BOY power! Sam Smith beats 100 rivals to win coveted Brits Critics' Choice award ahead of next year's ceremony

By Anthony Barnes, Press Association

PUBLISHED: 05:47 EST, 12 December 2013 | UPDATED: 07:51 EST, 12 December 2013


Chart-topping star Sam Smith has landed a Brit Award after being named the winner of the Critics' Choice prize for next year's ceremony.

The 21-year-old singer follows in the footsteps of past winners such as Adele and Jessie J in collecting the award, which recognises a tip for success in the coming months.

Smith already has a number one single under his belt after his vocals were featured on Naughty Boy hit La La La, and he has also recorded with Disclosure, as well as releasing his first EP in his own right this year.

Mad about the boy: Sam Smith has landed a Brit Award after being named the winner of the Critics' Choice prize for next year's ceremony

Mad about the boy: Sam Smith has landed a Brit Award after being named the winner of the Critics' Choice prize for next year's ceremony

Destined for big things: Sam is on the second man to win the coveted award

Destined for big things: Sam is on the second man to win the coveted award

He was up against Ella Eyre and Chloe Howl on the shortlist of three for this year's prize and is only the second male winner since the inaugural Critics' Choice award in 2008, following last year's trophy for Tom Odell.

Smith will be a guest at the ceremony for the Brit Awards 2014 with MasterCard which takes place on February 19 at London's O2 Arena.

And he will collect his award at an event to launch the nominations of the other award categories on January 9 which is being broadcast by ITV and hosted by Radio 1 presenter Nick Grimshaw.

Winner: Sam Smith pictured at the V Festival, Chelmsford, Essex, last summer

Winner: Sam Smith pictured at the V Festival, Chelmsford, Essex, last summer

Adele was a previous winner of the award - and went on to achieve epic success
Jessie J performing on stage during the 2013 Capital FM Jingle Bell Ball at the O2 Arena, London

Winners: both Jessie J and Adele have been previous winners of the Brits Critics Choice award

The award is chosen by a team of music writers and figures from music radio stations, who sifted through in excess of 100 artists.

Smith's song Nirvana will be included on a Critics' Choice compilation album to be released by Universal Music on January 6, featuring all the artists shortlisted over the years.

Sam said: 'I'm completely overwhelmed! To see my name alongside the list of former winners, artists I admire so much it, is incredible. What an amazing Christmas present. Thank you!'

The award is voted on by leading experts including newspaper music editors, journalists from music websites, music and lifestyle magazines, and radio and TV bosses.

The prize is open to up-and-coming artists who are set to release their debut albums in 2014, and over 100 artists were considered.


The future's bright: Sam Smith performing on stage during the 2013 Capital FM Jingle Bell Ball at the O2 Arena, London

The future's bright: Sam Smith performing on stage during the 2013 Capital FM Jingle Bell Ball at the O2 Arena, London

Comments (16)

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talented guy.... but he hast the STRANGEST hair-line i have ever seen!

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He looks like a thinner version of Adele.

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He kinda looks like Boy George

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amazing voice - check him out on jools holland show when he appeared with Disclosure. Well done mate, thank god he didnt go down x factor route.

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Sam Smith what a bland name, he should consider getting a stage name.

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Amazing voice

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He looks thrilled to have won, doesn't he.

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You do give women a bad name. 5 of the last 7 winners of the Critics Choice awards were female and the award is only given out for those artists who are going to release their first album in the following year, so that would leave out Little Mix (that and they're rubbish). So before you make a fool of yourself again, do your homework before you write blatanly stupid remarks.

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And deservedly so! Sam Smith has a great voice, very unique.

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His voice is amazing! His song Nirvana is brilliant

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