Closing prices on the Mercuries

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The final odds are:

Franz Ferdinand – 9/4
The Streets – 2/1
The Zutons – 3/1
Amy Winehouse – 8/1
Keane – 8/1
Snow Patrol – 10/1
Basement Jaxx – 12/1
Joss Stone – 12/1
Belle and Sebastian – 16/1
Jamelia – 16/1
Robert Wyatt – 25/1
Ty – 25/1

Odds are closing on the Zutons.

(They can't give it to them, surely?)

My picks? Franz / Belleseb / Winehouse / Streets.

Wish? Wyatt.

Prob will? Snow Patrol

Def Wont? Ty (just cuz it was Dizzy Rascal last year)

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 10:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Streets innit

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 10:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh but Dizzee last year so F. Ferdinand

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 10:18 (twenty-one years ago)

I took Dom's advice last year and put a fiver on The Thrills last year and should have known he's wrong about everything. Well, who thought Dizzee would win? Frank Ferguson are gonna win it, I reckon, esp. if being popular in the States can sway the judegement of this award in any way.

― Michael B, Tuesday, 7 September 2004 10:27 (twenty-one years ago)

(don't ask me, I bet on Helicopter girl, back in the day. Hey, it would have netted me a new Ipod or thereabouts)

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 10:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Anything but Snowpatrol, please.

― hmmm (hmmm), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 10:31 (twenty-one years ago)

I liked "Spitting games", but the rest can get out and walk...

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 10:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Is it too late to go to the betting shop and put a fiver on this?

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 10:36 (twenty-one years ago)

It's going to be Belle & Sebastian. (Good odds, too. If I were a betting man...)

― mike t-diva (mike t-diva), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 10:40 (twenty-one years ago)

8/1 on Winehouse are good odds...

― Michael B, Tuesday, 7 September 2004 10:43 (twenty-one years ago)

i liked the fact that robert wyatt said he didn't want to win but really liked Tys album and wants him to win. bless.

― zappi (joni), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 10:47 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm going to put my faith in the judges actually listening to the records and being unable to not pick Kish Kash.

― Alba (Alba), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 10:58 (twenty-one years ago)

if they had listened to the records they wouldn't have come up with this shortlist in the first place.

― jed_ (jed), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 11:00 (twenty-one years ago)

hear me now, hear me good, at the end of the day its
bound to be the JAXX*

* or the streets.

― piscesboy, Tuesday, 7 September 2004 11:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Why are Franz Ferdinand top of that list? 2/1 < 9/4

I am finding it difficult to call this year. I think jed is being typically jed like. I would love it to be Wyatt, and I think the Winehouse bet noted is pretty wise.

― ___ (___), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 12:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Is the Ty album any good?

― Michael B, Tuesday, 7 September 2004 12:13 (twenty-one years ago)

no bashment? keeping up then. Anyway shoudn't it be the T-Mobile Awards?

― lukey (Lukey G), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 12:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Online betting is a bit scarey. Just as well, because my hunches are usually wrong. My hunch is Belle and Sebastian. The odds work out roughly like getting an original Tigermilk LP for a stake of a mint condition Storytelling CD.

It is sponsored by Nationwide. As interest continues to dwindle, will it become the Beezer Homes Mercury Music Prize? I live in hope.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 12:55 (twenty-one years ago)

hardly, Nationwide have signed a 4 year deal to sponsor the Mercury prize.

In terms of mainstream profile/ publicity the Mercury prize is highly visible.

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 13:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Nationwide are good at sponsorship. They sponsored Halifax football club as they nearly slid into bankruptcy. The big advert on the rough of the main stand was clearly visable from the Halifax (Bank) Board Room, who had overlooked the opportunity.

― ___ (___), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 13:04 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't know what the MAN in MAN Booker Prize means.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 13:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh god I can't even look at that list any more, and I like four of the albums on it.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 13:55 (twenty-one years ago)

I still think it will be Winelodge or Joss Stone.

But c'mon Basement Jaxx PLEASE!

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 14:20 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd love it if it was Winehouse, actually. She'd probably swear in her thanks speech. And slag off everyone else on the list. Go Amy and go Jaxx!

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 14:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Take a look at the judges they include a Professor based in Scotland and Edith Bowman from Radio 1 who is Scottish.

2 so called Urban winners the past 2 years - therefore something else will win this year: Franz Ferdinand are Scots and have had so much publicity this year - they will be the winners.

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 14:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Good god, Edith Bowman?

― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 14:56 (twenty-one years ago)

No, no... Franz Ferdinand will be considered too commercially successful and thus too obvious, so the Scottish vote will go to B&S instead. This will be seen as evidence tremendous daring on the part of the judges, thus showing how the MMP has lost none of its edge, etc etc etc.

The Streets are a strong possibility, but I predict an irreconcilably split jury on that one.

― mike t-diva (mike t-diva), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 15:12 (twenty-one years ago)

it will be either franz or the streets, i am 99% sure. i haven't decided which one yet, but def one of those two.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 15:15 (twenty-one years ago)

belle and sebastian or jaxx definatly.

― Hari Ashurst (Toaster), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 17:50 (twenty-one years ago)

The Man in Man Booker prize stands for the company who now sponsor the prize. Its called the Booker prize not because it was a book prize but because it was funded by the Booker group (a brewers? a food group? can't remember) but it now funded by the Man group (Investment bankers).

