BRIT Awards: The Best Performances (1977-2011) - Video

8 February 2012, 14:03 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Capital FM looks back at some of the greatest BRIT Awards performances from across the annual ceremony's 30 year history, including the likes of Adele and Lady Gaga.

The BRIT Awards has played host to some of the biggest artists and bands in pop music history over its more than 30 year run as the UK's premier awards ceremony.

The annual ceremony has featured some unforgettable performances over its run including some very unlikely collaborations and some truly awe-inspiring moments in pop music history.

The BRIT Awards 2012 will see the likes of Adele, Coldplay, Rihanna, Ed Sheeran and Bruno Mars all take to the stage at London's O2 Arena on 21st February - but first Capital FM takes a look at some of the greatest BRITs performances so far.

WARNING: This article features video content that some viewers may find offensive. 

Adele - 'Someone Like You' (2011)

After winning the BRITs Critics Choice Award back in 2008, Adele made her triumphant return to the BRITs in February 2011 for a heart-breaking performance of her Vodafone Big Top 40 number one single 'Someone Like You'.

Adele's highly emotional performance arguably marked the start of the 'Rolling In The Deep' singer's huge international success over the past twelve months, and a YouTube video of her performance currently has over 92 million views.
Despite her huge success in 2011 Adele has yet to win another BRIT Award, but has three nominations at this year's ceremony for Best British Single, Best British Female and Best British Album.
 
Watch Adele's performance of 'Someone Like You' at the BRIT Awards 2011 below:

Rihanna - 'Loud' Medley (2011)

2011 was undoubtedly the busiest year of Rihanna's career so far and the Bajan singer kicked it off in style with this show-stopping performance at the BRIT Awards last year.

After being presented with her first ever BRIT Award for Best International Female, over the likes of Katy Perry and Alicia Keys, Rihanna took to the stage to begin her medley performance with a rendition of 'Only Girl (In The World)' wearing a flowing red satin dress.

Following a quick costume change the 'Loud' singer returned to the stage to belt out back-to-back performances of her controversial hit single 'S&M' and Drake collaboration 'What's My Name?' while dressed in a short black lace bodysuit.

Rihanna is set to return for the second year in a row at the BRIT Awards 2012 where she has been nominated for Best International Female yet again as well as being confirmed as one of this year's performers.

Watch Rihanna performing a medley of songs from her 2010 album 'Loud' at the BRIT Awards 2011 below:

Dizzee Rascal and Florence And The Machine - 'You've Got The (Dirtee) Love' (2010)

Both Florence and the Machine and Dizzee Rascal had hugely successful years in 2009 with the release of their latest albums, and joined forces at the BRIT Awards 2010 for an on-stage collaboration.

After winning Best British Album at the ceremony Florence Welch took to the stage with Best British Male winner Dizzee for a unique version of her single 'You Got The Love'.

The live cover was mashed up with Dizzee's 'Dirtee Cash' and released straight after the event as an iTunes only single called 'You Got The (Dirtee) Love', which went on to become an even greater chart success than the original Florence and the Machine release.

Watch Florence and the Machine and Dizzee Rascal performing 'You Got The (Dirtee) Love' at the BRIT Awards 2010 below:

Lady Gaga - 'Telephone'/'Dance In The Dark' (2010)

Lady Gaga was reportedly planning an epic, wild show for her BRIT Awards 2010 performance but eventually opted for a sombre stripped down set after learning of the death of her friend and fashion muse Alexander McQueen.

The 'Bad Romance' singer paid tribute to the late fashion designer with an emotional piano-led performance of 'Telephone' and 'Dance In the Dark' while dressed head-to-toe in white lace.

Lady Gaga also picked up all three awards she had been nominated for, including Best International Female and Best Breakthrough, and burst into tears when accepting the award for Best International Album for 'The Fame'.

Watch Lady Gaga's performance of 'Telephone' and 'Dance In The Dark' at the BRIT Awards 2010 below:

Girls Aloud - 'The Promise' (2009)

Despite seven successful years in the music industry, Girls Aloud only picked up their first BRIT Awards in 2009.

The 'Out Of Control' girl band were presented with the fan-voted award for Best British Single at the 2009 event and celebrated with a highly lauded performance of their single 'The Promise'.

Taking to the stage in peach-coloured corsets the five girls sang while being delicately covered up by men wielding pink feather fans in a showgirl-inspired stage performance.

Watch Girls Aloud's performance of 'The Promise' at the BRIT Awards 2009 below:

Coldplay - 'Viva La Vida' (2009)

Following the release of fourth album 'Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends' Coldplay earned four nominations at the BRIT Awards 2009.

The 'Violet Hill' band were up for Best British Group, Best British Live Act, Best British Single and Best British Album but walked away without a single award at the end of the night.

