BRITPOP

A type of music that was made famous during a “1st wave” by bands such as Oasis, Pulp, Suede and Blur. It started in the early nineties and finished in 1997 when Princess Diana died.

In recent years there has been a “2nd wave” of Britpop bands such as The Zutons, Kaiser Chiefs, The Feeling, Razorlight, Keane, Radiohead, The View, The Fray.

What is Britpop?

The music is characterised by British bands that use:

• distorted guitars• a lack of lead guitar• simple vocal lines• lyrics about everyday life.

This is the only thing that distinguishes them from other bands during that era.

“The Eighties were naff. Naff politics and naff music – Thatcher, Wham and Spandau Ballet. The charts were full of posers, and British popular culture generally felt like synthetic rubbish. I sat in suburbia, smoking, listing to The White Album and Let it Bleed; waiting for something to happen” John Dower, Live Forever

Where did Britpop come from?

Britpop and its influences

Simple

1960s

1970s Early 1980sLate 1980s

1990s

Blues x folk

End of post war strictness

PunkReaction against establishment

Angry

Off beat

Electric guitar

Rave x indieRepetitive beat

Busy bass lineGrunge

barre chords

Listen to the music & choose 3 phrases that best describe what you hear

The Beatles were the most influential band of the 20th Century

Their music was a cross between folk and blues and used rhythm guitars. They moved away from music that focused on lead guitars. They often use people and places in their music: Michelle, Eleanor Rigby, Penny Lane, Strawberry Fields

1960’s - The Beatles

Britpop uses the guitar driven sound that has no lead guitar. It often people and places: Layla, Don’t look back, (Oasis) Charmless Man (Blur)

1960’s - The Who

• The music was written for rebellious British youths called Mods, it expressed their feeling that older people "just don't get it". • He reportedly wrote “My Generation” on a train and is said to have been inspired by the Queen Mother who is alleged to have had Townsend's hearse towed off a street in Belgravia because she was offended by the sight of it during her daily drive through the neighbourhood

The Who are one of the most influential groups in rock music. The aggressive music was made by the combination of Pete Townsend (guitarist), John Entwistle (bass) and Keith Moon, (drums).

• The music was related to Reggae and Ska which was often about repression and freedom• The music often sounded very angry and sometimes included shouting.• The music used syncopation – the main chords were played on beats 2 & 4 rather than 1 & 3. This was done in part to help create an angry sound. “The importance of being Idle” (Oasis) is an example of playing off beat.

1970’s - David BowieBowie represents a type of music that was a reaction against the establishment. Other bands include the Sex Pistols, The Clash (Punk) and Madness (MOD).

Early 1980’s – U2

In 1985 Bob Geldof organized a worldwide series of concerts called “Band Aid”. Chart topping bands/artists performed at to raise money for the African famine. The song: "Do They Know It's Christmas," became the best-selling U.K. single of all time, and inspired a similar 1985 U.S. single "We Are The World." Geldof was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and was knighted by the Queen.

U2 were a popular Irish band in the early 1980’s and had good success in the charts.

During the 80’s there was greater emphasis placed in being an individual and that one person can make a difference.

IndieIndie = independent records

Not a genre or style but a group of different bands that had signed up to small record label that were typically run out of homes or garages and sold by mail-order or a through a chain of independent record shops.

Originally Geoff Travis set up a record shop in London selling only local bands music – a network of similar shops was established. The music they sold was nicknamed “indie”.

Late 1980’s - RaveIn the late 1980’s rave culture hit the UK with the birth of acid house music. Manchester became the rave capital.

The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays were frequent ravers and started to incorporate some of the features into their Indie style music.

Early 1990’s – Grunge Attack!• The key thing that led to the rise of bands

like Oasis and Blur was what was happening in the USA: GRUDGE!What is Grunge?

- type of rock music that uses very heavy distortion, strong guitar riffs and heavy drumming

- it grew out of Seattle with bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam

A number of things all collided at the right time to help bring Britpop to the forefront:

What happen then?

1. When Kirk Cobain died (suicide/murder/drug overdose) a vacuum was opened in the record industry that needed to be filled.2. The UK was on the verge of major political

change – a new sense of optimism.3. British bands were writing music that was British.

On the verge of major political change …

On the verge of major political change …

On the verge of major political change …

- the appeal of cigarettes, alcohol, drugs and partying as a remedy to the triviality of working class life.

- Do you think that the song sets out to hold up these activities as some positive ideal?

Politics & Social Issues reflected in music:Listen to “Cigarettes & Alcohol” by Oasis, what is the message that they are trying to get across?

Look at these Lyrics:"Is it worth the aggravation to find yourself a job when there's nothing worth working for“ “You could wait for a lifetime … to spend your days in the sunshineSo you might as well do the white line".

Politics & Social Issues reflected in music:Listen to “Live Forever” by Oasis , what do you think the song is about?

- It’s about old friends laughing at jokes and stories that puzzle them.

- Lyrics: "We see things they'll never see"

- Backlash against Nirvana’s song: “I Hate Myself and Want to Die

Politics & Social Issues reflected in music:Listen to “Country House” by Blur, what do you think the song is about?

The song is about a man who retires to an expensive country house to escape the pressures of the city and loses the idea of normality.

Although this isn’t about one person it is interesting that there was a long history of

bitter rivalry between Oasis & Blur – this song is about Noel Gallagher who moved

to the country from Manchester – you can hear the words “He’s got Morning Glory”

which was the title of an Oasis album.

Listen to “Rock ‘N’ Roll Star” by Oasis , what is the message that they are trying to get across?

• refer to his dreams and aspirations to become a rock star• his hopes to move away from Manchester

Noel Gallagher said: "I'm pretty much summed up everything I wanted to say in "Rock 'N' Roll Star", "Live Forever" and "Cigarettes & Alcohol", after that I'm repeating myself, but in a different way".

Politics & Social Issues reflected in music:

How to write a song in the style of Britpop ….

Intro The part that is repeated.

Outro The part that builds the “story”. The words change each time.

Middle 8 The bit at the end that usually fades out. Very important for radio.

Bridge Two to four lines that build into the chorus.

Chorus Usually between ½ bar – 2 bars that link the verse and chorus or middle 8

Verse The introduction.

Pre-chorus Eight bars of instrumental

StructureMatch the words with their correct definition:

Task 1: Design your structure, using an intro, outro, verses, choruses, middle 8s and bridges.This may change later on as you add lyrics  

   

                     

                       

Song writing in the style of Britpop

Write how many bars each section is going to last for in these boxes

Play through these chords:

CCEG

DmDFA

EmEGB

EEG#B

FFAC

GGBD

G/FFBD

Em/DDGB

C/BBEG

BBDF#

BmBDF

AmACE

Decide which ones you are going to use for each section:

Write your lyrics:Social Statement ~ writing about human failings & political issues

The Need to Escape ~ writing about the need to escape from routine

Friendship ~ reflecting a personal statement

Read some newspaper articles, highlighting some key words that you can use in your song