Britpop facts for kids

Britpop is a type of alternative rock that started in the United Kingdom. Britpop came out of the British independent music scene of the 1990s and affected, or changed, by British guitar pop music of the 1960s and 1970s. This kind of music began as a reaction against some trends, or styles, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, such as grunge from the United States. After American grunge bands such as Nirvana came to Britain, many British bands acted as opposites to the American bands, and wrote about only British topics and concerns.

Britpop bands did not have one type of sound, but the media called them first a 'scene', or short-lasting trend. Later, the media called them a national importance. Blur, Oasis and Pulp have been called the most important bands. Some bands were able to become popular overseas, but Britpop was mostly gone by the end of the decade.

Images for kids

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  Britpop was partly a reaction to the popularity of Nirvana and the dourness of grunge music

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  Select magazine's April 1993 issue – with Suede's Brett Anderson on the cover in front of a Union Flag – emphasised "Great British pop"

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  The UK media extensively covered the chart battle between Blur and Oasis. The anticipation over who would be number one in the week leading up to the chart being announced saw Albarn (left) appear on the ITV News at Ten.

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  Oasis playing live. NME states, "as (What's the Story) Morning Glory? emerged to colossal sales, it became clear that while Blur had won the battle, Oasis were winning the war."

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  Coldplay, the most commercially successful post-Britpop band, on stage in 2017. Their first three albums – Parachutes (2000), A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002) and X&Y (2005) – are among the best-selling albums in UK chart history.

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  Snow Patrol performing in 2009. Their 2006 single "Chasing Cars" is the most widely played song on UK radio in the 21st century.

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  DMA's live at Leeds

See also

In Spanish: Britpop para niños