THE goddaughter of Amy Winehouse produced the performance of her life in memory of the star as one of the biggest events in the UK music calendar celebrated its return to Glasgow last night.
Soul singer Dionne Bromfield, 15, wore a necklace that had belonged to the chart-topping star as she gave a moving rendition at the Music Of Black Origin (Mobo) awards in the SECC of Winehouse’s single Love Is A Losing Game.
The arena had been plunged into darkness when Bromfield, dressed in a sparkly black dress, took to the stage.
She performed an acoustic version of the track to a backdrop of a video collage of her godmother.
Her performance was a fitting tribute to Winehouse, who had battled alcohol and drugs problems before she was found dead aged 27 at her home in London in July.
Bromfield admitted it had been an emotionally charged performance.
“Amy is always with me,” she said. “She’s here round my neck. This necklace was hers.”
Bromfield, who was signed by Winehouse’s record company Lioness Records, added she had been in tears during the rehearsals.
Kanya King, founder and chief executive of the Mobos, described it as the “moving moment of the night”.
Fans who waited to catch a glimpse of some of the biggest chart stars were not disappointed despite the failure of singers Adele and Rihanna to collect their awards in person, or Mobo-nominated Beyonce to make the trip north.
Singer-songwriter Yasmin, who grew up in Kilmacolm, Inverclyde, triple-Mobo winner Miss Dynamite and Niomi Arleen McLean-Daley, whose mother hails from Benbecula, thrilled the 6000-strong audience -- some of whom enjoyed champagne at £5000 tables.
Other performers included Aberdeen-born Emile Sande, a former Glasgow University student who turned her back on a medical career after her single Heaven reached number two in the charts.
Wearing a black lace Dolce and Gabbana dress, she said: “It is really cool having the Mobos in Glasgow because there’s such a big fanbase here.”
Jessie J was the biggest winner on the night with four gongs for Best UK Act, Best Album, Best Newcomer and Best Song. She performed for the first time since recovering from a broken foot.
With purple dyed hair, she opened the event with her hit Do It Like a Dude and had three outfit changes during the night.
She said that there was no reason why the Mobos should not be in Glasgow.
She added: “Music is international, it shouldn’t be ignorant.
“It’s absolutely wonderful to be here tonight.”
Boy-band JLS flew in by private jet to present the American band Boyz II Men, who enjoyed global success throughout the 1990s with songs including End Of The Road, with an award for their outstanding contribution to music.
The ceremony, which was co-hosted by American chart-topper Jason Derulo and Strictly Come Dancing judge Alesha Dixon, will return to Glasgow in 2013 and 2015, where it will be based at the new Scottish Hydro Arena. It first came to Glasgow in 2009.
It is expected that the events will generate £3 million for the city.
Ms King added: “The artists have pulled out all the stops.
“Glasgow is a home from home for me, it’s just fabulous being here.
“The excitement and atmosphere of our second year here in Glasgow has shown the love that the whole country has for Mobo.”
- Highlights can be seen on BBC1 on Friday, at 11.45pm.
The Winners
Best UK Act (voted for on www.mobo.com and listeners of Capital FM): Jessie J
Best Newcomer: in association with Lebara Mobile (voted for by Facebook): Jessie J
Best Hip Hop/Grime Act: Tinie Tempah
Best International Act: Rihanna
Best Album: Jessie J: Who You Are
Best R&B/Soul Act: Adele
Best Reggae: Alborosie
Best Video: Tinchy Stryder and Dappy: Spaceship
Best Jazz Act: Kairos 4Tet
Best Song in association with PRS for Music: Jessie J: Do It Like a Dude
Best African Act: Wizkid
Best Gospel Act: Triple O
Outstanding Contribution to Music: Boyz II Men
BeMobo Award: Youth Music
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article