# Brit Awards 1996

Brit Awards 1996 was the 16th edition of the Brit Awards, an annual pop music awards ceremony in the United Kingdom. It was organised by the British Phonographic Industry and took place on 19 February 1996 at Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London.

## Performances

* Alanis Morissette – "Hand in My Pocket"
* David Bowie – "Hallo Spaceboy" (with Pet Shop Boys), "Moonage Daydream" & "Under Pressure"
* Michael Jackson – "Earth Song"
* Pulp – "Sorted for E's & Wizz"
* Simply Red – "Fairground"
* Take That – "How Deep Is Your Love"

## Winners and nominees

| British Album of the Year | British Producer of the Year |
| Oasis – (What's the Story) Morning Glory? Blur – The Great Escape Pulp – Different Class Radiohead – The Bends Paul Weller – Stanley Road | Brian Eno John Leckie Nellee Hooper Owen Morris & Noel Gallagher Stephen Street |
| British Single of the Year | British Video of the Year |
| Take That – "Back for Good" Blur – "Country House" Everything but the Girl – "Missing" Oasis – "Wonderwall" Pulp – "Common People" Eliminated Annie Lennox – "No More I Love You's" Edwyn Collins – "A Girl Like You" Oasis – "Roll with It" Simply Red – "Fairground" Supergrass – "Alright" | Oasis – "Wonderwall" Blur – "Country House" Pulp – "Common People" Radiohead – "Just" Take That – "Back for Good" Eliminated Blur – "The Universal" Massive Attack – "Protection" The Rolling Stones – "Like a Rolling Stone" Simply Red – "Fairground" Supergrass – "Alright" |
| British Male Solo Artist | British Female Solo Artist |
| Paul Weller Edwyn Collins Jimmy Nail Tricky Van Morrison | Annie Lennox Joan Armatrading PJ Harvey Shara Nelson Vanessa Mae |
| British Group | British Breakthrough Act |
| Oasis Blur Lightning Seeds Pulp Radiohead | Supergrass Black Grape Cast Elastica Tricky |
| British Dance Act | Soundtrack/Cast Recording |
| Massive Attack Eternal Leftfield M People Tricky | Batman Forever Braveheart Muriel's Wedding Natural Born Killers Waiting to Exhale |
| International Male Solo Artist | International Female Solo Artist |
| Prince Coolio Lenny Kravitz Meat Loaf Neil Young | Björk Alanis Morissette Celine Dion k.d. lang Mariah Carey |
| International Group | International Breakthrough Act |
| Bon Jovi Green Day Foo Fighters Garbage TLC | Alanis Morissette Boyzone Foo Fighters Garbage Tina Arena |

### Outstanding Contribution to Music

* David Bowie

### Freddie Mercury Award

* The Help Album

### Artist of a Generation

* Michael Jackson

## Notable moments
### Michael Jackson and Jarvis Cocker

Michael Jackson was given a special Artist of a Generation award. At the ceremony he accompanied his single "Earth Song" with a stage show, culminating with Jackson as a 'Christ-like figure' surrounded by children. Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker mounted the stage in what he would later claim as protest at this portion of the performance. Cocker ran across the stage, lifting his shirt and pointing his (clothed) bottom in Jackson's direction. Cocker was subsequently questioned by the police on suspicion of causing injury towards three of the children in Jackson's performance, who were now on stage. No criminal proceedings followed. It was later alleged that someone in Jackson's entourage hurt the children.

### Oasis and Blur

1996 saw the height of a well-documented feud between Britpop rivals Oasis and Blur. The differing styles of the bands, coupled with their prominence within the Britpop movement, led the British media to seize upon the rivalry between the bands. Both factions played along, with the Gallaghers taunting Blur at the ceremony by singing a vulgar rendition of "Parklife" when they collected their "Best British Band" award.

## Cut moments
### Oasis and Michael Hutchence

INXS frontman Michael Hutchence presented the British video award to Oasis, whose guitarist Noel Gallagher mocked Hutchence upon receiving the award, by sneering, ″Hasbeens shouldn't give awards to gonnabes″, which according to musician and producer Danny Saber upset Hutchence. This inspired Hutchence to add the lyrics ″I'm better than Oasis″ to INXS' single Elegantly Wasted, released the following year. Hutchence committed suicide later that year.