It’s safe to say that 2015 has been Courtney Barnett’s year. There’d been buzz surrounding the talented young singer-songwriter for a while, but she basically took over this year with the release of her lauded debut album.
In addition to being universally praised by critics, Sometimes I Sit and Think and Sometimes I Just Sit has been nominated for numerous prestigious awards and recently managed to nab the 2015 J Award for Album Of The Year.
While the characteristically shy Barnett was extremely grateful to score the highly coveted award when speaking to triple j hosts Veronica and Lewis yesterday, over on social media, a shit storm of caustic sentiment was brewing.
Mere minutes after Barnett’s win was announced, triple j’s official Facebook page was inundated with comments savaging their decision and directing some very nasty words in the direction of Ms Barnett. A few examples of the carnage:
Some thought Tame Impala were more deserving of the award, others just wanted it to go to anybody but Barnett; some thought music was better in the old days, and others penned jeremiads about how triple j’s soul is doomed for all eternity.
Of course, triple j aren’t ones to take this salvo of mean-spiritedness lying down. They even issued a tongue-in-cheek response to one frustrated commenter by quoting from the Book of Barnett, proving Australia’s national youth broadcaster are master trolls:
Despite all the harsh words, there were plenty of Barnett supporters, including the members of Unearthed High winners Mosquito Coast, who came to the singer’s defence on their Facebook page, writing, “We love you Courtney.”
The backlash even prompted fellow singer-songwriter Caitlin Park to issue a video response to all the haters, clad in a Courtney Barnett T-shirt. “Courtney Barnett you f***ing rule,” Park wrote. We’re proud to say we agree.
2015 J Award Results
Australian Album of the Year
Alison Wonderland Run
Alpine Yuck
Courtney Barnett Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit – WINNER
Gang Of Youths The Positions
Hermitude Dark Night Sweet Light
Jarryd James Thirty One
Parkway Drive Ire
Seth Sentry Strange New Past
Tame Impala Currents
The Rubens Hoops
Unearthed Artist of the Year
Boo Seeka
Feki
Gordi
Tired Lion – WINNER
Vallis Alps
Double J Artist of the Year
Blank Realm
Emma Donovan & the PutBacks
Hiatus Kaiyote
Paul Kelly
Tim Rogers – WINNER
Australian Music Video of the Year
Boy & Bear ‘Walk The Wire’ (Director: Darcy Prendergast & Josh Thomas)
Briggs ‘The Children Came Back’ (Executed by: Heath Kerr & Josh Davis)
Courtney Barnett ‘Pedestrian At Best’ (Director: Charlie Ford)
Flume (feat Andrew Wyatt) ‘Some Minds’ (Director: Clemens Habicht)
Life Is Better Blonde ‘Mine’ (Director: Natalie Erika James) – WINNER
