Radiohead definitely were never britpop!

agree even though Radiohead always seem to be added to all Britpop compilations

just cos a song was from a UK band in the mid 90s doesn't make it Britpop

I'm not including Radiohead or the Manics

I'd probably include A Design For Life as that always felt like it fitted in quite neatly to me - lyrically probably more than musically.

I'd probably include A Design For Life as that always felt like it fitted in quite neatly to me - lyrically probably more than musically.

I think the Manics in 96 are fair game (more on them coming up!)

49. Sleeper - Sale Of The Century

 

 

Release: 1996 Chart Peak: 10

 

 

Sleeper, fronted by Louise Wener, had been scoring minor hits since 1992 but Sale Of The Century (the second single from the marvellous album The It Girl) was their first UK top 10 hit. The B side of this overlooked gem was a cover of Atomic by Blondie and featured on the zeitgeist Trainspotting soundtrack. What a banger this song is - it deserves some appreciation!

 

 

Love sleeper, one of my britpop favourites and seen them about 4 times now (though only once in the 90s)

Interesting that Song 2 is out already, I still love it and it remains a distinctive rush of a track. Although I must admit I don't really associate it with Britpop, I sort of see their self titled era as them moving on from Britpop.

 

I think the self titled album was definitely a move away from the Britpop sound. I think the warning bells were out for it in 1997 tbh, it had peaked in the mainstream at that point and I think the death of Diana and the unprecedented impact on the public mood might have also had a little impact. By the end of the decade it had fragmented into different sounds, although Britpop as a genre is definitely one of the most subjective and hardest to define.

I like Sale Of The Century but Inbetweener is my favourite by Sleeper!

I like Sale Of The Century but Inbetweener is my favourite by Sleeper!

We will see if its mine as well ;)

Inbetweener is also my fav Sleeper song! <3

48. Ocean Colour Scene - The Riverboat Song

 

 

Release: 1996 Chart Peak: 15

 

 

The Riverboat Song is probably best remembered as the guest entrance song from Chris Evans's TFI Friday and has grown as a legit Britpop anthem since. Heavily influenced by Led Zeppelin, this was actually the first single from Moseley Shoals although not the biggest chart hit, even though this single is by far better known now. I think OCS get a bit of a bad rap these days, though I agree they are a bit Britpop Beige. I also love the third single The Circle which I had no room for in this countdown.

 

Altogether now - I see trouble, up ahead......!

 

 

 

Good question Steve.

 

There isn’t a cut and dried definition of what Britpop is, or what makes a band/album/song Britpop, which is why I have said the countdown is subjective. I think Song 2 squeezes in because it was released in Spring ‘97 and it has a certain energy, but I agree the album Blur is more post Britpop.

 

I haven’t included tracks from Oasis’s Be Here Now or Pulp’s This Is Hardcore as they are post Britpop imo. Also, Radiohead will be absent as they aren’t Britpop imo, though others may disagree.

 

Numbers 49, 48 and 47 coming up later and thanks for the comments/discussion so far!

 

Yeh it’s like the radio 2 countdown from last summer hard to have a clearly defined definition as even totps episodes from 1990-92 have some Brit pop sounds and madchester mixed in.

 

Looking forward to the rest of the countdown!!

Yeh it’s like the radio 2 countdown from last summer hard to have a clearly defined definition as even totps episodes from 1990-92 have some Brit pop sounds and madchester mixed in.

 

Looking forward to the rest of the countdown!!

Don't start me on them including Brimful Of Asha in that countdown........!

 

Yeh it’s like the radio 2 countdown from last summer hard to have a clearly defined definition as even totps episodes from 1990-92 have some Brit pop sounds and madchester mixed in.

 

Looking forward to the rest of the countdown!!

I have seen some suggestions that the period ran from 1993 with Suede's debut album and Blur's "Modern Life Is Rubbish" through to the release of "Be Here Now"

Don't start me on them including Brimful Of Asha in that countdown........!

 

 

There were a lot of random songs on that one lol!

I have seen some suggestions that the period ran from 1993 with Suede's debut album and Blur's "Modern Life Is Rubbish" through to the release of "Be Here Now"

Possibly and I could be persuaded but for this countdown I have excluded these as they aren't 'pure' Britpop to me - Blur's Parklife and The Great Escape, Suede's Coming Up and Oasis's Definitely Maybe and Whats The Story? Are far more clear cut Britpop. Plus, if I cut off at Be Here Now I would exclude the Verve, which I would not be happy with :P

I like Sale Of The Century but Inbetweener is my favourite by Sleeper!

Both great songs - and both share a name (albeit not quite in the latter case) with a television programme.

Possibly and I could be persuaded but for this countdown I have excluded these as they aren't 'pure' Britpop to me - Blur's Parklife and The Great Escape, Suede's Coming Up and Oasis's Definitely Maybe and Whats The Story? Are far more clear cut Britpop. Plus, if I cut off at Be Here Now I would exclude the Verve, which I would not be happy with :P

Oh of course entirely up to you :D was just interesting to see someone having a stab at it time wise. Hoping for some Geneva, Rialto, and Gene to come :dance:

I was never much of a fan of OCS. I don't dislike them, but they never really did anything for me.