Ten BRIT Awards moments that were worth tuning in for

With the 33rd annual BRIT Awards set to take place this evening (20 February), we bring you the best moments from years past that show – whatever your thoughts of some of the acts nominated – the ceremony is one always worth tuning in for.

Featuring Suede, Jarvis Cocker, Prince and more…

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10. Sam Fox and Mick Fleetwood’s terrible presenting (1989)

Never working with children, animals or Sam Fox and Mick Fleetwood as the popular idiom goes. Probably. Well, it would be quite deserved if this managed to find it’s way into the dictionary, given how atrocious their presenting at the last ever live-broadcast BRIT Awards. And let us tell you, it was no coincidence they decided to record and edit the whole thing first the next year.

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9. Chumbawamba throwing water over John Prescott (1998)

You may think that Chumbawamba are only known for that one song, but you’d be mistaken. They are also known as one of the many people John Prescott has had a fight with, after they poured an ice bucket of water over the politician at the ’98 BRITs. “If John Prescott has the nerve to turn up at events like the Brit Awards in a vain attempt to make Labour seem cool and trendy, then he deserves all we can throw at him,” the band later said – seemingly inventing their own system of legal justice.

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8. Freddie Mercury’s last public appearance (1990)

In a last public appearance before his death, Queen frontman Freddie Mercury accepted the ‘Outstanding Contribution to British Music’ award at the 1990 BRITs. Bearing a quiet, gaunt figure, Mercury let Brian May do all the talking, simply waving to the worried public, then unaware of his failing health. The award stands as an apt marking of the singer’s legacy.

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7. Random DJ thinking he won ‘Best Film Soundtrack’ (2000)

Sure, you could blame your mates when they pull a stunt like this on you, but we really think Brandon Block only has himself to blame for this one. Tricked by his friends into thinking he had won ‘Best Film Soundtrack’, the DJ proceeded to get on the stage, get into a fight with Ronnie Wood and get water thrown on him in the process. It’s still not known where Block had ever actually recorded a film score, let alone be nominated for this actual award…

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6. James Corden cutting off Adele (2012)

Only diamond-selling, CD-in-every-home, song-on-every-TV-show singer Adele could get away with flipping her middle finger at the camera on air after being cut off by James Corden and not cause a big moral panic. She’s still probably sold like a million albums since and we got to see Blur instead of her rambling on. Everyone wins.

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5. Prince’s stream-of-consciousness speech (1995)

Imagine the horror. You’re asked to present the ‘Best International Male’ award at the ’95 BRITs and who happens to win it but someone who isn’t quite certain what the hell his name is anymore? Well that’s what happened when (the artist now back to being known as) Prince won the accolade that year and then continued to show he’s a maverick of linguistics by delivering a gibberish-filled speech of “Prince, best, best, Prince, better in concert, perfectly free, on record, come”. What a forward-thinker, huh?

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4. Geri Halliwell’s Union Jack dress (1997)

It’s difficult to imagine it now but back in 1997, in the height of New Labour’s popularity, being British was actually something to be proud of. It was, dare we say it, quite cool in fact. ‘Cool Britannia’ had swept the nation, and people were starting to trust politicians again. I know, I know, it’s still hard to believe. But, imagine the relief of the years under Thatcher and then someone like the tooth-grinning Tony Blair coming along. Even the rock and pop stars couldn’t help but falling in love. Blair was like a proto-Obama, if you will, and Thatcher a more knowingly sinister Bush. Well, all this reached a peak at the BRITs 1997 when the Spice Girls’ Geri Halliwell wore a Union Jack dress and single-handedly boosted London’s novelty tourist gift economy. We can only predict…

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3. Belle & Sebastian beating Steps, 5ive, Billie Piper et al (1999)

Forget Arctic Monkeys, Lily Allen and Kate Nash’s rise to fame, or Rage Against The Machine nabbing a Christmas number 1, the first instance of online mobilisation came with Scottish indie-poppers Belle & Sebastian won ‘Best British Newcomer’ in 1999, ahead of favourites Steps and more . It was the first time the award was voted for online and could be deemed as paving the way to every sodding internet petition or Facebook group you’re invited to nowadays. Thanks a bunch, Belle & Sebastian.

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2. Suede bringing sexy back (1993)

Back when print media held a stronger chokehold over the the music industry, the likes of NME ridiculed the BRITs’ nostalgia-tinged line-up of ’93. Surrounded by the aging likes of Annie Lennox, Phil Collins and Rod Stewart, the alternative music press persuaded organisers to book newcomers Suede at short notice, and it was this resulting performance that stole the show over the bigger household names. Way before ol’ JT, Suede were bringing sexy back to the increasingly conservative screens with a charged display of alluring androgyny so good that we can’t even find a clip of it anywhere on the internet. This was all people could talk about the next day, not whatever Phil and Rod sang.

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1. Jarvis Cocker mooning Michael Jackson (1996)

An obvious one for the top spot, but for good reason. This incident will forever remain as one of the most memorable in each of the involved careers – Jacko’s because of the grandoise performance and Jarvis Cocker because of his wonderfully juvenile response to it. When the King of Pop steeped over the line from slightly egotistical popstar to the ‘actually thinks he’s Jesus’ realm of things, the Pulp frontman thought he’d seen enough and did what any kid who is a bit peeved would do and mooned the star. Years later, he claimed that although not religious, he hated seeing someone pretend to be Christ-like. But we kinda think the free drink had something to do with it too…