Damon Albarn is a man who has always been quite vocal about not only his personal beliefs but also his political beliefs. His speech at the BRIT Awards 2018 proves that Albarn is not afraid to speak his mind when he feels that something needs to be done or a change needs to occur.

Albarn has always been critically vocal about the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union in 2016. At the start of his speech, he uses pathos when he says, “This country is, believe it or not, quite a small little thing, but it’s a lovely place and it’s part of a beautiful world.” This shows that while the United Kingdom is quite small geographically, it has given many people a chance to grow and connect with each other and with people from around the world who come in and out of the country.

The next thing he says also demonstrates pathos: “Don’t let it become isolated. Don’t let yourselves become cut off.” This tells the audience that despite the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU, it’s important for people not to let themselves or the country become isolated from the world. Without people from other countries or people with different views and backgrounds, England could become stuck in one place, never really growing or learning.

The tone Albarn uses is full of emotion as he looks out at the crowd with a melancholic expression during his speech, but he ends on a hopeful note: “We’ve got a real spirit and a real soul—don’t let politics get in the way of all that shit.” This shows that despite what the UK is going through, people should never let politics stop them from interacting with and learning more about each other.

Overall, Albarn’s speech primarily uses pathos. While unexpected given the event, it shows that he’s not afraid to speak his mind even at unusual times, demonstrating how much he loves his country and its people. The speech emphasizes that it’s important not to let England become stuck and closed off from the rest of the world, and that people should not let politics interfere with their relationships with each other and the world beyond.

Damon Albarn (born March 23, 1968, Whitechapel, London) is an English musician, singer-songwriter, and record producer. As lead vocalist and primary songwriter of Blur, formed in 1988, he helped define the Britpop movement with albums like Parklife (1994). In 1998, he co-created the virtual band Gorillaz with comic artist Jamie Hewlett, blending alternative rock, electronic, and hip-hop while collaborating with diverse guest artists. Gorillaz achieved global success with albums including Demon Days (2005) and Humanz (2017). Albarn's other projects include the supergroup The Good, the Bad & the Queen. He received a CBE in 2016 for services to music.

Gorillaz delivered this acceptance speech on February 21, 2018, at the 38th BRIT Awards in London after winning British Group, beating Royal Blood, Wolf Alice, London Grammar, and The xx. The award recognized their fifth album Humanz (2017), which peaked at number two on both the UK and US charts. Albarn took the stage alongside collaborators DRAM, Little Simz, and Jehnny Beth. Rather than a conventional thank-you, he delivered a politically charged message against Brexit: "This country is quite a small little thing, but it's a lovely place and it's part of a beautiful world. Don't let it become isolated. We've got a real spirit and a real soul—don't let politics get in the way of all that shit." When Albarn attempted to hand the microphone to collaborators, producers cut the audio and dimmed the lights, creating a chaotic, memorable moment.