1990s · 1989–2005
UK guitar bands fight for chart position with sixties lineage and class lyrics.
Britpop is not UK grunge. It argues for Beatles/Kinks lineage, class storytelling, and NME/chart competition as a national sport. Kept separate so Oasis and Nirvana are not filed under one label.
Sound: Big Noel-style choruses, jangly indie, Madchester residue, northern accent vocals
Formed 1978
Jarvis Cocker–led Britpop; Common People is the class-satire single.
Formed 1983
Madchester guitar-dance; Fools Gold is the extended groove single.
Formed 1988
Albarn / Coxon Britpop; Parklife satire to Song 2 loud/quiet; Think Tank without Coxon.
Formed 1989
Brett Anderson / Bernard Butler glam-Britpop; Beautiful Ones is a later single peak.
Formed 1990
Britpop-era psych-rock; Bitter Sweet Symphony is the sample-era hit.
Formed 1991
Gallagher brothers Britpop; Wonderwall and Live Forever are the mass poles.