Speech Debelle wins 2009 Barclaycard Mercury Prize

[BxETHxHxARRISON]

N'aw how cute is Florence? And I think the people that left no so nice comments about her should go listen to Ceremonials, no disrespect to Lungs but Ceremonials is much stronger, you could be turned

[BrostepIsShit]

Speech Debelle <3 Although that was arrogant of her with that interview

[ugforthewin]

Speech who?

[w0bbit]

Fortunately for the rest of us, all you haters of Speech Debelle aren't industry insiders and don't judge the competition. Speech wasn't huge before the award and isn't huge now, but as the journo quite clearly says, it's not about record sales...

[thewonderofsohcahtoa]

lets be honest, speech debelle is a knob and she's crap. its not about her being black. florence clearly should have won.

[ToadlyAToad]

La Roux should have won -_-

[jrox05]

The Horrors was the most groundbreaking. if you ever see it live you see them giving it everything. Speech feels just like MsDynamite all over again, and as seen following the award she hasn't gone onto critical acclaim ala Elbow.

Top candidates this year - Mumford & Sons and probably Foals.

[NicolaRobertsFan]

shes shite, FLO should of won!

[MyOpinionSucksFM]

@NicolaRobertsFan She's not shite, her lyrics are hard hitting but I agree, Florence ROCKS.

[jillianmspeirs]

Every contest has its favorites, and clearly this win doesn't sit well with everyone. Speech Debelle is now touring Canada where I live. She was interviewed today on a CBC national radio programme where I heard Speech Debelle for the first time. She's interesting, fresh and original sounding. With not particular bias to bring to the conversation, I'd say this prize was deserved and your winner is representing well on this side of the pond.

Jillian from Canada

[kingcroak]

The horrors should have won it, no doubt. It was an album that they put their heart and soul into 'Primary Colours'. they recorded well over 40 during it's production and it's a sound unlike any I've heard in recent memory. Why this throwaway rap tart won it I don't know. Hell, at least I'd have had to respect the winner if it were Florence or La Roux, but this? Pff.

[theragingbull14]

how about natasha khan???

[BlahBlah5743]

florence and the machine are amazing. the band deserved it. where is speech debelle now?

[julz35]

Well Done S.D totally spot on with the mercury speech thing.

[ZIONOLOGY]

well done speech debelle....the album is outstanding...so was florence....but u did ur thing gal..:)

[moominxcorpse]

well done to speech, but florence should have won

[mattbendall]

I don't think Speech Therapy was the greatest album by a UK artist over the past year.

However, to the haters out there: Listen to the album's title track. It's an incredible and devastating track. One that is well worth the attention winning the Prize has got her. Check it out.

[Lima547]

I was expecting Florence to win! Maybe next year......

[haylough1]

I love the way she exploits that she spent some time sofa surfing and staying in hostels as she has had a really tough life.

I met her today and was really disappointed, I quite like her music but she's far more arrogant than is warranted.

[grantsdoctorwho]

Speech Debelle is still laughing at Florence

[ika2]

well florence can suck my dick

she is as stupid and dumb as other pretentious female songstresses,

a soul-inspired indie? dont make me laugh, thats what florence is all about

wearing glam outfit and setting trends, what a phoney

speech will be respected as MIA was and then all these wankers will start singin praises how great speech is

we ll see

[MAGUS1947]

I've never read such horse shit. The album is a genuine classic. A nice original sound. So much better than that retarded hip hop bollox !!

[ika2]

coz u r full of horseshit

no one said grime or hiphop was retarded

it is snappy

[wightnproud]

dont really like this genre of music but saw her at Bestival out of curiosity anyway. Came away shocked as impressed by her and her band and I know i speak for many standing near me. Confidence without arrogance. Well done Speech, Other nominees will have sales go up anyway so everyone wins

[nataliecox22]

Florence should have won, or friendly fires!

[mrcaassy]

Florence is dry! I am not a huge speech fan, but Florence is rubbish not substance at all in her music!

[PandaaEye]

Florence & La Roux were dead better.

[topcat2726]

I dont really like her music tbh, and this is not racially motivated. I got her album, listened to it, and i found it really dull. Kasabian have done well this year and when i saw them live they were amazing.

[msmoneypenny08]

The nefarious comments (and some are purely racially motivated) posted since this woman won this award have saddened me with regard to the mood of the people in the world when a Black individual is acknowledged by experts, which is very much a rarity in all professions from dustmen to politicians. This is a talented and confident Black British woman - get over it.

[msmoneypenny08]

The nefarious comments (and some are purely racially motivated) posted since this woman won this award have saddened me with regard to the mood of the people in the world when a Black individual is acknowledged by experts, which is very much a rarity in all professions from dustmen to politicians. I am fully aware that the vast majority of people prefer their jazz, blues etc. to be performed by a white artist. This is a talented and confident Black British woman - get over it.

[ika2]

you are pathetic - leoniester

[leoniestar]

I don't think she should have won Florence is so much better.

[LaBek15]

Florence should have that award on her shelf right now. absolute bollocks.

[Mazumune]

Florence WAS ROBBED!

[noodlezero]

the thing about her tht i dont like

shes a great rapper laa dee daa

but jesus shes a bit arrogant isnt she..

[Ags9121]

FLORENCE DEFINITELY SHOULD OF WON! !! Even if its not about who's music is better, but who has the most current and interesting sound at the moment, it is definitely Flo, She is an incredible talent and the album has been in the top ten 5 for weeks now,showing just how much interest it has sparked.

Speech Debelle came across as arrogant and ungrateful and her music, honetly speaking, is just horrendous. It doesnt even compare to Florence,Kasabian,Friendly Fires and Bat For Lashes!

[Acidfaery8]

WTF???? her music in totally generic shit, a pile of boring monotonous wank.... Florence and the machine should have won, shes amazing unlike this shit. Sympathy vote anyone, i dont give a fuck if she was homeless, shes shit, theres a reason she hasnt sold more than 3000 albums.

[katealexandraify]

I wanted friendly fires to win!

[samisatube]

what the hell what about the friendly fires and the horrors for god sake?? forget la roux nd florence and the machine!!!

[booster330]

Florence was never going to win...Busted had a better chance of winning..she and La Roux sud never hit the airwaves again...it belonged to Bat for Lashes

[jwilliams654]

Florence & The Machine should have won,

Speech Debelle has an annoying voice. She's like a ghetto Kate Nash. But I like Kate Nash.

Oh well. Florence will always be more succesful than Speech Debelle.

[captaincrumble]

well done speech, thank god la roux or florence didnt win, they suck balls..

[tonyreno123]

fucking dreadfull. rip out her toungue

[MrdotRandom]

its not about whos 'better' its about album quality. what she speaks is real and hard hitting. i dont understand why people can be happy for her and accept her as a worthy winner. just cause u never heard her. ive never heard of florence. just say well done and give props when its due and stop being so ignorant

[nikedunksss]

wtf? she's terrible.

florence should of won.

her music is amazing.

speech's music is badd.

[spazabarri]

@nikedunksss

Florence is typical and boring, with a lovely typical voice and wonderful typical pop songs.

Speech Debelle is genuine, and interesting, shedding the synths and samples that are typical of rap music and experimenting with jazz and old old school RnB. She was the only one who could have taken the prize, except for perhaps the Horrors.

[cckilla96]

florence is so much better

[nichola81]

well done

[karatekween33]

florence should've won

[lennard]

never heard of her

[MusicFan862009]

cool ...