared to the other bands. And if people think Dizzee Rascal is highlighting social problems, check out Grandmaster Flash who did the same thing but much better in the 80s.
Mike, UK

This is great - Calum meets Geir in dub conference.

I'd just make some random Tolkien reference and wink, though.

Girls Aloud shoulda won!

For a panel to say that it's the best album release in the UK in the past year is completely ludicrous.

I like to read this in a heavy Italian accent.

am tired of the argument that people are just not tolerant of hip hop and urban music. It's not 1986 anymore.

See innumerable reactions to Dizzee winning - to most of these people, it might as well be 1953.

(and the second disk of New Forms is indeed better, although I still have a fond spot in my heart for "Brown Paper Bag" and "Digital")

By the way I like Dizzee and recently heard a CD by Fallacy (after someone's recommendation), soudns great too.

well jolly good for you, old chap - how magnanimous you are

and I just could not get that album at all

mmm, well, that doesn't mean it's not good, though, does it? i mean i don't really get cars at all, but i doesn't mean ferraris are bad motors.

and saying something "isn't musical", this really kills any argument you have at all.

Obv some of Blutroniq's best friends are black, don't get him wrong, he's not a racialist...