Britpop is a british musical 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.

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 1960s and 70s, particularly classic British Invasion cornerstones like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. Mod movement bands such as The Who, The Small Faces, The Kinks, and The Jam were also cited. 1970s 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, U2, The Cure and R.E.M..

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

History

Britpop and Cool Britania (1994–1995)

It's disputable whether Oasis’ breakthrough debut album Definitely Maybe or Blur's bombastic third album Parklife opened the wave. Both albums nailed the bands as superstars and paved the way for many other bands. Some even say that Suede's self-titled debut opened the wave. Regardless Britpop gained considerable fan and media atention. During this time other artists started to appear - Mansun, Elastica, Radiohead, The Verve, Supergrass, Ride and Pulp. Some of them had some more or less successful albums before, but association with the movement shot them to fame. Many of them weren't Britpop either, but they borrowed some similar traits in their music or in their public persona.

In 1995 the Britpop movement reached it 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 over Blur’s The Great Escape. In Britain and Ireland it became habit when asked "What's the story?" (lit. "How are you?"), to answer with "Morning glory". In the UK, it spent over three times as long on the charts (a total of three years) and outsold Blur's album 13x platinum vs. 3x platinum. Oasis' second album is hailed as epitomy of the Britpop era and the essence of the attitude and Cool Britannia movement from these days.

Many other bands who were at some time associated with the movement, for example Cornershop and Heavy Stereo. Although the majority of the bands were english, there were exceptions. Some bands like 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 (who belong to the Second wave) and Belle and Sebastian were Scotish. Even the infamous Oasis' Gallagher brothers were Irish descendants.

Subsidence and short revival (1996–1998)

In late 1996, the movement and hysteria started to subside due to high expectations, burn out and drug fueled lives - common traits from the inspiring bands of the 60s and 70s. Still it received some infusions from bands like Radiohead and The Verve, who weren't commonly associated with Britpop and who made moderate impact on the scene with previous records. They rose to the fame in 1997. Their respective records OK Computer and Urban Hymns, hailed as masterpieces by critics and fans, shot them to superstardom and the bands picked up rave reviews and topped the charts.

A dozen of other contenders, including Suede, Pulp, Supergrass and Cornershop made some challenging records, but as it seems this didn't much help to the dying movement. Notoriously Britpop kings like Oasis and Blur turned their backs on the Britpop scene: Be Here Now - Oasis' third album - although a success among fans, was named "derivative", "bloated" and "overproduced" record by critics and record-buyers. Blur's self-titled fifth effort was received almost as well as the previous one and is considered by fans and critics to be a very good album, but it departed from their familiar style paved in their previous two efforts: The Great Escape and Parklife.

Death of Britpop (1998–1999)

In late 90s the initial movement started to vanish. Some admirers and die-hard fans even blame Oasis' third record, whose star slowly began to fade away due to self-indulgence and cocaine fueled life. Their subsequent releases didn't reach the height of their first, although the Gallaghers softened up and the young one Liam turned out to be a promising songwriter on his own.

Blur almost died in 1996 after the movement itself died. Nevertheless they continued, but their material, after The Great Escape, was more experimental than their previous, although there were some resemblance with their early stuff. In 1998 they parted ways with longtime producer Stephen Street, who helped them define as a must-see act of the middle 90s. After 2000 they slowed down to the point that no one knew their fate. In 2002 they parted ways with longtime member guitarist Graham Coxon, who continued on a solo career and the following year they released their first album in 4 years – the successful Think Tank.

Suede disbanded in 2003 after two not so popular albums, but Brett Anderson continued with his former bandmate Bernard Butler, making a new formation called The Tears. Pulp followed soon after Suede after their second post-Different Class album - We Love Life with bandmembers devoted to various other projects. Frontman Jarvis Cocker also started acting.

The Verve - one of the most remarkable groups of the middle 90s - also disbanded after on-going rumours and departure of key guitarist Nick McCabe in 1999. After that frontman Richard Ashcroft embarked on a fully-fledged solo career. An interesting note is that Simon Tong - the band's ex-guitarist joined Blur in their live concerts to fill the gap left by Coxon.

Radiohead had an almost 4 year gap between their seminal OK Computer and the next effort - Kid A, that featured the band turning upside down with almost unrecognisable sound. Although they weren't Britpop, Radiohead are one of the few bands that remained popular with their latest material, although critics blame them for alienating much of their audience with the more minimalistic and experimental sound than early days.

Second wave (1999–present)

Not so long, after the initial wave died in late 90s, new groups appeared. Most of them were inspired by the preceding bands' work, but their early material isn't so strikingly original as Radiohead or innovative as Oasis. Some of them like Muse, Travis, Coldplay borrow much influence and many similar traits in attitude and public persona.

Muse was hailed by critics as bare Radiohead counterparts with their first effort Showbiz, but after a couple of years, their subsequent albums shooked of this definition and revealed matured and accomplished band. American success eluded their grasp but after the apocalyptic Absolution, the band were highly praised by critics and embarked on a successful world tour, including many dates in United States. This raised band's profile and turned frontman Matt Bellamy to a acknowledged songwriter and vocalist in his own right.

Coldplay also were inspired by some of early stuff. Their first record Parachutes was praised by fans, and succeeded to take much of Radiohead previous audience, that were alienated by the latter's experimental records. However it was crabbed by some critics as a too much influenced this time by the latter's The Bends–OK Computer-era. But their second A Rush of Blood to the Head won a Grammy award and expanded the band's influence and public profile, competing them with previous contenders.

2003 and 2004 saw a huge influx of new bands with a sound that is altogether more laid back and self assured in its coolness, with bands such as Franz Ferdinand and Kasabian, particularly the former, making a huge name for themselves. Other acts such as The Killers, The Libertines and Keane have also come to the fore. Keane's debut album Hopes and Fears, is mildly reminiscent of Coldplay with some Radiohead flavourings, but without the guitar, thus offering a fairly fresh and new sound.

The future of Britpop is uncertain but it does seem clear that the strictly anthemic sound of for example Bittersweet Symphony from The Verve is currently being eclipsed by the easier and attitude soaked sound of bands like Franz Ferdinand with songs like This Fire. Even Keane who are fairly anthemic in their approach opt for slightly faster tempi and an arguably easier to listen to sound.

See also: List of Britpop musicians