The Brits 2009 are coming

What do The Brits 2009 have instore? Back in they heyday of the late nineties / early 2000s, The Brits were the award show guaranteed to make the front pages. Every year there was either some controversy, some fabulous comeback, a shock award or that showstopping performance. Who can forget Jarvis Cocker wiggling his bum at Jacko, Belle and Sebastian winning Best Newcomers, Justin grabbing Kylie's bum or, possibly the most iconic image of The Brits and of late nineties Britain ever, Geri Halliwell's Union Jack dress?

In recent years the show has mellowed slightly and been diluted for fear of antics upstaging the music. This is all very well, but it was the antics that made the show and drew so many parallels with the music. Whilst the Grammys focuses on flawless vocal performances, jazz and folk tinged music and the beauty parade, The Brits was always about naughtiness. It embodies the vital British characteristic of 'Cheeky'. Even the international artists can let there hair down in a way that just isn't tolerated on American TV.

For 2009 i hope there are some antics, some unique duets and some bizarre winners. There will inevitably be the foregone winners; Coldplay, Kings Of Leon, but i do hope they throw us a few surprises.

As with the Grammys i have listed some key categories, with whom the Bookies are banking on, who i think deserves the award, who doesn't have a hope in hell chance of winning it, and who i think will actually get it when all is said and done.

British Male Solo Artist
Ian Brown
James Morrison
Paul Weller
The Streets
Will Young

Bookies: Paul Weller
Want: Will Young
No Chance: The Streets
Think: Paul Weller - i think they will go with the 'modfather' for a bit of nostalgia.

British Female Solo Artist
Adele
Beth Rowley
Duffy
Estelle
M.I.A.

Bookies: Duffy
Want: Adele
No Chance: Beth Rowley
Think: Adele - this was tough one, but i think Duffy could well be the 'Craig David', 'Gorillaz' and 'Lily Allen' of this year's awards and walk away empty handed.

British Group
Coldplay
Elbow
Girls Aloud
Radiohead
Take That

Bookies: Coldplay
Want: Girls Aloud
No Chance: Elbow
Think: Take That - they could award them for the sheer number of years they've been in the business, however Girls Aloud would be much more deserving and, ultimately, more interesting winners. If they won this award instead of one of the male acts it would blow The Brits wide open for the years to come. Rather than it being so blue print and straight forward as it has become in recent years. It would also go someway in making up for them never giving the Spice Girls this very award.

British Single
Coldplay - 'Viva La Vida'
Duffy - 'Mercy'
Girls Aloud - 'The Promise'
Leona Lewis - 'Better In Time'
Scouting For Girls - 'Heartbeat'

Bookies: Girls Aloud
Want: Girls Aloud
No Chance: Scouting For Girls
Think: No idea - this one always throws out a curve ball for me. Baffled by Take That beating Leona, or Coldplay and Dido winning in previous years. Will Young would have to be the most surprising winner, though. It is really hard to figure out which way this goes, i do really hope Girls Aloud get as this could be the only chance they ever get to come this close to a Brit.

British Album
Coldplay - Viva La Vida
Duffy - Rockferry
Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Ting Tings - We Started Nothing

Bookies: Coldplay
Want: Duffy
No Chance: Ting Tings - the mere fact they are absent from the Group category shows they will never win this.
Think: Coldplay - if they do get this one, then they will also have the Group category sewn up too, as this award signals to the winner also receiving their Group, Female or Male award as well.

International Female Solo Artist
Beyoncé
Gabriella Cilmi
Katy Perry
Pink
Santogold

Bookies: Katy Perry
Want: Beyoncé
No Chance: Gabriella Climi
Think: It really depends on who out of Pink, Katy Perry and Beyoncé actually shows up on the night. It would be a travesty if Perry did get it, as an artist she does not even compare to the others. The organisers could not justify giving her this and not handing Girls Aloud the group award.

As for the others: Kings Of Leon have the International Group and Album categories pretty much in the bag, Jay-Z will probably get the Male award for his triumphant Glastonbury set. Elbow will of course get Live Act and Florence and the Machine will baffle viewers when they receive an award, much in the same way Adele did last year!

On Wednesday night we will find out whether The Brits can once again capture it's magic, or if it will follow some well worn tracks and hand out it's awards to the obvious. I fear that the latter will be the case.