The Battle Of Britpop: An Iconic Music Stand Off
Image courtesy of New Musical Express
Before the face-off between Barbie and Oppenheimer in July 2023, there was the Battle of Britpop in 1995. Two singles — set to be released on the same day — fought for the number one spot in the U.K. Top 100. Who were the bands going head to head? Blur and Oasis.
The ’90s brought about a special era of music in the U.K. The rapid increase of pop bands embracing energetic instrumentation, fun lyrics and their love for British culture gave rise to a new genre, fittingly dubbed “Britpop.” Garnering the most attention during this decade were two bands in particular, who eventually butted heads as they released album after album. To this day, fans argue over who is better, and the silent rule is that you can’t be a fan of both, you have to pick a side. Blur or Oasis? That iconic day in 1995, when they faced off on the music charts, was an electrifying moment for the U.K. and launched both bands into sustained success.
Oasis: A Tale of Two Brothers
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Before we get into the drama, who are these bands? Oasis was formed by two brothers, Liam and Noel Gallegher, who hail from Manchester. Their first album Definitely Maybe was released in 1994, quickly grabbing attention in the U.K. music world. Their hard-hitting guitar riffs and drawn-out enunciation in their vocals won them a following, marking their spot in the Britpop boom of the ’90s. Tunes such as “Rock ‘n’ Roll Star,” “Live Forever” and “Supersonic” established their sound: epic electric guitar choruses and expansive lyrics that explore big dreams.
In their early days, Oasis was often compared to The Beatles. Sometimes, they were even criticized for sounding too similar to them, accused of ripping off the legendary band. The Gallagher Brothers have noted that The Beatles served as an important inspiration for them, but brushed off the accusations and continued to build their way upward.
Blur: Four Cheeky Men
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Blur got their start a few years earlier than Oasis. Officially formed in 1988, Blur consists of four Londoners: Damon Albarn on vocals and guitar, Graham Coxon also on guitar, Alex James on bass, and Dave Rowntree on drums. Albarn and Coxon were childhood friends, and once James and Rowntree joined the crew, the band was complete. Although they formed in the late ’80s, they didn’t release their debut album until 1991. Leisure was a slow start to the group. Their singles “She’s So High,” “There’s No Other Way” and “Bang” all made it onto the pop charts, but none reached the top. However, they still began their journey into the world of Britpop.
A lackluster tour in the U.S. left them burnt out and homesick, which pushed them to continue working on their second album, one inspired by the home they loved: The United Kingdom. Modern Life is Rubbish was released in 1993, introducing a new sound for Blur. Spiraling electric guitars, Albarn’s obvious British accent and playful melodies paint the album. They reinforced that they were a British band through and through.
The Historic Day
With both bands established and quickly gaining popularity in the Britpop mania taking over the U.K., Blur and Oasis were both working on new albums. Blur was working on their fourth album The Great Escape, and Oasis on their second album (What’s The Story) Morning Glory. Both would go on to be greatly celebrated. In anticipation of their respective releases, both the music industry and the media thought it would be fun to pit the bands against each other in the ultimate face-off: releasing their singles on the same day. The U.K. went crazy. Fans quickly chose sides, placed bets and argued over who would win the coveted number one spot on the charts. Not only did this become what’s now known as Blur vs. Oasis, but it divulged into North vs. South and working class vs. middle class. The battle began running deeper than the music.
“Not only did this become what’s now known as Blur vs. Oasis, but it divulged into North vs. South and working class vs. middle class. The battle began running deeper than the music.”
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On August 14th, 1995, Blur released “Country House” and Oasis released “Roll With It.” Lines were already forming outside record stores and once the time came, and crowds flocked the stores, bringing Blur or Oasis to the cashier’s counter. When they bought their chosen CD or vinyl, their vote was placed. Fans anxiously awaited the announcement of which band had snagged the crown and won the famed Battle of Britpop.
The winner was… Blur! “Country House” made it to the top slot selling 274,000 copies in one day. Oasis didn’t fall too far behind, selling 216,000 copies and snagging the number two slot on the charts. This iconic day solidified the future of Blur and Oasis. They went on to find great success in the U.K. and the U.S., although Oasis won the race to the U.S. first with their hit “Wonderwall.” I guess you could say they’re even.
Beyond the Battle
The members of Blur and the Gallagher brothers hold no hard feelings toward each other. Although they were dropped in the ring for the ultimate music battle, they both greatly appreciate each other’s work, putting aside the drama of the mid-’90s.
Britpop came and went, bringing to life a slew of bands that nailed down that all-British style. While Blur and Oasis rose to the top, many other bands hit it big, including Pulp, The London Suede, Elastica, and The Stone Roses. Britpop is a fascinating music phenomenon, and amid the mania, the ’90s pop soundtrack for the U.K. was bloody smashing.