Well Channel Nine didn’t completely balls up the ARIAs last night, although they came close. Great idea limiting it to industry professionals guys. At least when you’ve got a seething horde of demented fans filling out the seats you can count on someone laughing at the incredibly lame pre-scripted jokes that plague these events. And what was with the titles during the red carpet interviews? I had no idea Powderfinger was just one unshaven guy in a hat.
Of course they had a bit of an uphill battle to start with, what with the Living End and Avalanches pulling out of their performances (both because of leg injuries, how about that?). The Superjesus gave a decent performance, but Powderfinger and his associates were distinctly lackluster. Was it just me or were Tidas (on backing vocals) incredibly flat during that particular performance? At least their albums sound OK anyway.
Unlike Tina Arena. Probably the most obvious sign of the awards being on Nine this year was that she got to perform her new single. Like we didn’t see that coming. And Natalie Imbruglia got to sing as well. Ack.
As usual with the ARIAs my faith in the Australian music purchasing public has been blown to hell. Scandal’Us had the highest selling Australian single last year?!? Scandal’Us?!? Oh please shoot me now. Or at least put me into hibernation until the manufactured group fad dies off. Say around 2043 maybe. When the robots have taken over.
On the up side I’m happy to see that the Avalanches got some awards, although the unshaven behatted one seems to have gone against expectations and beaten them to most of them. Stella One Eleven missed out on Best Independent release, but you can’t have everything. Little Nikki Webster also went home empty handed (OK, I don’t know that for sure, I’m writing this only one hour into the show, but she’s already missed out on one and I can live in hope, or at least denial), which is good to see. And Slim finally got Best Country Album. So not a total wash out.
Best Male Artist – Nick Cave. Cool. Best Female Artist – Kylie. Well I liked Impossible Princess so I’ll let that slide. Best International Artist – Craig David. What? Best Group and Album of the Year – Powderfinger. Talk about a busy guy, no wonder he’s got no time to shave.
