Music Cup Round 4 - Britpop

Round 3 is in the books and Marvin Gaye came out on top of Elvis Presley and Don McLean.

Round 4 promises to be a fierce affair, the array of familiar songs I personally could select is staggering. Although clearly Britpop isn't to everyone's tastes. Poor Union was so befuddled by it all he's sitting this round out meaning he adds a 4th 0 to his score.

Go forth and vote (for your favourite TWO).

Round 5 will be a corker because you'll all be selecting songs by your favourite boybands. Before you ask, The Beatles are not a boyband. The Rolling Stones are not a boyband.

NOTE: A boyband is a group of two or more male vocalists that did not play instruments themselves and went under a silly alias like 911 or A1.

Why would you do a round of boybands only on a mostly male forum based around sports, I hear you ask? Because it'll amuse me to get PMs from grown, often professional working men, filled with their favourite song by 5ive.

Reasons for some of the choices from the good folk who selected them:

song 2 by Blur please - When that killer "woohooo" kicks in, everyone recognises the song and starts moshing. Iconic and defined the whole era.

3) Take That- Relight My Fire

Not as good as new and improved Take That but utterly passable.

One of the most under-rated bands in my book. Should have been a 'Big 3' with them joining Oasis and Blur. Everyone knows their songs from the Different Class album. This is one of their earlier numbers, and one of their best.

Alright - Supergrass ..................... A great summer anthem of a song that was everywhere , and that video got me out on my bike with my mates for numerous drunken pub crawls around the countryside around here .

1st choice - Whatever by Oasis. Not only is it Oasis's greatest song, but it is the best song ever written ever. Ever. EVER!

Charmless Man. During the 90s I was always an 'Oasis Man' out of them and Blur. Since then though I have realised how much I prefer Blur's music.

Common People - Pulp; She came from Greece, she had a thirst for knowledge. Sing along godammit! Geek chic 20 year before its time. Whilst everyone was embroiled in the Blur v Oasis battle, the real Britpop band just got on with creating anthems such as this. Jarvis Cocker, we salute you!

After Hours write up - Not your typical in your face Britpop song, neither the over the top attempts at ballads Oasis did. Listen to it before you vote, its a class song. And Edgar Wright (of Hot Fuzz, Spaced and Shaun of the Dead fame) directed the video.

Any song that contains the line "Strap on Sally chased us down the alley, We feared for our behinds" deserves to win this round! Also has a great guitar intro and a catchy chorus.

Reason: When a list is made of the best songs of the 90s, You Get What You Give shouldn't be missed out. It's a class song by a band which disappeared after releasing it but were totally underrated.

Elastica - 2:1 - had to use the wikepedia link to see which groups count as Britpop & was ecstatic to see that I knew a few, recognise this song from the Trainspotting soundtrack which is enough to earn plaudits on its own

I was just about to vote for the New Radicals but arent they Canadian or American?

Adam D wrote:I was just about to vote for the New Radicals but arent they Canadian or American?

It appears they are - sorry let that one slip by. Will the perpetrator please issue me another song so I can amend the poll?

New Radicals are miles from Britpop, in country and genre. Shame as they are the best band on there.

I went for Song 2 and Common People

Take That?

I loved the New Radicalz song though I'll never forgive the lead singer for going on to write 'Rollercoaster' for Ronan Keating.

And yes Take That are NOT Brit Pop either.

Hero wrote:And yes Take That are NOT Brit Pop either.

Ahem http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Britpop_musicians

By my own criteria, they are. They won't get the votes of course but I checked before I let them go on.

That was me, and they were on the accepted list. I am happy to receive no votes anyway as I would never vote for my own song choice

I like how they don't though appear on the timeline. Sorry but they are certainly not Britpop. Might as well have Spice Girls and East 17 in there too.

May as well say 'Boyzone' are.

Anyway, that was a sh.te cover. They did a couple of good tunes though.

I am really surprised at how poor this round is with a ll the great songs to pick from!

I would have thought something like unfinished symphony, this is how it feels and Theres no other Way would have all featured.

I agree I wouldn't class them as Britpop, but I can't reject the song because by the criteria I used it passed the test.

No one remembers East 17 for their music either, only for the guy that ran himself over.

sodhat wrote:Why would you do a round of boybands only on a mostly male forum based around sports, I hear you ask? Because it'll amuse me to get PMs from grown, often professional working men, filled with their favourite song by 5ive.

Isnt Hero allowed to vote?

How many people constitutes a boyband?

I would say 2 at least.

Easy - Suede and Pulp. Britpop history is so wrapped up in Blur vs Oasis, but these two bands were far cooler.

Animal Nitrate is by far the best song availible here. Suede did so many awesome tracks.

And I've gone for Common People, because its such an ANTHEM!

Yeah, sorry about my choice but I don't know much about Britpop

MtotheC's Wrasslin Biatch wrote:Easy - Suede and Pulp. Britpop history is so wrapped up in Blur vs Oasis, but these two bands were far cooler.

Animal Nitrate is by far the best song availible here. Suede did so many awesome tracks.

And I've gone for Common People, because its such an ANTHEM!

