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Pick at the pops: 19 February 2007

Our weekly round-up of the weird and wonderful world of pop music...

So there were no big surprises at the Brit Awards. We knew that Russell Brand would be going for the cheap gasps and we had a pretty good idea where most of the awards would be heading. Lily Allen was particularly confident that they were heading nowhere near her, and she was right. Still, no shame in losing out in her four categories to Amy Winehouse, Take That, Arctic Monkeys and, oh… The Fratellis. Conspiracy!

The only real shock was Joss Stone. And we don’t just mean the purple hair and the dress made out of her gran’s old sofa cover. No, we were treated to a newly minted American accent and the fist-in-mouth cringe of Joss stalking the stage, giving "big love” to beleaguered fat dancer Robbie Williams.

Take That were a little less effusive in their tribute to their former bandmate. They didn’t actually mention him.

It was left to Liam Gallagher to provide a fresh perspective: “What’s his f***ing problem, man? We all know what it is – he’s a f***ing drama queen.” Touching words. He’s nothing if not sympathetic, old Liam. Reports of him referring to troubled megastar Britney Spears as “fookin’ Moby” are, of course, unfounded.

Away from the Brits, scandal was also breaking with tight-panted, hen party stripper Ricky Martin raising a middle finger to George Bush at a gig in Puerto Rico. Bush wasn’t actually there, which explains the lack of proportional shock and awe military response.

Before we get terminally serious, Madonna, that crusader for truth and justice, has announced that she wants to be like Gandhi, Martin Luther King and John Lennon. Only still alive. One out of four ain’t bad, Madge.

Matthew Horton

Picture: Empics

• 12/02/2007: Lily conquers America >>
• 05/02/2007: Oasis to meet Ringo at last >>
• 29/01/2007: Amy Winehouse wows the Savoy >>
• 22/01/2007: Chris Martin: the B-Boy >>
• 15/01/2007: Whitney auctions her belongings >>
• 08/01/2007: The Police to reform? >>
• 02/01/2007: James Brown RIP >>
• 18/12/2006: Girls Aloud v Lily Allen >>
• 04/12/2006: Potty Pete pays the penalty >>
• 27/11/2006: Nelly says no to Playboy >>
• 20/11/2006: Queen's greatest-selling hits >>
• 13/11/2006: Ms Dynamite's high speed crash >>
• 06/11/2006: Glastonbury to go "gay"? >>
• 30/10/2006: McFly hit top spot yet again >>
• 16/10/2006: Girls Aloud v All Saints in war of words >>
• 09/10/2006: Razorlight ready for world domination >>
• 02/10/2006: Madonna's record breaking millions >>
• 25/09/2006: When pop stars reunite >>
• 18/09/2006: Robbie's new footballing chum >>
• 11/09/2006: Monkeys' Mercury delight >>
• 04/09/2006: Foo Fighters save miners >>
• 28/08/2006: Britney gets banned in Asia >>
• 21/08/2006: Radiohead's grumpy greatest hits >>
• 14/08/2006: Natasha Bedingfield's Rocky return >>
• 07/08/2006: The heavyweight return of Meat Loaf >>