Top 10 Best-Selling Britpop Songs of All Time
If Britpop had a royal family, it would have been a dysfunctional one. Tabloid sagas, two-finger salutes at the Brits, and a Blur vs Oasis war fuelled by a media frenzy desperate for headlines. But while the '90s were a chaotic football terrace of sound and style, they also produced some of the best British music to date.
Here are the ten best-selling Britpop songs of all time, ordered from chart royalty to the younger siblings tagging along for the ride. Some you'll remember from the sticky-floored dancefloor of your student union; others might surprise you.
1. Wonderwall - Oasis
The Britpop anthem to end all Britpop anthems. Written by Noel Gallagher but eternally owned by every bloke awkwardly crooning it on karaoke nights. A track so iconic it’s inspired endless parodies, wedding proposals, and one-too-many regrettable singalongs at the pub. It’s sold 1.4 million copies in the UK alone, despite never hitting the Number 1 spot. Iconic? Absolutely. Overplayed? Probably.
2. Don’t Look Back in Anger - Oasis
This is Wonderwall’s slightly more mature sibling. It’s got a touch more introspection and an optimism that belies the Gallagher brothers’ infamous fallouts. Released in 1996, it was Oasis’s first single to hit Number 1 and has since become an unofficial anthem of resilience, most recently resurfacing in the wake of national tragedies. A solid 1.02 million sales back its legacy.
3. Bitter Sweet Symphony - The Verve
It’s lush, orchestral, and gave Richard Ashcroft a platform to strut down a street shoving strangers out of his way. This 1997 classic is Britpop’s melancholic masterpiece, melding Ashcroft’s existential angst with cinematic strings. Despite topping out at Number 2 on the charts and enduring a fierce legal battle for its infamous sample, it remains a glorious high-water mark of ‘90s British music. 773,000 sales speak for themselves.
4. Brimful of Asha - Cornershop
“On the forty-five!” A deft blend of Punjabi culture, vinyl nostalgia, and that irresistibly dancey Norman Cook remix. Cornershop’s Brimful of Asha was the kind of song that caught you by surprise, then refused to leave your head. It topped the charts in 1998, racking up 634,000 sales and earning its slot as one of Britpop’s quirkiest gems.
5. Country House - Blur
The cheeky victor of the Blur v Oasis chart battle of ‘95. With its satirical look at rural escapism, Country House shot to Number 1 and defined the band’s ability to mix wit with pure pop hooks. It sold 559,000 copies but, depending on which side you were on, either marked Blur’s finest moment or the start of Britpop’s cultural oversaturation.
6. Roll With It - Oasis
The one that lost the aforementioned battle. Still, it’s hard to pity Oasis when they managed a cool 550,000 sales and a legacy as the grittier, more authentic band of the two. Roll With It might not have been the glorious chart-topper Noel had envisioned, but it became an inadvertent symbol of Britpop’s class war. Working-class defiance has never sounded so chantable.
7. The Drugs Don’t Work - The Verve
Arguably the most sombre track in the Britpop canon. The Drugs Don’t Work brought Ashcroft’s heartache to the forefront, side-stepping swagger for vulnerability. Released in 1997, it hit Number 1 and has sold 615,000 copies. Perfect for when it’s 2 a.m., you’re two drinks too many in, and introspection kicks in.
8. Whatever - Oasis
With strings arranged by the legendary Nigel Kennedy, Whatever marked Oasis’s ambition to get bigger—even before they became massive. It’s not quite as iconic as Wonderwall, but its mix of optimism and bite earned it Number 3 on the charts and 517,000 sales. Bonus points for being a brilliant live closer.
9. Some Might Say - Oasis
Oasis again, because of course. Their first-ever Number 1 single, released in 1995. It’s scrappy, raw, and has the kind of youthful exuberance that defined their early years. Sure, the lyrics might be nonsensical, but with a riff like that, who’s really paying attention? 513,000 sales say we’re still not over it.
10. Song 2 - Blur
Woo-hoo! This two-minute blast of energy cemented Blur as festival mainstays and indie disco kings. Though it wasn’t quite the commercial juggernaut of Parklife or Country House, it’s aged incredibly well and racked up over 500,000 sales. To this day, it’s probably responsible for more beer spillages in mosh pits than any other Britpop track.
Recommended Listening
Feeling nostalgic or looking to discover these classics for the first time? Start with this. Sort of sums up Britpop’s trajectory perfectly:
Bitter Sweet Symphony - Perfect for a walk with dramatic flair.
Keep Britpop Alive
Love or loathe the era, Britpop’s tracks are still woven into the fabric of British culture. This wasn’t just music; it was messy, defiant, and unforgettable. The very definition of Britpop.
Put these hits on, open a cool beverage, and remember a time when guitars ruled the airwaves. Just don’t mention the chart battle around Blur v Oasis—we might be here all day.
