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Source : Billboard

From Billboard :

Ivors Spotlight Take That’s BarlowBY DOMINIC PRIDE

LONDON — The songwriter behind one of the U.K.’s international success stories in 1993, Gary Barlow of Take That, received double honors at the Ivor Novello Awards, held May 25 here.

Barlow scooped up two of the 14 Ivors, for the songwriter of the year and for the best contemporary song, awarded for "Pray."

On receiving the award, presented by Elton John, Barlow said, "On my 11th birthday, my mum asked me whether I wanted a BMX bike or a keyboard. I’m glad I chose the keyboard." In a star-filled ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, the British Academy ofSongwriters and Composers (BASCA) honored songwriters who had excelled in their individual fields. The highest accolade for Britishsongwriters, the awards are in their 39th year.

U2’s Bono and the Edge received the special award for international achievement, based on the success of "Zooropa," which went top 10 in 26 countries.

Handing over the award, Brian Eno paid tribute to U2 for "not being trapped by the inevitable pressure of success. The pressure is often there to do the same thing. They have sidestepped that railroad and done things which pessimists said would not work."

A daringly clad Helen Mirren presented Michael Nyman with his Ivor for best film theme or song for "The Piano," while Sting picked up the award for best song musically and lyrically, for "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You."

Cliff Richard presented Tim Rice with an award for outstanding contribution to British Music. Lyricist Rice quipped that he accepted theaward "on behalf of all those who can’t write music."

His former collaborator, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, received the award for outstanding contribution to British musical theater.

EMI Music Publishing U.K. managing director Peter Reichardt collected awards on behalf of Duran Duran, which won the PerformingRight Society award for the year’s most performed song ("Ordinary World") and on behalf of Freddie Mercury, who was given aposthumous award for international hit of the year ("Living On My Own").

Another posthumous award was made to TV composer Stanley Myers, who died last November, having mostly completed the score for the BBC’s adaptation of "Middlemarch," which won best TV/Radio theme.

Other award winners were David Rodgers and Paul Shaw, who wrote the U.K.’s best-selling song in 1993, "Mr. Blobby" by TV character Mr. Blobby ; Paul Weller, for outstanding contemporary song collection ; Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway, who shared the JimmyKennedy award for sustained success ; and Ron Goodwin, composer of film tunes, including "633 Squadron," who won the LifetimeAchievement Award.