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Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

disnews by DiS News [Edit this content] ▾ 62 comments 01:04 September 7th, 2005
Antony of the Johnsons fame
The New York-based Antony and the Johnsons have claimed the 2005 Mercury Music prize.

The baby of lead singer Antony Hegarty, the prize was won for his debut LP 'I Am A Bird Now'.

Stealing a quote from elsewhere, we can report that Hegarty said in true-flummoxed-by-his-own-greatness style:

"I think they must have made a mistake. I am completely overwhelmed. I think that's insane. It's kind of like a crazy contest between an orange and a spaceship and a potted plant and a spoon - which one do you like better?".

Beating off strong competition from the likes of Kaiser Chiefs and MIA, he now gets to walk off with a £20,000 cheque and some probably much-deserved publicity.

The full list of nominees were:

Bloc Party – 'Silent Alarm'
Hard-Fi –'Stars Of CCTV'
Kaiser Chiefs – 'Employment'
MIA – 'Arular'
The Magic Numbers – 'The Magic Numbers'
Coldplay – 'X&Y'
The Go! Team – 'Thunder, Lightning Strike'
Antony And The Johnsons – 'I Am A Bird Now'
KT Tunstall – 'Eye To The Telescope'
Maximo Park – 'A Certain Trigger'
Seth Lakeman – 'Kitty Jay'
Polar Bear – 'Held On The Tips Of Fingers'

Well done, Ant.

Antony And The Johnsons
From the archive

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

About time they got some recognition. His voice is beautiful. Well done to them.
marilyninthesky | 7 Sep '05, 01:11 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

I've meant to buy this album for a while, but I've never got round to it. At the risk of looking like someone who only buys something once it's got an official seal of approval, I think I'll splash out this week. Well done to him / them anyway, it's nice to see something a bit different getting some recognition. I feared Coldplay were going to win.
Browno | 7 Sep '05, 01:13 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

Wow, they actually got it right for once (out of the nominies anyway). Well done indeed.
IranDIS | 7 Sep '05, 01:54 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

damn it! I knew I had to bet on him!Had a feeling he would win but never actually got round to place a bet..
Well done though to him.I wanted him or M.I.A. to get it.
Anybody but coldplay or caiser chiefs actually...

Antony's album is absolutely stunning
arizona_dream | 7 Sep '05, 02:04 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

bothered.
shadyadie | 7 Sep '05, 02:19 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

could have sworn their first album was self titled and a while before this one
ollie | 7 Sep '05, 02:22 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

Yeah, he has released an album before. It wasn't his first, but anyway....

I was also scared that the prize was going to be awarded to Bloc Party, Kaiser Chiefs, or Coldplay. It would have destroyed the already weak cred of this award. C'mon.....Ms Dynamite? Fuck! I still can't get over that one. And who won last year? I can't even remember because it was probably someone who didn't deserve it.

I may have to pay attention to the Mercury Prize nominees list next year, as it seems they have earned some cred back.

I've never even heard of KT Tunstall or Seth Lakeman.
IanK | 7 Sep '05, 04:54 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

PS: I think that a large chunk of the Magic Numbers album (okay....maybe half) was good.

*puts the target on his back and runs away*
IanK | 7 Sep '05, 04:57 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

It was Franz last year and they most certainly did deserve the accolade.
The current highly healthy state of the GB music scene is largely down to their groundbreaking efforts in m opinion. At least they have soe spark about them - Coldplay leave their trail of Keanes behind them, Oasis give us Travis, Sterophonics, Kula Shaker etc...

I'm not too familiar with Antony & the Johnsons but it sounds interesting enough, I too may have to join the throng buying the CD - at least it should be quite cheap!!!.

The programme gave us good performances from Bloc Party, Kaiser Chiefs (some of you lot don't know when you are well off with successful bands!) Maximo Park and Antony and the Johnsons. All very interesting indeed.

Thank the lord Magic Numbers didn't win - overrated easy Radio 2 MOR. People moan about the Kaisers then praise Magic Numbers!!!! Get a grip!



nickd | 7 Sep '05, 07:42 | X | Reply

Re: Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

I am so pissed off i did not have the courage of my convictions and put some money on him when the odds were ridiculous. Should i put some money on Ireland to beat France tonight i wonder ????
johnnyb @arizona_dream | 7 Sep '05, 08:38 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

this album is so so good...a really worthy winner. Although I wasn't really bothered so long as it wasn't Coldplay.
Slicky | 7 Sep '05, 08:44 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

Congratulations Antony, you have been chosen for the annual Mercury Music sales push. Don't get caught in the scrum.
twat-o-rama | 7 Sep '05, 08:50 | X | Reply

Re: Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

He's a big howling bear with a thorn in his paw. Christ, he's awful.

