Time to put our pretend money where our ever-so-real mouths are: DiS is picking our individual favourites for tonight's Mercury Prize, and leaving them here so we can see who's right. And, more importantly, who is wrong and has to buy the biscuits tomorrow.
The nominees for the £20k prize, in case you need reminding:
The Young Knives Voices Of Animals And Men
Jamie T Panic Prevention
Bat For Lashes (pictured) Fur And Gold
Klaxons Myths Of The Near Future
The View Hats Off To The Buskers
Amy Winehouse Back To Black
Basquiat Strings Basquiat Strings with Seb Rochford
Dizzee Rascal Maths + English
New Young Pony Club Fantastic Playroom
Maps We Can Create
Arctic Monkeys Favourite Worst Nightmare
Fionn ReganThe End Of History
And the DiS picks...
Mike Diver: Bat For Lashes
Samuel Strang: Klaxons
Alex Denney: Bat For Lashes
Him Tall: The Young Knives
Kevin Kharas: Klaxons
Dan Wale: Jamie T
Raziq Rauf: Bat For Lashes
Tom Milway: Bat For Lashes
Gareth Dobson: Bat For Lashes
Guest pick, Kevin Drew (on the phone, just now): Fionn Regan (although he didn't know t'other nominees)
Well, that's that, then: Bat For Lashes to win. Who do you think will win, though? Please comment accordingly below, and come back here after the ceremony to see if anyone's on the money...
i said Bat for Lashes
when the list first came out whenever it was.
should have put some money on it.
i say
jamie t
yeah
it was 20 to 1 or something as well when they first announced it. i was gonna put a bet on but she became third favourite after about a day and it didn't seem worth it.
jamie t
only cos i'm regularly informed of jamies supreme genius
Jamie T
heard about 20 seconds of his music, but i just know
...How the West has won
I'm with Sexy Strang and Korking Kharas.
I think it'll be Klaxons
but I want it to be Maps.
if it is bat for lashes
i'll be v annoyed.
she's had much more coverage from this whole thing than any of the others. not fair. (including picture at top here!)
That's because...
...she's better than the rest of the nominees!
agreed...
seems a definite BIZNIS bias goin on ..she was front page of guardian guide on saturday and today she was on front cover of the independent holding the blooming statue!!! didnt like that at all...it seems she is a shoe-in to win it...bah..it aint all that..
Think it will be...
...Klaxons following their Reading performance which seems to have gone down well. In many way the Mercury has already done everything it can for Bat for Lashes through the nomination - she's had her profile rasied massively and she's publicly stated she doesn't want to win. If the Arctic Monekys had had a more exciting festival season then I'd say them but given it to them two years on the trot doesn't seem consumate with their stock at the moment.
Jamie T
would prefer Klaxons though. I'm not sure of all the judges but they include everyone's favourite editor Conor McNicholas and Lauren Laverne. CMN will probably go for Klaxons, LL - Bat for Lashes. I reckon Jamie T will win through as 'compromise' choice.
bat for lashes
though i would like to see Fionn bag it
I'm prepared to stake
a really large sum of money that Bat for Lashes will not win the Mercury. A little privileged information and a knowledge of the panel's favourite artists would suggest otherwise.
I am, however, prepared to be proven wrong.
you should blates make that bet
with someone very foolish. I think I agree, but i don't have a valid reason for doing so
we're due a surprise, though
And Klaxons and Jamie T wouldn't be.
It'd surprise me, more, if Winehouse took it.
Well, she won't be there.
So I doubt she'll get it. They like people to be there.
BfL was the least popular choice from the longlist to make the shortlist and the panel is mostly the same people who are judging the final result.
this is true sir
Dunno owt about the longlist, but she's seen her odds slashed, so...
(but like you say, if she's nay there...)
yeah
my mate john knows this guy but i'm not going to tell who he knows
Bat For Lashes
but I really want Fionn Regan to win. If The View win I am going to burn someone.
In the history of the Mercury Prize
the bookies' favourite has basically never won it. I stick to the bet I made when the list was first announced... the Arctic Monkeys are going to become the first band to win it twice (and in consecutive years no less).
bat for maps
two minds, hope maps win it - but put a fiver on bat for lashes at 12/1 - so even though I'm not a fan, wouldn't mind if her name got read out
I'd like Bat for Lashes to win
but it'll be Jamie T.
dammit
i went for the popular vote
I meant "Basquiat Strings"
colin
who're you betting on for winner then?
I got 70/1 on basquiat strings yesterday..
.. on betfair and now they're 44/1.
the token jazz/classical entry has never won, it has to at some point to validate it's existence..
(i'm not colin)
3 horse race
Between Maps, BFL and Fionn. I wouldn't be surprised if Mr Regan scooped it you know, just got a feeling.
i hope
it'll be maps but i reckon it might be Jamie t. i don't like that fionn bloke -Bat for lashes would be ok.
Maps or Bat for Lashes
I hope it'll be Bat for Lashes or Maps. I reckon they'll try and be edgy and give it to Arctic Monkeys for a second time because "nobody will expect it." or somesuch.
whats with...
bat for lashes being in all the weekend supplements - well i spotted them/her in two
i'd like BFL to win.. and if not then NYPC
I reckon it'll be Maps
I see him as the dark horse :)
I said BFL from the start
she's just lovely
I'm gunna go...
Basquiat Strings.
Simply because hardly any one else has. It's a risk, but hey, i've nothing to loose. and if i'm correct... You'll all be admiring me for my strangly accurate prediction.
klaxons won it after all
sounds good to me
I THINK KLAXONS WILL WIN!
Am I too late?
How
Shit