Out of the 200 albums considered for the award, two of the 12 shortlised for the 2006 Nationwide Mercury Prize emerged from local talent. Singer/songwriter Richard Hawley's third solo album, Coles Corner, and the Arctic Monkeys' Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not have both been put forward for the prize.  | | Lyrics played a major factor in the nominations |
Both albums have achieved critical acclaim for the quality of their music, and how they reflect on life in the city, and that's precisely what the judges were looking for: "Above all, this year's shortlist for the Nationwide Mercury Prize is about the art of the songwriter – if you want to know what life is like in Britain today, listen to the country's musicians!" said Chair of Judges, Simon Frith. This year's list draws special attention to the continuing musical importance and vitality of cities throughout the UK, both Hawley and the 'Monkeys continue to reside in Sheffield. The Arctic Monkeys made music history when their debut album became the UK’s fastest-ever selling debut album on its release back in January this year. | "I'm still a specky herbert off Firth Park and that'll never change" | | Richard Hawley |
Coles Corner is the third album released by Hawley since he embarked on his solo career in 2001. The inspiration for the name and content for the album was the social importance of the former department store in Sheffield's City Centre. ReactionWe caught up with Richard just hours after the announcement and asked him for his reaction to the nomination: "I feel that good I want to share with the brothers and sisters of Sheffield, a can of Guinness... I've been trying to get hold of my mum at work all day, I can't get hold of her," he laughed. "It's really good, it's like I've got an extra Christmas this year... yeah, stunned really. "I'm just in London and I'm supposed to be doing something else, I've been dragged out of that and in a taxi making my way towards a press conference. "My manager told me this morning... I think he knew before, and didn't tell me. A bit of a surprise this morning over my bacon and eggs!"  | | Hawley couldn't wait to tell his mum |
"I'm really glad that I'll not be lonely 'cause the Arctic Monkeys are gonna be there so they'll be a bit of a Sheffield massive, which'll be quite good. "I love Sheffield, it's a beautiful city... there's lots that needs to change but that's like most cities. What keeps Sheffield vibrant and brilliant is not the buildings, it's just the people, sense of humour, self-deprecating. "I'm still a specky herbert off Firth Park and that'll never change." Critical acclaim"You don't make music to get awards but it is nice to be included, obviously it means a lot to us, I've just been trying to take it in for the last half-an-hour, and it's not quite sunk in yet," said Richard. "I got nominated for a Mojo award, I didn't get that but got a South Bank Award, but the funniest one I got was the Arena magazine, Man Of The Year Award, which made me laugh, well actually made me piss myself. "My wife mercilessly took the piss, well still does, basically she'll be texting me: 'now then man o'year, get kids from school will ya?' 'Now then man o'year, get some milk', [laughs]. "I'm quite glad though, you don't want ya head to get too big. I still live in a terraced house in Sheffield, and I intend to stay there as well, you don't wanna get too big for your boots. "But it's the music getting the plaudits, not me, so that's kind of the right way around it y'know." - The awards take place at at the Commonwealth Club in London on Tuesday, 5 September.
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