The best bit was when that tosspot Conor Cuntface from the NME said that he wouldn't put Antony on the cover of the NME 'as he's a bit challenging for NME readers'.

Take note NME readers, you're too stupid.
rspce @twat-o-rama | 7 Sep '05, 09:09 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

The only concern now is that he's likely to suffer The Mercury Curse and come out with a shite follow-up. I'd really like to see him do a covers album, but I think that's a bit out of the question...
wizzy_w | 7 Sep '05, 09:32 | X | Reply

Re: Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

re: 'He's a big howling bear with a thorn in his paw. Christ, he's awful. '
antony and the johnsons' album is one of this year's best. fact. yes, his voice is disconcerting, uncomfortable even but i'd rather listen to 'i am a bird now' than anything by kaiser chiefs, magic numbers, or hard fi.
one of the reasons nme won't put antony on the front page is because it won't shift units. another is that they just don't take risks anymore.
that and their editor thinks his readers are thick obviously.
amgibbons @rspce | 7 Sep '05, 09:33 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

BRAVO.
(I like this album)
Mike_Diver | 7 Sep '05, 09:34 | X | Reply

Re: Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

I did! it was the first bet i've ever placed in my life. two months ago at 12/1 i bunged a fiver on so picked up £65!

i just knew this album had to win.
Jane-O @johnnyb | 7 Sep '05, 09:54 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

I would like to express the raw, human pleasure I took from realising that there are still people on this planet with balls, taste and intelligence.

I have never been happier for someone winning an award.
dale | 7 Sep '05, 10:01 | X | Reply

Re: Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

Thats just what he reminded me of, not really to my taste but, like you say, preferable to Kaiser Chiefs et al.

The Go Team should still have won.

NME readers are stupid. It's official.
rspce @amgibbons | 7 Sep '05, 10:03 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

Does anyone else think he looks like Tiny Woods of Ultrasound?
rubbafish | 7 Sep '05, 10:14 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

He doesnt move me at all but its different/interesting and valid so well done young-ish man!
prole-art-threat | 7 Sep '05, 10:15 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

Thank god it wasn't the Kaiser Chiefs.
accidental | 7 Sep '05, 10:24 | X | Reply

Re: Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

"The current highly healthy state of the GB music scene"?

Dear Lord...
Raanraals @nickd | 7 Sep '05, 10:27 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

Antony & The Johnsons aren't really my cup of tea, but good luck to 'em all the same.

I really think it's pathetic that several of the other nominees immediately started whining that Antony only "got nominated due to a technicality" and that he's not really British, and thus shouldn't have been elligible for the award.

This is really bad sportsmanship. If there was a problem with the lad being nominated, they should've brought it up before the award was presented. Poor show, I say!
NickyC | 7 Sep '05, 10:34 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

^^Some people DID bring it up. Now that he has won the award, the same people who complained before think they have a bigger case now.....when it's too late.

"It was Franz last year and they most certainly did deserve the accolade."

-- Did they?

"The current highly healthy state of the GB music scene is largely down to their groundbreaking efforts in m opinion."

-- What?

Anyway, sorry if some of you misunderstood me. I liked parts of the Magic Numbers album, but I would never want them to win. I also don't hate Bloc Party or Kaiser Chiefs. There are a few okay songs by these bands, but I wouldn't want them to win either.

Antony won......nice job.

The end.


IanK | 7 Sep '05, 10:59 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

thank god it wasnt fucking hard fi!
mondogenerated05 | 7 Sep '05, 11:00 | X | Reply

Re: Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

The Kaiser Chiefs did when the nominations were announced - they said he "got in on a technicality".

The song he performed (and the only song of his they play on the radio it seems) doesn't half sound like This Mortal Coil's version of Song to the Siren.

Personally I wanted the Go! Team to win. Just so many ideas and energy in that record.
boolean @NickyC | 7 Sep '05, 11:09 | X | Reply

Re: Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

My sentiments exactly! I haven't really been bothered by the aard this year, not that I was much in the past either. But I'm glad COldplay, Kaisers, and Hard Fi didn't win. :D
tinkerbecks @mondogenerated05 | 7 Sep '05, 12:31 | X | Reply

Re: Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

"About time they got some recognition", yeah, you're right - NO ONE has sung their praises whatsoever.

