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Are our Aussie stars ‘too cool’ for the ARIAs?

DESPITE a star-studded line-up, there was an overwhelming feeling that some of our biggest stars felt they were just a little too cool to be there.

Nick Bond, Charlotte Willis and Alison Stephenson
3 min read
November 26, 2014 - 7:43PM
ARIAS 2014: 5 Seconds of Summer

DESPITE one of the most star-studded line-ups in a long time, there was an overwhelming feeling at the ARIAs that some of our biggest stars felt they were just a little too cool to be there.

Awkward acceptance speeches, no-shows by our two major artists and a refusal to do interviews were all too common on music’s night of nights.

Artist after artist whizzed past the media without stopping to chat, including Delta Goodrem, 5SOS, Jessica Mauboy, Chet Faker and Katy Perry, who refused to speak to media after her rant about local paparazzi this past weekend.

Jessica Mauboy skipped most media interviews at the ARIAs.
Jessica Mauboy skipped most media interviews at the ARIAs.

The normally very accommodating Mauboy, 25, was also surprisingly shy and declined most interviews, preferring to hang with her boyfriend Themeli Magriplis as they made their first major appearance as a couple in more than five years.

Sia and Iggy Azalea, our two most successful female artists of the year, didn’t even turn up.

Sia, undisputedly the lady of the night winning four awards, didn’t send anyone in her place to accept her awards and the ceremony only screened one thank you video. Katy Perry accepted Best Female Artist gong on her behalf. Sia has today hit back at those criticising her non-appearance, saying she filmed four acceptance videos but only one was shown:

Katy Perry declared Sia Best Female Artist at the ARIA Awards in Sydney.
Katy Perry declared Sia Best Female Artist at the ARIA Awards in Sydney.

The notoriously shy pop star, whose big hit Chandelier dominated airwaves this year, took home Best Pop Release, Best Video, Best Female Artist and the biggest award of the night — Album of the Year for 1000 Forms of Fear. It was disappointing as we’re sure Sia fans would’ve loved to have seen the singer acknowledge her big wins in person.

Meanwhile, Iggy Azalea, who was writhing around on the American Music Awards stage with J. Lo on Monday night couldn’t make it to her own country’s awards ceremony.

The rapper took home Best Breakthrough Artist but had her Fancy collaborator Charli XCX accept the award.

“I’m going to drop it off to her and she’s going to enjoy it,” Charli XCX said.

British popstar Charli XCX accepted Iggy Azalea’s award for Best Breakthrough Artist.
British popstar Charli XCX accepted Iggy Azalea’s award for Best Breakthrough Artist.

When electronica musician Chet Faker accepted his award on stage, the softly spoken dude gave the world’s worst acceptance speech, collecting an award from Triple J’s Matt and Alex (who were dressed as Chet himself and Sia).

“I don’t know what I’m doing man,” he said after a tortuously long pause. “I make music, I have no idea why I’m here in a suit. There’s a dude in spandex here, I can see his junk. Thanks.”

Chet Faker gets awkward on stage with Matt and Alex from Triple J.
Chet Faker gets awkward on stage with Matt and Alex from Triple J.

... and that was it. It came after he whizzed through the red carpet, steering clear of most media outlets who were keen for a chat with the most nominated artist of the night with a whopping nine noms.

Music awards shows are always particularly awkward compared to their acting counterparts — nervous musos shuffling about on stage, not sure what to do without an instrument in hand. Chet Faker seemed to be the perfect example of that. Blame it on nerves?

His second speech was no better — forgetting again to thank a single person as he accepted award number two.
“I went to school with Vance Joy so I was kind of hoping he’d win this. What award is this? [looks at envelope] Oh, best male artist, OK. My high school counsellor said I shouldn’t pursue music as a career, so, yeah. Thanks.”

In the media room after his wins, Faker put his lackluster speeches down to tiredness from jet lag.

Chet Faker accepts the award for Best Male Artist ... wait, what award was it?
Chet Faker accepts the award for Best Male Artist ... wait, what award was it?

But the “too cool” theme of the night was best summed up when three near-naked promotional models couldn’t even be bothered to tell us why they were on the red carpet.

The trio, who were dressed in nothing but body paint and their undies turned up with the slogan ‘808’ all over them. All very nice to look at, but when news.com.au asked “Uh, who are you? And what’s this about?” One no doubt freezing model frostily replied: “Just 808. Hashtag it,”. Right you are.

Full list of winners

SIA — 1000 FORMS OF FEAR

Album Of The Year

Best Female Artist

Best Pop Release

Best Video, Chandelier, Directed by Sia and Daniel Askill

CHET FAKER — BUILT ON GLASS

Best Male Artist

Best Independent Release

SHEPPARD — BOMBS AWAY

Best Group

IGGY AZALEA — THE NEW CLASSIC

Breakthrough Artist

5 SECONDS OF SUMMER — SHE LOOKS SO PERFECT

Song Of The Year

NEIL FINN AND PAUL KELLY — GOIN’ YOUR WAY

Best Adult Contemporary Album

JOHN BUTLER TRIO — FLESH AND BLOOD

Best Blues and Roots Album

THE WIGGLES — APPLES & BANANAS

Best Children’s Album

BUDDY GOODE — IT’S A BUDDY GOODE CHRISTMAS

Best Comedy Release

KASEY CHAMBERS — BITTERSWEET

Best Country Album

PEKING DUK FEATURING NICOLE MILLAR — HIGH

Best Dance Release

DZ DEATHRAYS — BLACK RAT

Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album

DAN SULTAN — BLACKBIRD

Best Rock Album

HILLTOP HOODS — WALKING UNDER STARS

Best Urban Album

KEITH URBAN

Best Live Australian Act

ONE DIRECTION

Best International Artist

MOLLY MELDRUM AND COUNTDOWN

ARIA Hall Of Fame

DENIS HANDLIN

ARIA Industry Icon Award

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/awards/arias/are-our-aussie-stars-too-cool-for-the-arias/news-story/f69b9a4ac55078d6a2a6b4237ea2dd91