Critics make me better: Adele
MOST stars enjoy giving two fingers to music critics.
But Adele admitted that those who told her to raise her game actually helped the singer to score a double triumph at the Ivor Novello awards.
A tearful Adele was named songwriter of the year and her song "Rolling in the Deep" was named the most performed work of 2011.
The song has helped the north Londoner become the world's biggest pop star, with global sales of 18 million for her album 21.
Collecting her prizes at Grosvenor House Hotel in central London, she said she had responded to reviews of her debut album.
"The main thing was, the critics said my songs weren't as good as my voice, which I hadn't realised.
"But I took it on board and now I'm songwriter of the year."
The prestigious ceremony, now in its 57th year, celebrates British and Irish songwriting and composing.
Female artists dominated the awards, with US singer Lana Del Rey's haunting "Video Games" named best contemporary song.
The song was co-written by Justin Parker, a former footballer from Lincoln, who was told the track would never be a hit.
Other winners included PJ Harvey, who won the best album award for Let England Shake, beating Adele's 21 and Kate Bush's 50 Words For Snow. Ed Sheeran's The A Team was named best song musically and lyrically.
A number of honorary awards were presented by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors, which organises the ceremony.
Take That were honoured for their outstanding contribution.
The accolade for outstanding song collection went to Spandau Ballet's Gary Kemp.Siouxsie Sioux was named the Ivors Inspiration, the lifetime achievement gong went to Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits, and veteran pianist Stan Tracey won the Ivors' first jazz award.
