_25th ARIA Awards @ All Phones Arena, Sydney (27/11/2011)
_
Year after year, the ARIA award never fails
to provide a steady stream of no-names in between a star-studded guest list, at
least one technical blunder, a teary Hall of Fame presentation, and quite a few
intoxicated individuals.
Celebrating its 25th year of salutations to the Australian music industry, this year was no different in that respect. The 2011 ARIA Awards held at All Phones Area in Sydney saw Kylie Minogue and The Wiggles inducted into the Hall of Fame, Boy & Bear and Gotye cleaning up the major awards and some stellar performances from Drapht, Art vs. Science, and The Living End.
Despite the dry air and sweltering sun, the red carpet arrivals successfully kick off the party. We’ll dismiss the fact that the limousines were running at least 15 minutes late (with Guy Sebastian’s limo another ten minutes behind the last car to arrive) only because of the precious cargo they delivered. Amongst the stars were Kylie and Danni Minogue, Gotye, and Benji and Joel Madden – who typically proceeded to bypass keen fans and head straight for the large press.
Delta Goodrem, Justice Crew, and Ricki-Lee Coulter were clear favourites amongst squealing fans (of both sexes). Special mention must go out to Reece Mastin and Jack Vidgen, the most recent winners of Channel Seven’s X Factor and Australia’s Got Talent, respectively.
Vidgen is first up, sporting a black suit that contrasts well with his white-blonde hair. Shy yet well spoken, Vidgen explained, “we were in Martin Place and walked into the Armani store. They just suited me up” (he says this whilst fiddling with the massive silver rings adorned on the majority of his fingers). Not bad for a fourteen-year-old!
Mastin, whom was announced as X Factor’s winner just this past week, then gracefully steps out of the limo with his masterfully spiked hair, black sunglasses and boots, and white suit. Very rock star. The crowd behind him goes wild – also very rock star. Taking a leaf out of the Madden brothers’ book, Mastin pauses to take only a few photos with fans and calmly ignores the blonde girl screaming his name hysterically. Safe move, Reece; we don’t blame you.
A definite highlight of the red carpet that cannot go unnoticed is Triple J hosts Tom Ballard and Alex Dyson. Remember Gotye’s film clip to the smash single ;Somebody I Used To Know;? Well picture this: Tom was Gotye and Alex was Kimbra – sans the breasts. Stirring up a tittering audience (no pun intended), the boys pose for photos mimicking the film clip once again. Hilarious!
After nearly 1.5 hours on the carpet, it’s time for the stars to escape the sweltering sun and into the air-conditioned labyrinth of the arena – the ceremony is about to begin.
Celebrating its 25th year of salutations to the Australian music industry, this year was no different in that respect. The 2011 ARIA Awards held at All Phones Area in Sydney saw Kylie Minogue and The Wiggles inducted into the Hall of Fame, Boy & Bear and Gotye cleaning up the major awards and some stellar performances from Drapht, Art vs. Science, and The Living End.
Despite the dry air and sweltering sun, the red carpet arrivals successfully kick off the party. We’ll dismiss the fact that the limousines were running at least 15 minutes late (with Guy Sebastian’s limo another ten minutes behind the last car to arrive) only because of the precious cargo they delivered. Amongst the stars were Kylie and Danni Minogue, Gotye, and Benji and Joel Madden – who typically proceeded to bypass keen fans and head straight for the large press.
Delta Goodrem, Justice Crew, and Ricki-Lee Coulter were clear favourites amongst squealing fans (of both sexes). Special mention must go out to Reece Mastin and Jack Vidgen, the most recent winners of Channel Seven’s X Factor and Australia’s Got Talent, respectively.
Vidgen is first up, sporting a black suit that contrasts well with his white-blonde hair. Shy yet well spoken, Vidgen explained, “we were in Martin Place and walked into the Armani store. They just suited me up” (he says this whilst fiddling with the massive silver rings adorned on the majority of his fingers). Not bad for a fourteen-year-old!
Mastin, whom was announced as X Factor’s winner just this past week, then gracefully steps out of the limo with his masterfully spiked hair, black sunglasses and boots, and white suit. Very rock star. The crowd behind him goes wild – also very rock star. Taking a leaf out of the Madden brothers’ book, Mastin pauses to take only a few photos with fans and calmly ignores the blonde girl screaming his name hysterically. Safe move, Reece; we don’t blame you.
