NRJ Music Awards 2014

Once upon a time, the annual NRJ Music Awards used to take place every January in conjunction with the MIDEM festival in Cannes. But these days the awards take place in mid-December so let's check out the results of this year's competition which took place last night at the Palais des Festivals.

The show was presented by Nikos Aliagas, who previously presented Star Academy (those were the days!) and he now presents the French version of The Voice.

Best French female artist - Tal
Best French male artist - M Pokora
Best French newcomer - Kendji Girac
Best French group - Daft Punk
Best French song - Color Gitano - Kendji Girac
Best French video clip - Mme Pavoshko - Black M

Best international female artist - Sia
Best international male artist - Pharrell Williams
Best international newcomer - Ariana Grande
Best international group - One Direction
Best international song - Chandelier - Sia

Special awards - Stromae and Lenny Kravitz

The big winner on the night was Kendji Girac.  Since winning the 3rd series of the French version of "The Voice", he has become a big star.  (Unlike winners of The Voice UK, who seem to immediately sink without trace!) Yet again this year I've been out of the loop with French music, so I had a listen to some clips of his album on iTunes.  He cleverly blends Flamenco and Latin influences with a more contemporary and commercial style with very pleasant results.  It's a refreshing change from all the stale dance music and acoustic bores polluting the charts these days, so I'm very happy to see him doing so well. 

EDIT: I've bought Kendji's album :))

It was a record-breaking 11th NRJ Music Award for Matt Pokora, who has now won more of these awards than any other artist, overtaking Mylène Farmer who previously won the most NRJ awards. 

While we're on the subject of Mylène, in recent years we've come to expect either a new album or DVD release around this time of the year, but there's nothing, zilch, nada this year.  Although as with all things Mylène, in the absence of news, the rumour machine will fire up.  It is rumoured that Mylène will not be working with Laurent Boutonnat on her next album but is allegedly collaborating with Matt Bellamy of Muse.  An intriguing collaboration, but whether it will come true, and indeed how the fandom will react, well we will just have to wait and see.