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'

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.

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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...