A definite highlight of the red carpet that cannot go unnoticed is Triple J hosts Tom Ballard and Alex Dyson. Remember Gotye’s film clip to the smash single ;Somebody I Used To Know;? Well picture this: Tom was Gotye and Alex was Kimbra – sans the breasts. Stirring up a tittering audience (no pun intended), the boys pose for photos mimicking the film clip once again. Hilarious!
After nearly 1.5 hours on the carpet, it’s time for the stars to escape the sweltering sun and into the air-conditioned labyrinth of the arena – the ceremony is about to begin.
_
Not half an hour in and Boy & Bear have won three out of three awards presented thus far – Best Adult
Alternative Album, Breakthrough Artist Single and Breakthrough Artist Album.
The boys need not worry about splitting three awards amongst five because by
the end of the night they’ll pick up the awards for Best Group and the
prestigious Album Of The Year. Not bad for a Sydney band formed only in 2009.
It’s no surprise that the other artist to steal the ARIA limelight was Gotye; his hit song, ‘Somebody I Used To Know’, collected five awards alone. Gotye himself also scored Best Male Artist with Kimbra (featuring on the track) awarded Best Female Artist.
Performances on the night included awesome acts from Art vs. Science, Drapht, The Living End, Gotye and Kimbra, Cut Copy, Gurrumul with Missy Higgins, and Guy Sebastian. Delta Goodrem was a surprise act, helping to commemorate those who had passed away over the 25-year journey of the ARIA Awards.
After each award was presented, the winner would come backstage and into the media room; suddenly, the artists actually became people. I was surprised at the integrity and warmth in the room, especially from Kylie Minogue, Art vs. Science, and Hamish & Andy (the same can’t be said for Altiyan Childs – would it kill you to smile?).
We found out about the artists’ journeys so far, their thoughts on the ARIAs, and where they are heading. Interestingly The Wiggles, newly inducted into the Hall of Fame, shares their biggest challenge facing them. “Entertainment is different to when we started [in 1991]”, says blue Wiggle, Anthony Field. “It’s a big challenge to figure out how to entertain people in the new medium, whether that be on a small screen or in something else.”
The media room was also a place to make public amendments – both whom forgot to thank their girlfriends/wives! Hamish would like to take note that “I thank my beautiful girlfriend Zoe [Foster] – you’re my beacon of shining light. You’ve written that all down, right?”
It’s no surprise that the other artist to steal the ARIA limelight was Gotye; his hit song, ‘Somebody I Used To Know’, collected five awards alone. Gotye himself also scored Best Male Artist with Kimbra (featuring on the track) awarded Best Female Artist.
Performances on the night included awesome acts from Art vs. Science, Drapht, The Living End, Gotye and Kimbra, Cut Copy, Gurrumul with Missy Higgins, and Guy Sebastian. Delta Goodrem was a surprise act, helping to commemorate those who had passed away over the 25-year journey of the ARIA Awards.
After each award was presented, the winner would come backstage and into the media room; suddenly, the artists actually became people. I was surprised at the integrity and warmth in the room, especially from Kylie Minogue, Art vs. Science, and Hamish & Andy (the same can’t be said for Altiyan Childs – would it kill you to smile?).
We found out about the artists’ journeys so far, their thoughts on the ARIAs, and where they are heading. Interestingly The Wiggles, newly inducted into the Hall of Fame, shares their biggest challenge facing them. “Entertainment is different to when we started [in 1991]”, says blue Wiggle, Anthony Field. “It’s a big challenge to figure out how to entertain people in the new medium, whether that be on a small screen or in something else.”
The media room was also a place to make public amendments – both whom forgot to thank their girlfriends/wives! Hamish would like to take note that “I thank my beautiful girlfriend Zoe [Foster] – you’re my beacon of shining light. You’ve written that all down, right?”
_
The awards wrapped up just after 9.30pm and
you could feel the collective breath everyone sighed out as the last speeches
were said. No major technical glitches, no major disputes. Looking back on the
poor ceremony held on the steps of the Opera House amidst wind and rain and a
confusing setup, this year’s ARIA Awards was a definite improvement with
brilliant performances, touching speeches and some real surprises. But the
night hadn’t even started for the members of the industry with at least two
huge after-parties taking place around Sydney. Despite being a Sunday night,
hangovers were definitely to be expected!
Olivia Fusca
Olivia Fusca