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| Girls Aloud win £20 single prize | Girls Aloud win £20 single prize |
| (2 days later) | |
| By Mark Savage BBC News entertainment reporter Girls Aloud have now won the Popjustice prize four times | By Mark Savage BBC News entertainment reporter Girls Aloud have now won the Popjustice prize four times |
| As Elbow collected their £20,000 Mercury Award in Park Lane's swanky Grosvenor House, Girls Aloud were awarded a crisp £20 note by a panel of judges squeezed into a tiny London pub. | As Elbow collected their £20,000 Mercury Award in Park Lane's swanky Grosvenor House, Girls Aloud were awarded a crisp £20 note by a panel of judges squeezed into a tiny London pub. |
| The Popjustice Twenty Quid Music Prize, now in its sixth year, is given out on the same night as the Mercury, and rewards the best British single of the last 12 months. | The Popjustice Twenty Quid Music Prize, now in its sixth year, is given out on the same night as the Mercury, and rewards the best British single of the last 12 months. |
| I was among the judges who bestowed this prestigious honour on the Girls Aloud's Call The Shots - which triumphed over the Sugababes' About You Now in a fraught last-minute showdown. | I was among the judges who bestowed this prestigious honour on the Girls Aloud's Call The Shots - which triumphed over the Sugababes' About You Now in a fraught last-minute showdown. |
| The tongue-in-cheek ceremony had none of the star power of its big brother - but I couldn't help wondering whether the Mercury panel had been quite as rigorous in reaching their decision. | The tongue-in-cheek ceremony had none of the star power of its big brother - but I couldn't help wondering whether the Mercury panel had been quite as rigorous in reaching their decision. |
| Did they, as we had, debate which song was most likely to encourage pandas to mate? | Did they, as we had, debate which song was most likely to encourage pandas to mate? |
| It wasn't a topic I personally felt qualified to discuss, but luckily one of the jurors worked in a zoo. (Girls Aloud are a powerful panda aphrodisiac, just so you know). | It wasn't a topic I personally felt qualified to discuss, but luckily one of the jurors worked in a zoo. (Girls Aloud are a powerful panda aphrodisiac, just so you know). |
| Eviction | Eviction |
| The 30-odd judges were all readers of the Popjustice music website - and ranged from music industry professionals to die-hard pop fans. | The 30-odd judges were all readers of the Popjustice music website - and ranged from music industry professionals to die-hard pop fans. |
| There was even a former boy band member amongst us. | There was even a former boy band member amongst us. |
| Aside from the main event, we were given a series of extra tasks, including the "opportunity" to design Britney Spears' new album sleeve (mine was called The Nun). | Aside from the main event, we were given a series of extra tasks, including the "opportunity" to design Britney Spears' new album sleeve (mine was called The Nun). |
| Leona Lewis's exit was one of the night's most controversial decisionsBut the serious business began with a shortlist of 12 songs, ranging from Goldfrapp's folky ballad A&E to the clattering dance-rock of Bloc Party's Flux. | Leona Lewis's exit was one of the night's most controversial decisionsBut the serious business began with a shortlist of 12 songs, ranging from Goldfrapp's folky ballad A&E to the clattering dance-rock of Bloc Party's Flux. |
| As proceedings kicked off, we each had to nominate one track for an instant, Big Brother-style eviction. | As proceedings kicked off, we each had to nominate one track for an instant, Big Brother-style eviction. |
| Amy Winehouse - who won the prize last year with Rehab - was ignominiously booted out for her near-ubiquitous version of Valerie with Mark Ronson. | Amy Winehouse - who won the prize last year with Rehab - was ignominiously booted out for her near-ubiquitous version of Valerie with Mark Ronson. |
| "Poor Amy, though, she's had a bad year," noted Popjustice editor Peter Robinson, who presided over the event. | "Poor Amy, though, she's had a bad year," noted Popjustice editor Peter Robinson, who presided over the event. |
| Later rounds saw artists pitched against each other, two at a time, with the panel's favourite put through to the next stage of voting. | Later rounds saw artists pitched against each other, two at a time, with the panel's favourite put through to the next stage of voting. |
| THE SHORTLIST A&E - GoldfrappAbout You Now - SugababesBleeding Love - Leona LewisCall The Shots - Girls AloudDance Wiv Me - Dizzee Rascal feat Calvin HarrisFlux - Bloc PartyMoney - DaggersThat's Not My Name - The Ting TingsValerie - Mark Ronson feat Amy WinehouseReady For The Floor - Hot Chip (pictured)Song 4 Mutya (Out Of Control) - Groove Armada feat Mutya BuenaStuck On Repeat - Little Boots A particularly vociferous argument broke out when Groove Armada and Mutya Buena's "instantaneously brilliant" Song 4 Mutya went up against Girls Aloud's "self-indulgent" single. | THE SHORTLIST A&E - GoldfrappAbout You Now - SugababesBleeding Love - Leona LewisCall The Shots - Girls AloudDance Wiv Me - Dizzee Rascal feat Calvin HarrisFlux - Bloc PartyMoney - DaggersThat's Not My Name - The Ting TingsValerie - Mark Ronson feat Amy WinehouseReady For The Floor - Hot Chip (pictured)Song 4 Mutya (Out Of Control) - Groove Armada feat Mutya BuenaStuck On Repeat - Little Boots A particularly vociferous argument broke out when Groove Armada and Mutya Buena's "instantaneously brilliant" Song 4 Mutya went up against Girls Aloud's "self-indulgent" single. |