No, i'm joking. Deservedly so though.
crablin @marilyninthesky | 7 Sep '05, 12:41 | X | Reply

Re: Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

is it uncool to support your own country at the moment?
most of the brilliant bands i saw at reading were british.
fishplums @Raanraals | 7 Sep '05, 12:52 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

Good choice. On Joolz I was practically in tears listening to him. The urban music frat might moan about being ignored, but the fact is things haven't really moved on since Dizzee Rascal or The Streets, who are still ahead of the competition. MIA's alright, but it's only really differing from the main body of UK urban in the detail. The Kaisers have made a great album with a good helping of killer songs, but they are essentially by-numbers Britpop. I don't think Anthony and The Johnsons is at all to everyone's taste, but then again neither is Joni Mitchell...the Mercury is supposedly an award based on artistry and merit, and I think the best artist won!
chrisnettleton | 7 Sep '05, 13:49 | X | Reply

Re: Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

Well deserved, nice to see the Mercury going out on a limb there.
Edb1 @chrisnettleton | 7 Sep '05, 14:03 | X | Reply

Re: Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

..dull mawkish stuff and lyrically v.v. pathetic-sounding...totally unmoving camp torchery...as has been said elsewhere, like Boy George yodelling Rufus Wainwright songs in the bath...baaaad choice
noshame @Edb1 | 7 Sep '05, 15:34 | X | Reply

Re: Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

Mixed views. There wasn't anything on the list I really wanted to win this year.

It's good they went for something different, gave a little-known act a push-up etc. But here's the probelm:

I've not heard much of Antony and the Johnsons so maybe I'm being rash. But isn't all a little worthy and dull? Another victory for seriousness and 'proper' musicians over, y'know, fun?
theguywithnousername @Edb1 | 7 Sep '05, 15:39 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

What an ugly man. Does he actually look like that?
wrightylew | 7 Sep '05, 16:17 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

Apparently Seth Lakeman is the british Tim McGraw. At last.

I'd like to see KT Tunstall get more recognition, just so some ambitious journalist will try a pun on Turnstalls. Maybe shes already experianced jokes. "turnstall is broken!"

"100s of football fans plough through helpless Tunstall".

I know a girl who spells her name K8! (no relation of Dr. Who's dog).
Jelas | 7 Sep '05, 16:26 | X | Reply

Re: Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

am i alone in wondering why maximo park didnt win?
Slip_Digby @theguywithnousername | 7 Sep '05, 16:43 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

http://www.nme.com/media/images/Anthony_090305_M.jpg

aww look he's gone all shy now!
Edb1 | 7 Sep '05, 16:54 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

I think he looks like Julie Burchill
JacobJones | 7 Sep '05, 17:01 | X | Reply

Re: Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

Surely - am I alone in why they were even nominated??
Edb1 @Slip_Digby | 7 Sep '05, 17:02 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

"KT sets out her Tunstall"
Jelas | 7 Sep '05, 17:11 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

"Lead singer Ricky says he was gutted to lose - because he wanted to give the £20k prize to their studio manager to open another rehearsal studio the Kaisers could use. Their new plan is to sell their nomination trophy on eBay instead."

I ask you this. Have you ever heard such utter disrespect/arrogance towards the awards?

likeitalot | 7 Sep '05, 17:26 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

My rants at the whole thing (should have done this earlier but had started college today):

I was angry as hell as Tom Vek's amazing album wasnt nominated and was until the event was finished.

I was routing for MIA to win cause i was really impressed with her even though i was disapointed she didnt perform.

But at the last few seconds, I was routing for Polar Bear. I saw them on BBC4 and i was impressed as hell with them. (If you didnt see, it was wierd experimental jazz stuff. there was even a guy on a labtop). I was gutted when I found out they're odds were 50/1

Also really impressed with the Go team.

A lot of albums nomminated have now been put on my wishlist.

Coldplay = time to go to the toilet

Hard Fi seemed like absoulte twats but the biggest twat of the night award had to go to Connor McNicholas from the NME.

