On the Britpop Battleground: The Unforgettable Rivalry of Blur and Oasis
If you haven't heard it already from your parents, teachers, or anyone over the age of forty, the nineties were a decade of amazing music. VHS tapes, MTV, and radio ruled the world, and new genres emerged daily from the cultural mishmash. But while we Americans worshiped bands like Nirvana and paraded around in flannels and chokers, those across the pond in Britain had a different idea of what was fresh. A new cultural moment emerged from the ashes of the New Wave and Shoegaze of the late eighties: Britpop, the U.K.’s answer to Grunge. It was often characterized by indie rock guitar riffs, mid-range male vocals, and witty commentary on the attitudes of England’s youth. As political unrest and nihilism about the future rose, the Brits were desperate for music to represent their repressed feelings and need for release. The bands who struck while the iron was hot were greatly rewarded, commonly referred to as “The Big Four.” This includes legendary bands Pulp and Suede, and the ever-controversial but unforgettable Oasis and Blur. Their tense rivalry, dubbed the “Battle of Britpop”, became a cultural sensation, with publications and fans following closely to see who would be victorious.
Oasis
Oasis was formed in Manchester in 1991. They were a group of working-class musicians, unrefined, immensely talented, and hungry for fame. The band included the infamously cocky Liam Gallagher on lead vocals, Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs on guitar, Paul “Guigsy” McGuigan on bass, and Tony McCarrol on drums. Noel Gallagher, Liam’s brother, approached the band later on and became the band’s sole songwriter and second lead vocalist. Together, Oasis curated a simplistic yet impactful sound that immediately resonated with English crowds. They released their debut album, “Definitely Maybe,” after signing to Creation Records in 1993, and it skyrocketed to the top of the charts. At the time of its release, it was the fastest-selling debut album in English history. This album catapulted Oasis into the mainstream with songs like “Supersonic” and “Live Forever.” They were celebrated for their talent and style that appealed to the everyman. Fans waited eagerly for their second album (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, which was set to drop in late 1995.
Blur
Blur emerged in 1988 from the University of London’s Goldsmiths College, which consisted of frontman Damon Albarn, guitarist Grahm Coxon, drummer David Rowntree, and bassist Alex James. They signed to Food Records in 1989 and released their first album, “Leisure” in 1991, which reached moderate success and placed Blur on the map as a band to watch. In 1992, Blur toured the United States in hopes of recovering financial losses from their previous album. However, this tour became a disaster as American crowds did not resonate with the music, and members began falling out, leading to multiple physical fights. Under threat of being dropped by their management, Blur changed courses to create music that was undeniably English. Their 1992 album, Modern Life Is Rubbish, reached moderate success. It wasn’t until 1994 that they reached global fame with the release of their third album Parklife, which featured hits like “Girls & Boys” and “Parklife”. In contrast to the hazy anthems of Oasis, Blur focused more on creating stories to reflect the realities of modern British life. It won them four Brit awards, including Best Group and Best Video. Nearing closer to the forefront of the music scene, the band began writing their third studio album, “The Great Escape,” in early 1995.
The Faceoff of 1995
After months of fierce competition for charts and popularity, the two Britpop giants faced off in a battle. It began when Oasis reached #1 on the charts for their song “Some Might Say.” At their celebration party, Liam Gallagher spat the stinging words “Number fookin’ One!” right into the face of Blur’s Damon Albarn. This sparked a fire within Albarn, who became determined to topple them.
This was not only a battle for fame, it was a representation of the deep divide between the working-class North and posh South. Blur was from London and attended prestigious private schools, earning them the name “Art School Wankers” from the Manchester-born Oasis, who grew up very poor and did not attend college. Fans from both cities rallied behind their respective artists, hoping for a win to chip away at hundreds of years of rivalry.
This tension came to a head In the Autumn of 1995, with the releases of two much-awaited albums, Oasis’s (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? and Blur’s The Great Escape. They were set to come out months apart from each other to avoid interference, however, their singles were set to release within the same week. On the 14th of August, Oasis was set to come out with their single “Roll With It”, and Blur would follow with “Country House” on the 21st. This became an issue, as having the earlier date would put Oasis at an advantage for chart success. Eager for a fair fight, Blur decided that the only solution would be to move their release to the exact same day. This bold move became the defining moment of their rivalry, with every tabloid brandishing headlines like “The British Heavyweight Championship.” The media craze only intensified when Albarn appeared on BBC News to discuss the event, saying, “Both bands have really upped the stakes, and someone’s going to come out on top, and someone’s going to come out second.” When the week of August 14th finally came, the world waited in anticipation. Who would win the hearts of England’s youth and be crowned the true kings of Britpop?
Neither song was particularly groundbreaking, nor were they heralded as the bands’ best work, but the worldwide coverage encouraged people to buy copies of each album with tenacity. Each album sold over 200,000 copies that week. To the surprise of many, Blur beat Oasis by a mere margin of 58,000. Country House was a hit and quickly reached the coveted number-one spot. Oasis was burned by this loss, and Noel Gallagher went as far as to tell The Observer that he hoped the members of Blur would “Catch AIDS and die.” To rub salt in the wound, Blur bassist Alex James wore a shirt with an image of Oasis the following week on Top of the Pops, Britain's version of MTV. The battle was over, and Blur had come out on top.
The Aftermath
Both bands continued on with their respective careers after the showdown. In the following years, Oasis released five more studio albums. As time went on, the brothers themselves turned against each other. They badmouthed each other to the press, humiliated one another on stage, and eventually stopped speaking completely. However, their music continued to leave a lasting impression on the world. (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? Won Best Album of the Last 30 Years at the 2015 Brit Awards, and they have been nominated for Grammys twice in the last decade. Their iconic songs like “Don’t Look Back in Anger” and “Wonderwall,” are still considered absolute classics worldwide. In 2024, Oasis announced a long-awaited global reunion tour. Blur went on to release six studio albums after Parkife, including their self-titled album in 1997 that finally reached the hearts of American audiences with “Song 2.” Their sound became more Rock and Roll with the changing times, closely resembling the American bands they once despised. After core members of the original band began to leave in the late nineties, Blur went on an extended hiatus. It was around this time that Damon Albarn created his second musical act, Gorillaz. Besides a few reunion shows and albums featuring other background musicians, the story of Blur was over. Reflecting on the commercial success, critical reception, and overall legacies of both bands, one thing becomes clear. Blur may have won the Battle of Britpop, but Oasis won the war.
Want more Britpop? Check out this amazing playlist by Align Music’s Mia Fairchild