Brit Music Scene

Klaxons Win Mercury Music Prize 2007 | Amy Winehouse Appearance Takes Headlines

by Dave Parrack on September 5th, 2007

The Klaxons have won this year’s Nationwide Mercury Music Prize for their debut album ‘Myths Of The Near Future’. The New Rave band beat stiff competition from 11 other artists including Arctic Monkeys, The Young Knives, Dizzee Rascal, The View and Amy Winehouse to win the award at the annual awards ceremony.

But it was Winehouse who came away with most of the headlines, after she put in a surprise appearance at the event and sang a beautiful acoustic version of ‘Love Is A Losing Game’.

The evening awards ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London saw each band play one song from the album they were nominated for, before a team of industry judges retired to decide on a winner.

Each artist gave a good account of themselves, but Amy Winehouse‘ performance at the event had a special significance after her recent well publicised trials and tribulations.

The Klaxons were the last to perform, playing ‘Golden Skans’ before the break and the announcement of the winner.

Their debut ‘Myths Of The Near Future’ was crowned as the best album from a British artist in the last year, and the whole band then celebrated on stage. The Klaxons were actually a 12-1 shot for the award, with Amy Winehouse, Bat For Lashes and New Young Pony Club all seen as favourites.

I reported on the 12 nominees at the time they were first announced, and said I was backing The Klaxons, so I’m a little bit smug this morning.

Klaxons member James Righton said:-

I’ve never felt this way in my life. This is shock beyond any kind of shock I’ve ever experienced,”

“We hoped we’d win it but we really thought Amy Winehouse or Bat For Lashes would win it.

“To win this is beyond and above any expectation we ever had. We thought we made a really strong record and we wanted to win. But realistically we heard everyone talking, we heard what people were saying and we didn’t think we would win. But we kept that belief… This is just ridiculous.”

So not only did the Mercury Music Prize continue its proud tradition of totally upsetting the bookies views on who will win, we have definite confirmation that the New Rave scene is here to stay.

As for Amy Winehouse, well, let’s hope that her spell under a drug cloud is finally lifting, and she realises it’s about the music more than anything else. She may not have won the award this year but the reception and reaction she got at the awards can only do her a power of good, and most importantly remind her that people do care if she lives or dies.

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POSTED IN: Amy Winehouse, Artists, Awards, Industry, Klaxons, New Rave, News