Oh yeah. Well done to antony and the johnsons. you deserve it.
Annoying_person | 7 Sep '05, 17:36 | X | Reply

Re: Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

I think Maximo Park should have won as theirs was definitely my favourite of the nominated albums. That said, I know why it didn't win. It's an album of entertaining, catchy pop songs and I would guess that it was perceived as too 'shallow' to be of interest to the judging panel (hence my earlier gripe about the worthiness of the eventual winner)
theguywithnousername @Slip_Digby | 7 Sep '05, 17:45 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

It had to be the dullest list ever? And Antony and The Johnsons are pretty dull winners yet maybe (?) the best of a truly mediocre list. So he sounds like Nina Simone a bit? Shame the songs aren't half as good. The whole thing is an embarrassment to the British Music scene. Is this really all we have to offer. SHIT.
sex-me-nader | 7 Sep '05, 18:03 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

Pleased it wasn't some of the shit on the award that won it, but I'd have rather seen The Go! Team win it; they need the publicity more, and most importantly their album was the best thing on the list.
DiddyWahDiddy | 7 Sep '05, 20:41 | X | Reply

Re: Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

from all the albums i'd heard the go! team was my fave, but watching Antony & The Johnsons last night on the show i was happy with them winning it.

thank god none of the obvious ones won (esp. MIA and Hard-Fi)
erniebiff @DiddyWahDiddy | 7 Sep '05, 21:16 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

Eugh eugh eugh.
Anthony and the Johnsons. Eugh.
Hate them.
AND THEY'RE NOT EVEN BRITISH.
Vertigo | 7 Sep '05, 21:26 | X | Reply

Re: Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

Which chunk?
There's four of 'em!
Hpipe @IanK | 7 Sep '05, 22:44 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

Antony is British you ignoramus.

How atrocious was it when That Wanker From The NME (I refuse to say his name) got up and started chuffing about Antony's brilliance when he's been brownnosing the likes of My Chemical Romance and Hard Fi.... Oooh don't get me started Chesney.... Ooh me angina!

Anyway well done Antony for giving everyone the kick up the arse they deserve!
hoby | 7 Sep '05, 23:47 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

Anthony was born in britain, last time I checked, that qualified as british. As many have said, thank god the Kaiser Chiefs didn't win, phew...

Although, if we want to argue nominations, Fall Of Math was released in the last year, nuff said.
IranDIS | 8 Sep '05, 00:10 | X | Reply

Re: Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

aaarghh! i was going to do that and never did :-(
Alexander @Jane-O | 8 Sep '05, 11:27 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

Maximo Park should have won this - best album of the lot by a fucking mile.
spicy_rat | 8 Sep '05, 11:32 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

mmm. Anthony was born in Chichester, no less.
likeitalot | 8 Sep '05, 11:41 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

Perhaps he was born in Chichester, but if I not mistaken, he's spent a grand total of 6 of his 32 years in Britain...

Either way, I'd still much rather have seen Bloc Party win it.
Vertigo | 8 Sep '05, 12:37 | X | Reply

Re: Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

yeah, good one. sigh
lordsaccharine @Hpipe | 8 Sep '05, 14:37 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

Big fan of Rufus Wainright and Anthony has worked with him before so i'm not unhappy about it, i don't see the award changing his music, he's a new yorker and has been big on the art scene for ages.

I must say i find the Kaiser's arrogance and swagger refreshing and amusing after suffering a spate of really serious and tedious bands, bloc party, pah, dullards. I think a little bit of cheeky rockandroll behaviour is a good thing now and then.
lordsaccharine | 8 Sep '05, 14:43 | X | Reply

Re: Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

Dont really have a probelem with them. Theyre better than all the uncharasmatic bands nominated (Coldplay and HardFi are at the top of this list)
Annoying_person @lordsaccharine | 8 Sep '05, 16:20 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

Antony sounded British enough to me in his acceptance speech. Why were Coldplay nominated anyway? I thought you had to sell under a certain number of copies to be up for the Mercury prize, or maybe that was something else.
KayB | 8 Sep '05, 18:55 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

I don't really have a problem with them winning, they do seem very original, but really not my thing. When I heard the announcement I just thought "absolute bollocks!" Yes, I wanted Maximo Park to win.
Nice speech though.
heartbreaker | 8 Sep '05, 19:16 | X | Reply

Re: Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

They're probably making about £20K a week now that they've gone big. They should donate the money anyway, whether or not they won.
natts @likeitalot | 11 Sep '05, 16:03 | X | Reply

Antony & The Johnsons take Mercury prize

not a big fan of antony and the johnsons but i am so glad coldplay didnt win, i hate them with a passion. i hate them like a german hates missing out on his sunbed in the morning in spain
mc_laggan | 14 Sep '05, 22:54 | X | Reply

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