― jed_ (jed), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 17:56 (twenty-one years ago)

If Robert Wyatt wins I'll start believing in Father Christmas again.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 18:11 (twenty-one years ago)

mercury prize has been making moves to seem more cutting-edge, more in touch with current happenings in the last few years - at least, they have been making more concerted efforts than they once were. dizzee's victory last year was a credibility-booster.

keane would be a step back.

most other artists on the list are too small and unknown - the winning artist has to be at least somewhat popular, so as not to alienate too many folks.

basement jaxx are popular enough, but there was not as big a buzz about the album as there was with previous efforts: giving them the award would open them up to "caught on too late, right artist wrong album" accusations.

i feel the strees and franz ferdinand have the right balance of what's required.

franz = indie-rock, but edgier and less trad than the likes of keane. decent level of popularity. perhaps with two urban winners in a row, it is indie-rock's "turn" this year - and franz are the most suitable candidate.

streets = maybe they will continue on the urban tip. he would be a popular winner, with punters and writers.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 18:23 (twenty-one years ago)

the radio 1 people's vote [a bunch of clueless teens / early 20s] voted the Zutons as winners.

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 20:13 (twenty-one years ago)

the official prize announced soon...

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 20:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Jesus Christ do I ever hate Colin Murray.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 20:17 (twenty-one years ago)

more than Edith?

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 20:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Jools Holland and Dizzeeeee

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 20:18 (twenty-one years ago)

envelope 20,000 grand to...

winner is Franz Ferdinand

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 20:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Well done them.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 20:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Colin Murray is delighted because it shows that favourites can win. Jesus Christ but I hate him.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 20:20 (twenty-one years ago)

jo whileys hat has left me speechless.

― zappi (joni), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 20:28 (twenty-one years ago)

It was announced tonight? I didn't even know! Oh well, breaks a worrying three-year streak of agreeing with the Mercury judges. Hopefully FF will go the way of Ms Dynamite and get pregnant and wear chav earrings.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 7 September 2004 20:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, I am well happy for once with this one.

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 06:22 (twenty-one years ago)

they really had a lot of eye make up* on didnt they?!!!

a good thing obviously.

see pic -

http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/mercury/story/0,14776,1299609,00.html

― piscesboy, Wednesday, 8 September 2004 10:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Colin Murray is the worst human being ever.

― jed_ (jed), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 11:00 (twenty-one years ago)

In a surprise twist, Mr Ferdinand was quoted on BBC site referring 'manufactured pop music' negatively.

― the neurotic awakening of s (blueski), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 11:04 (twenty-one years ago)

they would be happy to know how popular they are with the straight-laced 14-18 set over here.

― jess (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 11:08 (twenty-one years ago)

It's the music business, they don't care who buys their music as long as someone does

― Dadaismus (Dada), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 11:10 (twenty-one years ago)

What was up with their drummer? He looked like he was going to razz while the other bandfolks chatted excitedly...

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 11:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Stupot Mudcock was quoted on the radio this morning saying how great it was they'd won because they'd drag other Scottish bands up with them. 'Drag' was his word. Who was the bird Alex was with? The picture in the Metro was not flattering.

― Madchen (Madchen), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 11:40 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm impressed by the authoritative and highly knowledgeable judges on the Mercury panel - June Sarpong, Tamzin Outhwaite, Sara Cox and Edith Bowman. Oh, and Brian Eno.

I mean, if the Mercury people MEANT this award to be taken seriously do you not think they would have engaged people who actually have some expertise and knowledge of music rather than a bunch of camera-friendly window dummies?

As for Eno...well, what the hell does he know about modern music? When's the last time he caught a cold going out to a gig? He's probably in bed by 10:30 with his cocoa and Book At Bedtime. He probably thinks eski was the name of Bjork's first album.

― Donnie Smith The Quiz Kid, Wednesday, 8 September 2004 11:41 (twenty-one years ago)

where are the judges listed?

― stelfox, Wednesday, 8 September 2004 11:53 (twenty-one years ago)

In today's Grauniad.

― Donnie Smith The Quiz Kid, Wednesday, 8 September 2004 12:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Isn't Alex Ferdinand seeing the singer from the Fiery Furnaces?

His rant that Franz Ferdinand's win sounds the death knell for the dominance of manufactured pop was depressingly predictable and frankly plain bizarre, because the Mercury Prize has hardly been a bastion of Simon Cowell-endorsed acts has it? Still, at least it minds we have no post-punk cover of Love Machine to 'look forward' to.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 12:31 (twenty-one years ago)

oh he didnt did he?

he probably hasn't heard annie yet so let's give the b. of the d..

― piscesboy, Wednesday, 8 September 2004 12:34 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd love to see Girls Aloud rip Franz Ferdinand limb from limb.

― Hari Ashurst (Toaster), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 12:40 (twenty-one years ago)

xpost: Yeah, what was up with FF's drummer? In the interview at the end, he looked pale and green and really Not At All Well. Maybe the band really hadn't expected to win, and we caught him at... um... a Bad Moment, shall we say.

Oh, and he was openly yawning. The ingratitude!

(Sorry. I know this isn't Popbitch.)

― mike t-diva (mike t-diva), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 12:45 (twenty-one years ago)

can you provide a link to the judges or tell me where i can't find them

― stelfox, Wednesday, 8 September 2004 12:48 (twenty-one years ago)

i actually like the album. i can't fathom the choice of judges. did they just think 'we need more recognisable women'?

― the neurotic awakening of s (blueski), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 13:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd love to see Girls Aloud rip Franz Ferdinand limb from limb.

Hee! This thought will keep a smile on my face for at least the next week.

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 8 September 2004 13:41 (twenty-one years ago)

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