[Photo: Getty]
In case you missed it, and you probably did, last night was the 2014 BRIT Awards. I know what you're thinking, "Alex, why should I care about a not Grammy award show that took place in not America?" You should care because it was a spectacle of epic proportions. Now get ready to learn stuff.
The Winners:
For the big categories, the winners were fairly predictable. One Direction won British Video for "Best Song Ever" and the Global Success Award. One Direction was the first British band to debut at No. 1 on the US charts. Meanwhile Arctic Monkeys won British Group and British Album of the Year for AM, which was a critical and commercial success, becoming the band's 5th No. 1 charting album in the UK. (The band also won on the red carpet.)
SLIDESHOW | Brit Awards 2014: Style Wars
David Bowie took home the award for British Male Solo Artist--not literally; Kate Moss pick up his award for him, but you know what I mean--and in his acceptance speech he asked for Scotland not to seek independence from the UK. (This has been a hot button issue for some time now.) He beat out John Newman for the award, but Newman didn't think he'd win it anyway. On the ladies side: Ellie Goulding won British Female Solo Artist and lit up the night with a fiery performance of "I Need Your Love" and "Burn."
Bastille won British Breakthrough Act, and Rudimental won Best Single for "Waiting All Night." Critics' Choice went to Sam Smith and Flood & Alan Moulder won British Producer of the Year.
For the International Categories, Bruno Mars won International Male Solo Artist, "Royals" singer Lorde won International Female Solo Artist, and Daft Punk won International Group.
The Spectacle:
While finding out who wins may be the reason for the night, many tune in for the live music. Arctic Monkeys opened the show with a performance of "R U Mine," Beyonce performed "XO" live for the first time on TV and Lorde, Disclosure and AlunaGeorge collaborated on a mash-up of "Royals" and "White Noise." Not to be outdone, Bastille and Rudimental also collaborated.
Ellie Goulding stole the show with her performance of "I Need Your Love" and "Burn" (seen above), Bruno Mars performed "Treasure" and Katy Perry trotted out her No. 1 single, "Dark Horse." Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers closed out the evening with a medley Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" and Pharrell's "Happy."
Bonus:
Tom Daley looking stunning on the red carpet. Word from the Wise: next time have somebody hold your phone, kid. Harry Styles nearly missed accepting the Global Success award with his bandmates because he "was having a wee." Good job, Styles, bet you're really fun on road trips. Rule No. 1: PEE BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE!
