Conservative politics, a sluggish economy and rampant unemployment were consigned to memory when Tony Blair was elected to head the “new” Labour party in 1994. This dashing leader presided over a booming economy and transformed British/American relations, ushering in the era of “cool Brittania.” Suddenly the English Empire was hot again. Movies like Trainspotting and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (with their ultra-hip soundtracks) were stylish imports and hits by Oasis and Blur topped the charts.

Britpop bands strived to recapture the glamour of pop stardom and create the soundtrack for a new age––quirky tunes with big, catchy hooks. Britpoppers found inspiration in sixties groups including The Beatles, The Who and The Kinks; eighties alternative groups such as The Smiths, U2 and The Cure; and Punk and New Wave acts like The Sex Pistols, Talking Heads and The Clash.

Ninety-four was a breakthrough year for this hard-rocking musical movement with the release of Definitely Maybe by Oasis and Parkline by Blur At the height of the Britpop craze, Oasis released the wildly popular, What’s the Story (Morning Glory), which caused a sensation in Britain and abroad.

WHO'S YOUR FAVORITE DRIVING FORCE IN MUSIC          Tim McGraw          Gwen Stefani          David Bowie          Pharrell Williams          Alicia Keys

International superstardom followed for these groups as well as Pulp, Echobelly, Elastica and others before the movement lost momentum. In the later nineties, Radiohead, with their smash album OK Computer, and The Verve’s Urban Hymns, earned enormous popular and critical acclaim stateside, but many other Britpop bands were victims of burnout, hype and rock star excess.

Britpop stalled in the early 2000s until Coldplay revived the scene with Parachutes and A Rush of Blood to the Head. Now the next wave of Britpop-inspired acts––Franz Ferdinand, The Strokes, Kaiser Chiefs, The Libertines––are creating music for the next generation.