Unique ... winner Antony Hegarty
Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA
Last night's surprise result at the Mercury awards - surprise not least because the band that won, Antony and the Johnsons, is based not in the UK but New York - has generated plenty of heat.
The silences seemed to speak loudest last night: Sky reports that M.I.A. walked out of the ceremony within minutes of the announcement being made, and favourites Kaiser Chiefs - who criticised the inclusion of Antony and the Johnsons in the shortlist - also remained studiously quiet.
Antony himself appeared shocked by events. "I think they must have made a mistake. I think that's insane," he said. "It's like a contest between an orange and a space ship and a potted plant and a spoon." Little wonder that he had a little weep in the loo afterwards (thanks to Radio 1's Newsbeat for that touching detail).
In today's press, critics are surprised by the result, but reckon the judges got it about right. Pete Paphides writes in the Times that "the wave of affection that swept the floor [after Antony and the Johnsons won] seemed to extend to the judges".
One of those judges, Simon Frith, was given the chance to respond in the Independent, and declared that the winners stood out from a slightly characterless field. "When you listen to the arguments," he said, "Antony and the Johnsons is the record that makes the best sense." Slightly more sense than your statement, Simon, but still …
Meanwhile, our very own Alexis Petridis observes in today's Guardian that the judges "haven't handed the award to anyone completely preposterous for years," and agrees that "you would have a hard time proving that [Antony Hegarty's] voice is anything other than unique". Even so, he wonders what the point of the Mercury utlimtely is. "No one seems any clearer as to precisely what the award is for," he signed off.
The story of an American (an immigrant, dammit) triumphing over plucky Brits seems bespoke tailored for the Mail, who come up trumps. Their top line? "The Nationwide Music Prize ended in controversy when the award, which is supposed to honour British acts, was given to an American band." Of course.
But top marks for coverage should go to the free commuter paper Metro, who went to print before the award was announced and confidently predicted that Kaiser Chiefs would walk off with the prize. "Dewey Defeats Truman" it may not be, dear people, but this year - as often before - the Mercury judges seem to have had the last laugh.
