Antony and the Johnsons won Britain’s illustrious Mercury Prize literally against the odds: Betting men had the campy crooner’s odds set at 10-1 (the original favorites, the Kaiser Chiefs, clocked in at 4-1). Since the 20,000-pound prize honors music by British artists, some folks are griping over Antony’s eligibility for the Mercury Prize because Antony (nee Antony Hegarty), though born in England, was raised mostly in the U.S.
According to the AP, Antony himself was fairly shocked at the outcome, which had him beating out buzz-tastic acts like M.I.A. and Bloc Party. “They must have made a mistake,” Antony gushed told AP. “I’m completely overwhelmed. I think it’s insane… I think it’s a bit bonkers to give the prize to one person. It’s a bit nutty. It’s kind of like a crazy contest between an orange and a spaceship and a potted plant and a spoon — which one do you like better?”
We suppose the Mercury judges like potted plants the best of all. Discuss.
Links:
Mercury Prize official site
Antony and the Johnsons official site
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