Britpop is a British alternative rock movement from the middle 90s, characterised with the appearance of bands who borrowed many influences from 60s and 70s while creating big and catchy hooks, as well as the glamour of earlier pop stardom and the sense that they were creating the soundtrack to the lives of a new generation of British youth. Although incredibly popular from about 1994-1996, it has also been criticised for its lack of innovation.

Origins

Britpop evolved in the early 90s as a response to the American grunge, new wave and punk revival movements. Primarily Britpop groups were influenced by music from the 60s and 70s, particularly classic British Invasion cornerstones like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. Clasic Mod bands as The Who, The Kinks and The Small Faces were also cited. 70s' glam idols as David Bowie, T. Rex, Roxy Music were an influence, as well as punk and new wave artists like The Sex Pistols, Talking Heads, The Clash, The Jam, Madness, XTC, and Elvis Costello. Another source were alternative pop-rock outfits of the 80s exemplified by The Smiths, Depeche Mode, U2, Duran Duran, The Cure and R.E.M..

It should also be noted that late 80s and early 90s acts like The Stone Roses and ex-Jam frontman Paul Weller, with their referencing of 70s rock music, were big influences on the Britpop sound, which in the case of bands like Kula Shaker moved towards psychedelia.

History

Paul Weller (1991-1993)

Particularly Weller is praised as founder and initiator of the movement, whose records Paul Weller (1992), Wild Wood (1993) and Stanley Road (1995) are considered seminal of the starting decade and fundamental for the movement of the following years. His influence over the Britpop, coupled with his love of Mod music, had earned him the nickname 'The Modfather'. As well as being influence on Blur, Oasis and Ocean Colour Scene work, Weller also participates on many subsequent albums of their finest catalogue.

Britpop and Cool Britannia (1994–1996)

Fans of the movement and the bands are divided which album opened the wave. Oasis’ breakthrough debut Definitely Maybe, Blur's bombastic third Parklife and Suede's self-titled debut are all contenders. These albums defined the movement and paved the way for many other acts. The Britpop movement rapidly gained huge media and fan attention in Britain, Western Europe and some parts in U.S.

In 1994 and 1995 other Britpop and Britpop style acts started to appear - Mansun, Elastica, Radiohead, The Verve, Supergrass, Ride, Pulp, Space and The Divine Comedy. Some of them were new, others established acts but benefited from association with the movement.

In 1995 the Britpop movement reached its zenith. The famous “Battle of the Bands” found Blur and Oasis as prime contenders for the title “Kings of Britpop”. In the end, Oasis' album (What's the Story) Morning Glory won the popular vote over Blur’s The Great Escape, although Blur's album received more critical acclaim.

In the UK, What's the Story spent over three times as long on the charts (a total of three years) and outsold Blur's album over four to one, selling over eighteen million copies. Oasis' second album is widely considered to be the definitive Britpop album capturing the essence of the attitude and the Cool Britannia movement. (In Britain and Ireland it became popular for a time when asked "What's the story?" (lit. "How are you?"), to answer with "Morning glory".)

Although the majority of the bands associated with Britpop were English, there were exceptions. Super Furry Animals, Manic Street Preachers and Stereophonics were Welsh. This even led native media to call the rise of Welsh Bands "Cool Cymru" an answer to "Cool Britannia". Others like Travis and Belle and Sebastian were Scottish.

Britpop Wanes (late 1996–1998)

In late 1996, the movement and hysteria started to subside due to high expectations, burnout and drug fuelled lives - common traits from the inspiring bands of the 60s and 70s. It received some late impetus from Radiohead and The Verve, who weren't previously considered to be Britpop acts with their respective 1997 albums OK Computer and Urban Hymns, both of which were widely acclaimed.

Other acts including Suede, Pulp, Supergrass and Cornershop made some challenging records, but Britpop was on the way out. Oasis and Blur turned their backs on the Britpop scene. Be Here Now, Oasis' third album, although selling strongly to a still loyal fanbase, attracted strong criticism from critics and record-buyers. Blur's self-titled fifth effort was better received but departed from the familiar Britop style of Parklife and The Great Escape.

Death of Britpop (1998–1999)

By the late 90s, Britpop was largely considered to be a spent force musically. Blur continued to move away from the movement with their subsequent releases, parting company with longtime producer Stephen Street and guitarist Graham Coxon in the process. Oasis remained popular with their fans although their post Whats the Story albums failed to achieve the heights previously set, and they also suffered the loss of longterm members. Suede soldiered on, releasing two more albums, but eventually called it quits in 2003. Pulp also called it a day, and The Verve, after losing key guitarist Nick McCabe, also split, although their frontman Richard Ashcroft subsequently forged a successful solo career. Radiohead, never the most strongly associated band with the movement, radically changed their sound with Kid A and abandoned all pretence of being a Britpop style band.

Second wave (2000–present)

After the initial wave died in late 90s, new groups started to appear in the early 2000s. Bands such as Muse, Travis and Coldplay drew inspiration from the earlier sound. Albums such as Showbiz and Absolution (Muse), Parachutes and A Rush of Blood to the Head (Coldplay), and The Man Who and The Invisible Band (Travis) showed lesser or greater Britpop influences.

2003 and 2004 saw a influx of more new acts. Bands such as Doves, Franz Ferdinand and Kasabian also showed Britpop influences in their work. Other acts such as The Killers and Elbow, The Libertines and Keane have also come to the fore.

See also: List of Britpop musicians