Battle of Britpop
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Hello you. Make a cup of tea, put a record on. Welcome to The A to Z of Britpop, your introduction to the bands, music, and characters that defined the most exciting genre of the 1990s. In this article, we delve into "The Battle of Britpop," a defining moment that pitted Blur against Oasis in a heated chart rivalry that captivated the UK and brought Britpop to the forefront of popular culture.
Britpop was built on personalities, fierce rivalries, soundbites, and of course, the music that defined a decade. It captured the restless energy of the country and signalled a wave of optimism across the UK that had been missing for years.
Each entry in this series is a fact file, giving you the key details: who they were, where they came from, and what they made. It’s the perfect starting point for revisiting the era if you were there, or figuring out why your mum or dad keeps going on about it.
Overview
Event name: The Battle of Britpop
Date: August 14–20, 1995
Key participants: Blur and Oasis
Result: Blur's "Country House" claimed the UK No. 1 spot over Oasis’s "Roll with It."
Cultural impact: Amplified Britpop as a cultural phenomenon and highlighted class and regional divides in British society.
Background and Context
By the mid-1990s, Britpop had become a dominant force in UK music, with Blur and Oasis emerging as its figureheads.
Blur was seen as representing the middle-class, art-school aesthetic of the South, while Oasis embodied the working-class grit of the North.
The rivalry was fuelled by the media, with NME dubbing it the "British Heavyweight Championship."
The Battle
On 14 August 1995, Blur released "Country House" and Oasis released "Roll with It" on the same day.
The competition quickly became a national spectacle, with newspapers, tabloids, and even television news covering the story.
Both bands exchanged jibes: Oasis dismissed Blur as "Chas & Dave chimney sweep music," while Blur mockingly called Oasis the "Oasis Quo."
Outcome
Blur’s "Country House" sold 274,000 copies, narrowly beating Oasis’s "Roll with It," which sold 216,000.
Blur celebrated their victory on Top of the Pops, with bassist Alex James cheekily wearing an 'Oasis' t-shirt.
Legacy
Despite Blur’s victory in the battle, Oasis achieved greater commercial success globally and solidified themselves as Britpop’s most iconic band.
The rivalry marked a high point for Britpop, helping both bands reach new heights of fame.
Damon Albarn and Noel Gallagher later reconciled, collaborating musically in the 2010s and publicly acknowledging their mutual respect.
Notable Facts
The "Battle of Britpop" was one of the UK singles market's biggest weeks in a decade, with 500,000 total copies sold between the two songs.
Oasis alleged that Blur gained an advantage by releasing two versions of "Country House" with different B-sides, encouraging fans to buy both.
Noel Gallagher caused a media uproar by wishing that Blur would "catch AIDS and die," a comment he later apologised for.
Defining Lyrics
"I'm a professional cynic but my heart's not in it." — Country House
"You gotta roll with it, you gotta take your time." — Roll with It
Essential Listening
"Country House" (1995): Blur’s satirical anthem that claimed victory in the Battle of Britpop.
"Roll with It" (1995): Oasis’s defiant track, embodying their working-class ethos and enduring appeal.
Why You Should Revisit 'The Battle of Britpop'
The Blur vs Oasis rivalry sits at the chaotic centre of Britpop, fusing sharp songwriting with a media-fuelled clash of class, region, and attitude. More than just a chart battle, it distilled everything Britpop stood for and still offers a jagged window into the energy, arrogance, and absurdity of 1990s Britain.
See you on down the road.
