Pop talent celebrate Ivor awards

By Greig Watson
Entertainment reporter, BBC News

The Scissor Sisters said they got jumpers from Sir Elton John

Elton John got both the biggest laugh and longest round of applause of the Ivor Novello Awards for flirting with the lead singer of the Arctic Monkeys.

Accepting the award for most performed song, he said: "And Alex, I'm off to Sheffield in the helicopter right after if you fancy a lift."

It summed up the relaxed atmosphere of the Ivors, which holds a special place for many musicians by rewarding songwriting talent over simple glamour.

Sir Elton paid tribute to I Don't Feel Like Dancing's co-writers Scott Hoffman and Jake Shears of the Scissor Sisters, saying: "Until we wrote this song, I'd never written in the same room as anybody before, it was the first time and it was a great experience.

"I'd like to congratulate the Scissor Sisters and everyone else who has won an award today."

Gillespie said pop songs needed a special level of 'craftsmanship'

He raised another laugh by scolding singer Amy Winehouse, winner of best contemporary song for Rehab.

"Amy - I worship at your feet. But I want to come round and meet your mum so don't cancel on me again!"

British group The Feeling were named song writers of the year and lead singer Dan Gillespie paid tribute to the unique atmosphere of the Ivors.

"I normally get very embarrassed by awards ceremonies because you don't go into music to be in competition with people.

"The Ivors are a bit different because there is more of a sense of fellowship, like a weird club. And that's right up my street," he said.

Surpise wedding

Gillespie revealed some of the writing technique that had landed the band its accolade.

"I just get drunk and play stuff, expressing myself. I sit at the piano and rock around and just come up with ideas.

"After that it is a matter of craftsmanship, getting it into a pop format - concise, hard-hitting and strong."

Turner confessed to being embarrassed without his bandmates

Jake Shears also gave a glimpse of what it is like to write with Sir Elton. He said the process was made easier by knitwear.

"He brought us sweaters," he laughed. "Because it was the middle of winter - and after that it was just a question of sitting around the piano."

He added: "There's no secret to writing. There is luck and timing and hard work. Sometimes inspiration comes. I thought up the chorus to Take Your Momma while in the shower."

Amy Winehouse had just flown in from the US where she had got married to boyfriend Blake Fielder-Civil.

Accepting her award she joked: "Thank you all very much, I didn't even have time to get drunk, I've only been here about 15 minutes."

Later, she said of the wedding: "It was all very sudden but that's the way I am. I had a lovely dress and he looked very handsome.

"We're not planning a honeymoon, every day is a honeymoon, I've married the best man in the world."

Arctic Monkey Alex Turner said it was "much more embarrassing" to be collecting an award without his band mates.

And that was before Sir Elton got started.