Britpop as a movement dominated the airwaves in the early 1990s, coinciding with the rise of grunge in the United States.  While bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam were fueling the music scene in Seattle with heavy, punk-inspired rock, the alternative sound from the Brits was more into guitar-driven anthems from the shoegaze rock tradition.

Acts that paved the way include The Verve and Lush, which later Britpop bands would single out as main influence.  This will be followed by the success of Suede, Blur, Radiohead, and, of course, Oasis.  By the time Oasis’ “What’s the Story Morning Glory?” and Radiohead’s “Pablo Honey” were released, Britpop was already a global phenomenon.

While majority of casual listeners were riding the grunge hype, other devoted rock fans were into the jangly, pop-oriented sound from the U.K.  Oasis’ singles were seen as a reverberation of the Beatles’ own, from “Wonderwall” to “Champagne Supernova.” On the other hand, more introspective offerings like Blur’s “Beetle Bum” and Radiohead’s “High and Dry” provided a nice alternative to the alternative, as it were.

By 1995, both grunge and Britpop were radio and TV staples, and the worldwide commercial success was to be the formula that would lead to its eventual fall from the limelight.  Still, the songs have already been embedded in the psyche of listeners.  And with the dominance of rap in the late 2010s, Britpop is primed for a resurgence.