Adele dominated this year’s BRIT Awards with four wins
A tearful Adele was crowned queen of the British music scene — and banished memories of Grammy Awards sound glitches — with four prizes and a soulful performance at the Brit Awards.
“Not bad for a girl from Tottenham that don’t like flying,” said the North london-born singer as she accepted the Global Success Award.
The world-conquering diva also took trophies for British female solo artist of the year; British single of the year, for lovelorn ballad Hello; and album of the year for 15 million copy-selling 25.
Adele has seen 25 — her first album in almost five years — top charts around the world, though her performance at last week's Grammy Awards was unsettled when a microphone fell into a piano during the tender song All I Ask.
There were no such glitches Wednesday during her performance of When We Were Young, though the singer choked up as she accepted the Global Success award — presented by astronaut Tim Peake from the International Space Station.
“You’re getting...bored of me,” she quipped, accidentally slipping an expletive into the live telecast.
“I got really lost for a while — I didn’t know if I’d ever come back,” she added. “And for you all to be so kind to me...” later she apologised for losing her composure.
“I’m really sorry for the ugly crying face,” she said.
Adele also sent a message of public support to Tik Tok singer Kesha, who is fighting to get out of a contract with record producer luke, who she says sexually assaulted her.
The Brits ceremony, performed to music-industry figures and thousands of fans at london’s O2 Arena, also featured performances from Coldplay, Justin Bieber and Rihanna — joined onstage by Drake for a sultry Work.
Singer-songwriter James Bay was named best British male solo artist, while Bieber was named best international male artist. The 21-year-old Canadian star, who has endured some wayward behavior and scrapes with the law, thanked his fans, saying “everybody has their own journey. Everybody has their ups and downs.”
The prize for best British group went to dependable crowd-pleasers Coldplay. Singer Chris Martin dedicated the award “to all the young men and women musicians in refugee camps.”