| "If we vote out Mutya," noted Jamie Smy, "she will come to every one of us in our beds tonight and scratch our faces off." | "If we vote out Mutya," noted Jamie Smy, "she will come to every one of us in our beds tonight and scratch our faces off." |
| Despite the implied violence from a notoriously bad-tempered former Sugababe, the song went out. | Despite the implied violence from a notoriously bad-tempered former Sugababe, the song went out. |
| 'Best font' | 'Best font' |
| A more contentious moment came when the smokers on the panel (all three of them) were sent out to choose between Leona Lewis's globe-straddling megahit Bleeding Love and Bloc Party's Flux. | A more contentious moment came when the smokers on the panel (all three of them) were sent out to choose between Leona Lewis's globe-straddling megahit Bleeding Love and Bloc Party's Flux. |
| Almost apologetically, they returned from their cigarette break to announce they had plumped for Bloc Party. | Almost apologetically, they returned from their cigarette break to announce they had plumped for Bloc Party. |
| "Bleeding Love is the best second single ever by a reality star," they noted, "but Kele Okereke is a much better pop star." | "Bleeding Love is the best second single ever by a reality star," they noted, "but Kele Okereke is a much better pop star." |
| As the shortlist narrowed down, the methods of choosing between people's favourite songs became more and more bizarre. | As the shortlist narrowed down, the methods of choosing between people's favourite songs became more and more bizarre. |
| Which band had the best use of hair straighteners? What could a scientist tell us about the relative merits of Dizzee Rascal? Whose single artwork employed the best font? | Which band had the best use of hair straighteners? What could a scientist tell us about the relative merits of Dizzee Rascal? Whose single artwork employed the best font? |
| At one point, Robinson demanded the judges' iPods so he could examine which songs they had played the most. | At one point, Robinson demanded the judges' iPods so he could examine which songs they had played the most. |
| Choreography was a key factor in the judges decisionsBy the time the list has been whittled down to the UK's top two girl bands, there had been several stand-up arguments and at least one table overturned (it was being danced on, to be fair). | Choreography was a key factor in the judges decisionsBy the time the list has been whittled down to the UK's top two girl bands, there had been several stand-up arguments and at least one table overturned (it was being danced on, to be fair). |
| It was noted that About You Now and Call The Shots were both great British pop songs - but each fell short of the high standards set by the bands' previous songs. | It was noted that About You Now and Call The Shots were both great British pop songs - but each fell short of the high standards set by the bands' previous songs. |
| Three brave souls stepped forward to sing a capella versions of the songs in an attempt to settle an argument over which had the more memorable melody. | Three brave souls stepped forward to sing a capella versions of the songs in an attempt to settle an argument over which had the more memorable melody. |
| Personally, I thought the Sugababes song presented a perfect piece of pop songwriting - with a bittersweet lyric, melodic progression and clever harmonies. | Personally, I thought the Sugababes song presented a perfect piece of pop songwriting - with a bittersweet lyric, melodic progression and clever harmonies. |
| But, as I noted on my judging form, Girls Aloud's track was simply more original. Fellow judge Laura Leishman pointed out that Call The Shots depicted a more "mature and sophisticated relationship". | |
| It was also praised for employing metaphor. | It was also praised for employing metaphor. |
| A tense atmosphere fell over the room as our final decisions were tallied - and a euphoric cheer greeted the announcement of Girls Aloud's victory. | A tense atmosphere fell over the room as our final decisions were tallied - and a euphoric cheer greeted the announcement of Girls Aloud's victory. |
| If anything the night showed that, with the record industry in supposed crisis, pop fans are still incredibly passionate about their favourite artists. | If anything the night showed that, with the record industry in supposed crisis, pop fans are still incredibly passionate about their favourite artists. |
| Also, smokers hate Leona Lewis. | Also, smokers hate Leona Lewis. |