Britpop; a Mix of Nostalgia and Freshness
Britpop incorporated elements of tradition, simplicity and nostalgia resulting in a new style of music that was commercially successful. It made working-class tastes in art and fashion from traditional British subcultures popular again.
Bands such as Oasis and Blur incorporated styles from the 1960s and 1970s, like psychedelic rock and punk from 1970s.
Britpop audiences can hear riffs, harmonies and melodies influenced by bands such as The Beatles and the Who. The style was a reaction to grunge and also used basic rock elements, such as easy to sing melodies and simple chord progressions.
‘Cool Britannia’
27 Sep 2020
Britpop emerged in the early 1990s as part of the ‘Cool Britannia’ movement, which celebrated British culture and harkened back to the UK’s ‘Swinging Sixties’ era.
Time magazine recently described the movement as a ‘celebration of Britain’s mid-90s youth culture.’
‘Cool Britannia’ is a pun on ‘Rule, Britannia!’, a patriotic song from England’s colonial era.
Britpop: Birth of a Genre
30 Aug 2020
The musical genre known as ‘Britpop’ exploded onto the scene in the early 1990s with the now-legendary bands Oasis, Pulp, and Blur.
Part of the ‘Cool Britannia’ movement, Britpop, known for bright and catchy guitar riffs, was a reaction to the darkness and cynicism that characterized America’s ‘grunge’ scene at the time.
The Most Famous Britpop Bands in the UK
29 Aug 2020
If you consider yourself well-versed in many music genres, but find Britpop confusing, don’t worry; your uncertainty ends here.
Essentially, Britpop is a catcher version of alternative rock that gains a lot of inspiration from early 70s bands like the Beatles. Additionally, its central theme derives from more than just music, incorporating fashion, art, and even politics. The most successful Britpop bands consist of a group known as the “big four.”
Many fans still avidly listen to Britpop bands, playing their favourite songs at parties, while exercising, or even while playing online games like slots. In fact, online gaming is a great way to listen to music while you have some laid back fun; if you want to experience it for yourself, you can find out more on https://www.casinohawks.com.
Oasis
Easily the most recognised Britpop band, Oasis encompassed an aesthetic similar to the Beatles - think bowl haircuts and a whole lot of rockstar. The band formed in Manchester in 1991 and featured Liam Gallagher, Paul Arthurs, Paul McGuigan, and Tony McCarroll as the original members.
The band’s most popular songs include “Don’t Look Back In Anger“ and Wonderwall.” Additionally, their second album titled (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? is their highest-selling album, amassing over 22 million sales.
Blur
Formed in London in 1998, Blur consists of Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James, and Dave Rowntree. Although the band is still together, they’ve largely been on a hiatus since their eighth album The Magic Whip was released in 2015.
Their biggest hit is “Song 2,” a track they performed in an American grunge style. The song was initially supposed to be a diss track that mocked the trend, but it ended up working in their favour. Blur’s top albums include Modern Life is Rubbish and Parklife.
Pulp
One of the most overlooked Britpop bands is most likely Pulp, who initially struggled to gain success in their music. However, once they gained prominence, they skyrocketed to the top of the charts.
Formed in 1978, the original band consisted of Jarvis Cocker, Russell Senior, Mark Webber, Steve Mackey, Candida Doyle, and Nick Banks. The song to listen to here is “Common People.”
Suede
Suede became a massive hit in the UK, but never really made it overseas. The band was formed in London in 1989, comprised of Brett Anderson, Richard Oakes, Mat Osman, and Simon Gilbert.
Some of their top hits include “Animal Nitrate,” “The Wild Ones,” and “Pantomime Horse.”
The Battle of Britpop
2 Aug 2020
The year 1995 represented the peak of the Britpop era when Oasis and Blur went head-to-head for chart supremacy in what has been dubbed the ‘Battle of Britpop.’
Although Blur’s single ‘Country House’ outsold Oasis’s ‘Roll with It’ that year, Oasis ended up enjoying more commercial success, both at home and internationally.