Mercury Awards

[georgit79]

Why do they never just award it to the favourite? They always have to surprise everyone and pick somebody completely random....who here has actually heard any of Anthony and the Johnsons' stuff before? And it's a bit of a swizz, seeing as he's practically American anyway...

Should have been the Kaiser Chiefs. Or Bloc Party. Or Hard-Fi...anybody but him!

[kick3m0n]

surely Franz Ferdinand were favourites last year.....weren't they?  They were certainly my favourites, by a mile.  Are you suggesting it just be bands who everyone has heard of who are elligible to win?  Seems a bit narrow surely?   Can't say I care who wins - good few sink into obscurity never to be heard from on such a grand scale again, whereas others continue about their business in their own wee niche, happy with their lot.   It does make me laugh that Coldplay are now the most nominated band never to have won the award.

[Quizmonkey]

"Somebody completely random"??? Where have you been? Everyone's been talking about Anthony & the Js for months, and it's been THE album to listen to. Not easy to listen to but rewarding if you give it time. And so much more content than mainstream blandness like Coldplay, and even the KCs.

[carley_pie]

i think maximo park shouldve won personally. theyre mint

[littleoldme]

Personally I think it's good that someone other than the usual (quite often bland) chart-toppers get a look in. It encourages people to try out other bands. I've heard some of Antony & The Johnsons stuff, having first heard him guesting on a Rufus Wainwright track. Very unusual voice that gets the attention, love it or hate it.. I'm quite happy with the decision, although I'd have gone for The Go! Team myself.

That's the great thing about music though - it's all about opinions. F'rinstance, of the three mentioned, I like the Kaiser Chiefs, don't really have an opinion on Hard-Fi, and find Bloc Party painfully dull. Each to their own, I guess.

[WaldoMcFroog]

The favourite is not chosen by the panel, but by bookmakers and punters placing bets. Obviously the panel shouldn't be swayed by them!

[c00ky83]

I work in a bookies and someone whacked �50 on A&Js the day the list came out.  He collected today - told us he was a music journo, so they must have known in the trade.  I love the KCs, but could never see why they were favourites - I backed Tunstall, but would love to have seen Hard-Fi win it.