Despite their lack of BRIT Awards that year Coldplay still gave an amazing performance of their anthemic single 'Viva La Vida' complete with thousands of red rose petals falling from the Earls Court ceiling.

Watch Coldplay's 'Viva La Vida' performance at the BRIT Awards 2009 below:

Pet Shops Boys featuring Brandon Flowers and Lady Gaga - Medley (2009)

2009 marked the year electro-pop duo Pet Shop Boys were presented with an award for outstanding contribution to music at the BRIT Awards.

Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe hit the Earls Court stage to perform a medley of their biggest hits including 'West End Girls', 'Always On My Mind' and 'Go West'.

Throughout the medley the group were joined by The Killers front man Brandon Flowers and 'Just Dance' singer Lady Gaga for the show-closing performance.

Watch the Pet Shop Boys medley from the BRIT Awards 2009 below:

Rihanna and Klaxons - 'Umbrella'/'Gravity's Rainbow' (2008)

In one of the most unlikely collaborations ever put on stage, Rihanna teamed up with the reluctant faces of Nu Rave, Klaxons, for a joint performance at the 2008 BRITs.

The 'We Found Love' singer took to the stage sporting a short dark hairstyle and unusually conservative apparel for the event, at which she was nominated for Best International Female.

The laser-studded performance saw Rihanna giving a rendition of her number one single 'Umbrella', which was mixed with Klaxons' own hit 'Golden Skans'.

Watch Rihanna and Klaxons performing 'Umbrella' at the BRIT Awards 2008 below:

Mark Ronson with Adele, Daniel Merriweather and Amy Winehouse - Medley (2008)

The popular producer picked up the BRIT Award for Best British Male Solo Artist at the Brits in 2008 and also gave a star-studded performance at the event. 

Mark was first joined on stage by Critics Choice winner Adele for a cover of Coldplay's 'God Put A Smile Upon Your Face', before Daniel Merriweather walked out for a rendition of their hit 'Stop Me'.

Finally 'Back To Black' singer Amy Winehouse appeared for a crowd-pleasing performance of the 'Version' producer's cover of The Zuton's 'Valerie'.

Watch Mark Ronson's BRIT Awards 2008 medley below:

Justin Timberlake and Kylie Minogue - 'Rapture' (2003)

Justin Timberlake was riding off the huge success of his debut solo album 'Justified' back in 2003 and performed a medley of songs at the BRIT Awards that year.

After running through renditions of his hit singles 'Cry Me A River' and 'Like I Love You', Justin was then joined on stage by Kylie Minogue for a special duet.

The unlikely pairing teamed up for a cover of Blondie's huge hit 'Rapture' and provided one of the most memorable BRIT Awards moments when Justin cheekily grabbed hold of Kylie's bottom during the song.

Watch Justin Timberlake and Kylie Minogue's duet at the BRIT Awards 2003 below:

Destiny's Child - 'Independent Women' (2001)

Ahead of the huge success of their third studio album 'Survivor', Destiny's Child gave a hugely popular performance of their hit single 'Independent Women' at the 2001 BRITs. 

The three-piece girl band rose up from below the stage, surrounded by flames, and held their signature Charlie's Angels poses to kick off the show.

Watch Destiny's Child singing 'Independent Women' at the BRIT Awards 2001 below:

Spice Girls - 'Spice Up Your Life' (2000)

2000 marked the year the Spice Girls released their final album 'Forever', but despite the end being in sight their appearance at that year's BRIT Awards marked a highlight for the popular girl band. 

The 'Viva Forever' singers picked up the awards for Outstanding Contribution to Music and gave a lively performance of their worldwide hit 'Spice Up Your Life'. 

It had been suspected that ex-Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, who was present at the ceremony, would join her former bandmates on stage to accept the award but the 'Bag It Up' singer declined the offer.

Watch the Spice Girls performing 'Spice Up Your Life' below:

Robbie Williams - 'Let Me Entertain You' (1999)

Robbie Williams continued his winning streak in 2009 when he picked up three BRIT Awards for Best British Male Solo Artist, Best British Single for 'Angels' as well as Best British Video for 'Millennium'.

The 'I've Been Expecting You' singer went on to perform his hit single 'Let Me Entertain You' at the event, which also boasted performances from Stevie Wonder and Whitney Houston.

Watch Robbie Williams singing 'Let Me Entertain You' at the BRIT Awards 1999 below:

Michael Jackson - 'Earth Song' (1996)

The King of Pop gave a truly memorable performance at the 1996 BRIT Awards after picking up his Artist of a Generation Award at the event.

The 'HIStory' singer took the to stage at Earls Court for a euphoric rendition of his then hit single 'Earth Song'.

The performance was somewhat marred by Pulp front man Jarvis Cocker running on stage and pointing his bottom at Michael in protest the to biblically-inspired show before being chased backstage.

Watch Michael Jackson's performance of 'Earth Song' from the BRIT Awards 1996 below: