THE HOT 100
MERCURY-NOMMED MUSICAL MONARCH 5 KING CREOSOTE
PLAYWRIGHT AND NATIONAL POET 4 LIZ LOCHHEAD
TULISA FROM N DUBZ SHE AIN’T 3 EMELI SANDÉ
Praise be for the year that KC finally, deservedly, ruled OK. A Scottish institution for his running of the Homegame festivals (this year’s hits: the last Homegame for a while, Bun Fight at the OK Karail, Haarfest, Flamin’ Hott Loggz, etc), he came to national prominence when his gorgeous collaboration with Jon Hopkins, Diamond Mine, earned itself a nomination for the Mercury Prize. Although this did distract from the fact he also released a solo album (Thrawn) and a split single with Kid Canaveral, and recorded yet another album which had to be postponed to 2012. (DP)
In a career that has spanned some 40 years, it’s unlikely that Liz Lochhead has experienced such a prolific year as 2011. The crowning achievement was her appointment as Scotland’s national poet, the Makar, following the death of her close friend, Edwin Morgan. This led to her creating a new poem for the opening of the current session of the Scottish Parliament, ‘Open the Doors Again’, and the publication of a major anthology of works to date, A Choosing. But there has also been a renewed interest in her dramatic works, with revivals of Educating Agnes and Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off playing to enthusiastic audiences at the Royal Lyceum. Glasgay!, too, sought out her services, commissioning a new play about her predecessor Morgan’s final days. And, having recently reaffirmed her commitment to Scottish independence, Lochhead’s tenure as Makar looks set to be a lively one. (AR)
Two years ago a down-to-earth Glasgow medical student called Emeli Sandé was interviewed by The List ahead of the MOBO Awards. She was up for best song, for her collaboration with rapper Chipmunk on the hit ‘Diamond Rings’. Since then she's become the go-to stunning chorus-singer for the stars of grime-pop – Wiley and Professor Green among them.
But that’s not all. Sande's own debut single – the catchy Massive Attack-alike ‘Heaven’ – shot to number two in the charts in August. She also picked up 2011 MOBO and Scottish Style Awards and booked herself onto Coldplay's tour as support. All the signs (and the newly quiffed hairstyle) point towards superstardom. The album is out in February. Expect to see a huge amount more of her from then onwards. (JE)
GETTING GREAT FILMS MADE 2 TILDA SWINTON
It's a case of always the bridesmaid, never the bride for Tilda Swinton, as once again, she just misses out on our number one spot. Not even in 2008, the year she picked up a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her breathlessly tense performance in Michael Clayton, did we mighty gods of List deign to stick her in the top slot. The truth is, of course, that Swinton doesn't need our accolades. She's a bone fide Hollywood superstar, who consistently refuses to make dull Hollywood films. Even her turns as the White Witch in the Narnia movies brightened up an otherwise drab franchise. Last year she brought impeccable melodrama I Am Love to cinema screens, demonstrating her ability to speak Russian-inflected Italian in the process. This year, she wowed once again as a distraught mother in Lynne Ramsay's We Need to Talk About Kevin.
So, she's a damn fine actor, but Swinton herself has said that her greatest gift is to use contacts and clout to help filmmakers get their films made (I Am Love being the perfect example). Not content with helping the international indie film scene, she's also a strong supporter of Scottish cinema, and this year opened her contact book in aid of the ailing Edinburgh International Film Festival. Fashion icon, film lover, generous patron of the arts, and possibly the female actor of her generation – all we can say is, better luck next year Tilda. (JE)
40 THE LIST 15 Dec 2011–5 Jan 2012