Gonna guess the top 10 is:

Oasis x2

Blur x2

Pulp x2

Manics

Verve

Suede

Supergrass

 

 

10. Blur - Parklife

 

 

Release: 1994 Chart Peak: 10

 

Pretty much the iconic single from the album Parklife, Phil Daniel's narrative gave this song its bit of mockney swagger and is a legit 90s anthem. Its pretty much a homage to Englishness and the colourful video with Albarn and Daniels playing double glazing salesman is one of the Britpop moments.

 

This is quirky Blur before thing got ridiculous with The Great Escape.

 

 

If you had to pick a single to define Britpop it would be Parklife. Thoroughly British, catchy, referencing British Mod era with a sense of humour, but updating it for new times.

You should cut down on your porklife, mate. Get some exercise

 

Such a perennial classic through the ages that it's strange to think it only peaked at #10

 

 

Really dislike Parklife. Take it and Tracy Jacks off that album and it would be perfect.

If you had to pick a single to define Britpop it would be Parklife. Thoroughly British, catchy, referencing British Mod era with a sense of humour, but updating it for new times.

I think not - surely it would be Common People? That summed up everything about Britpop for me

Really dislike Parklife. Take it and Tracy Jacks off that album and it would be perfect.

The whole album is perfect - even the two tracks I am less fond of (Trouble in the Message Centre and Clover Over Dover) are good.

I grew up with a lot of Oasis around the house, so they were my first taste of Britpop, but aside from that 'Parklife' was next, because we had a music lesson devoted to Britpop in school and both that and 'Wonderwall' were used as the big examples. Definitely one of many #10 peaking singles that feel way bigger (alongside Mr Brightside, Thriller, The Scientist etc)

Parklife is quintessential Britpop, I would place it a bit higher myself.

Definitely one of many #10 peaking singles that feel way bigger (alongside Mr Brightside, Thriller, The Scientist etc)

...and Live Forever!

...and Live Forever!

Of course! :lol:

I disliked Blur from the start, mainly because of their personalities and because I thought Leisure was crap, and by the time of Parklife I hated them. For me the song Parklife is the distillation of all the negative parts around Britpop up to that point.

 

My opinion on Blur has mellowed marginally over the years but I still hate Parklife in particular.

 

 

For me, Common People is the absolute definition of everything brilliant about Britpop as well as one of the greatest songs of the decade

Common People is brilliant and better than, but Parklife was first. Movements to me are defined by the early tracks that set the scene, not those that come mid-way through it. Pulp were active (and Do You Remember The First Time could be argued as early) before Blur but didn't click, with Common People, in a big way until Britpop was already a movement. If anyone is looking for early groundbreakers I'd offer up There's No Other Way, There She Goes and a handful of others before Oasis broke through. Or The Small Faces Itchycoo Park, The Beatles Ticket To Ride if we really want to go back further :)

 

If I can Glam Rock as a comparison, early tracks from T.Rex, Slade, Alice Cooper and Bowie were the pioneers, Glitter, Sweet, Wizzard, Roxy Music, Mud etc. opted in after it got going. That doesn't mean Ballroom Blitz isn't brilliant as well, it is, but Get It On got there first and Marc Bolan started the glitter phenomeneon that started the ball rolling.

Not sure if I agree, both things are important, pioneers and highlight songs.

Common People is brilliant and better than, but Parklife was first. Movements to me are defined by the early tracks that set the scene, not those that come mid-way through it. Pulp were active (and Do You Remember The First Time could be argued as early) before Blur but didn't click, with Common People, in a big way until Britpop was already a movement. If anyone is looking for early groundbreakers I'd offer up There's No Other Way, There She Goes and a handful of others before Oasis broke through. Or The Small Faces Itchycoo Park, The Beatles Ticket To Ride if we really want to go back further :)

 

If I can Glam Rock as a comparison, early tracks from T.Rex, Slade, Alice Cooper and Bowie were the pioneers, Glitter, Sweet, Wizzard, Roxy Music, Mud etc. opted in after it got going. That doesn't mean Ballroom Blitz isn't brilliant as well, it is, but Get It On got there first and Marc Bolan started the glitter phenomeneon that started the ball rolling.

I agree Parklife is key track from the era and one that brought it to a wider public but for those of us who were keen fans of the indie charts, it wasn't a particularly early Britpop single. I'm not suggesting it isn't important, I just find it a bit crass and dumb.

 

Re- Glam Rock. is there anyone who would argue that Bolan and Bowie weren't the earliest exponents? Ride A White Swan and the prettiest Star are probably the first true Glam Rock singles, and both feature Bolan of course

The whole album is perfect - even the two tracks I am less fond of (Trouble in the Message Centre and Clover Over Dover) are good.

 

 

They're my two favourites 😁

I love Trouble In The Message Centre also, that and To The End are my favourites these days

Second half is one of the best second halves of the 90s

9. Pulp – Do You Remember The First Time?

 

 

Release: 1994 Chart Peak: 33

 

The second single from His N Hers gave Pulp their first top 40 single and is, in my opinion the standout track from the album.

 

Jarvis wrote it about (obviously) losing his virginity at the age of 19 and how we all remember the experience with all its good and bad points. It was released with a 30+ minute short video with fans discussing how they lost theirs! Its was a pretty controversial song at the time (the word screw was changed to knew to sanitise the song as a safe radio edit), but is probably rightly considered one of Pulp's finest moment.

 

Its simply glorious.

 

 

A great track, the back to back hit of DYRTFT? and Pink Glove is my favourite part of the His n Hers album :wub: