Soul singer Duffy scooped top prizes for best album, best British female solo artist and best breakthrough act at the Brit Awards – Britain’s version of the Grammys.
Wednesday’s triple-play caps a great year for the 24-year-old Welsh songstress, whose “Rockferry” album registered 4.5 million in international sales in 2008. Coldplay – who along with the sultry-voiced blonde received four nominations – were given the cold shoulder.
Duffy beat a crowded field including singer-rapper Estelle, Grammy-award winning soul singer Adele, and grime-pop Sri Lankan refugee M.I.A. to take the best female solo award.
By the time she took home her third prize of the evening, she was beginning to choke up.
“I’m not going to lie to you, it’s really not (expletive) easy,” she said. “It’s hard. It’s really hard.”
The awards ceremony, which drew an A-list crowd of music industry insiders, featured acts by Duffy, U2, and Kings of Leon – who won best album and best group in the international categories. Hip-hop star Kanye West took best male, while Katy Perry was named best international female.
The Pet Shop Boys collected the outstanding contribution to music award, blazing through their best-known hits, from “West End Girls” and “It’s A Sin” to “Domino Dancing” and “Always on My Mind.”
The Brits Academy, made up of 1,000 music critics and other record industry figures, decided eight of the evening’s award – others, like the best live act award bestowed on English heavy-metal band Iron Maiden, are voted on by members of the public.
On TV
The BRIT?Awards air Feb. 26 at 9 p.m. on MuchMusic.