Someone voted for my pick!

Thank you, Demon. I hadn't been much into Suede until recently but they were great and their new album is pretty good too as it goes.

I haven't checked out their new album yet. Worth a listen then? I'll look it up.

I got Suede's greatest hits a few years back because I never owned any of their CD's, I always borrowed my aunty's... and it is jam packed with cool tunes that stand up as fresh today as they did then.

Suede's Saturday Night was their best song, imo.

No Manic or Radiohead fans on here?

MtotheC's Wrasslin Biatch wrote:I haven't checked out their new album yet. Worth a listen then? I'll look it up.

I got Suede's greatest hits a few years back because I never owned any of their CD's, I always borrowed my aunty's... and it is jam packed with cool tunes that stand up as fresh today as they did then.

I think it's worth a listen. They haven't really tried to reinvent themselves, it just sounds like Suede. "Bloodsports" it's called.

Stella wrote:Suede's Saturday Night was their best song, imo.

No Manic or Radiohead fans on here?

Big fan of both although neither I would say falls under the Britpop umbrella

Hero wrote:

Stella wrote:Suede's Saturday Night was their best song, imo.

No Manic or Radiohead fans on here?

Big fan of both although neither I would say falls under the Britpop umbrella

I thought they would have, although Thom Yorke would hate to be. Two of the best bands of the 90's though.

No shed seven - chasing rainbows then no vote

Shame on you all haha

Thom Yorke would cry tears from his weird eye if he saw you call his music Britpop.

Manics were around before Britpop and have outlived it without the need to take a 10 year sabbatical.
No way are the Manics Britpop

My Mrs was a huge Shed Seven fan, think she preferred Going For Gold though.

I am not sure if thre is a song I hate more than James' Sit Down.

Can I just check, even though I am not changing my nomination but do the songs have to be from the 90s onwards?

Round 5 will be a corker because you'll all be selecting songs by your favourite boybands. Before you ask, The Beatles are not a boyband. The Rolling Stones are not a boyband. If they weren't in Smash Hits magazine in the 90s they weren't a boyband, so there is your criteria.

My choice were in Smash Hits in the 80s, does that count?

MtotheC's Wrasslin Biatch wrote:Manics were around before Britpop and have outlived it without the need to take a 10 year sabbatical.
No way are the Manics Britpop

Suede were around before Britpop as well.

Adam D wrote:I am not sure if thre is a song I hate more than James' Sit Down.

Can I just check, even though I am not changing my nomination but do the songs have to be from the 90s onwards?

No - boybands have been around longer than that. I was being slightly facetious when I said they had to be in Smash Hits in the 90s. Although that is a fairly good guide as to where to find them.

Stella wrote:

MtotheC's Wrasslin Biatch wrote:Manics were around before Britpop and have outlived it without the need to take a 10 year sabbatical.
No way are the Manics Britpop

Suede were around before Britpop as well.

True, but their sound is synonymous with Britpop I would say.

Whereas whilst Blur and Oasis were battling for number 1, the Manics were releasing "The Holy Bible" - which is pretty far removed from Britpop.

Though admittedly "Everything Must Go" briefly succumbed to the 90's sound - that was only for one album though.

I think we also need clarity on what a boy band constitutes.

For example, you could say that Queen were a boy band as they were all male.

MtotheC's Wrasslin Biatch wrote:

Stella wrote:

MtotheC's Wrasslin Biatch wrote:Manics were around before Britpop and have outlived it without the need to take a 10 year sabbatical.
No way are the Manics Britpop

Suede were around before Britpop as well.

True, but their sound is synonymous with Britpop I would say.

Whereas whilst Blur and Oasis were battling for number 1, the Manics were releasing "The Holy Bible" - which is pretty far removed from Britpop.

Though admittedly "Everything Must Go" briefly succumbed to the 90's sound - that was only for one album though.

Yes, Everything Must Go was more britpop than their early stuff. Another top album.

Adam D wrote:I think we also need clarity on what a boy band constitutes.

For example, you could say that Queen were a boy band as they were all male.

Ok, how about this:

A group of two or more male vocalists that did not play instruments themselves and went under a silly alias like 911 or A1.

sodhat wrote:

Adam D wrote:I think we also need clarity on what a boy band constitutes.

For example, you could say that Queen were a boy band as they were all male.

Ok, how about this:

A group of two or more male vocalists that did not play instruments themselves and went under a silly alias like 911 or A1.

i think thats a good criteria although it knocks out by nomination on both counts!

If you need me to change, let me know.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boy_band

That link really doesnt help!

Actually I think you should have anyone on that link from the 80s onwards (ruling out the Jacksons altogether that should walk this if allowed!)

Any band that had to go to auditions to be put together.

Adam D wrote:

sodhat wrote:

Adam D wrote:I think we also need clarity on what a boy band constitutes.

For example, you could say that Queen were a boy band as they were all male.

Ok, how about this:

A group of two or more male vocalists that did not play instruments themselves and went under a silly alias like 911 or A1.

i think thats a good criteria although it knocks out by nomination on both counts!

If you need me to change, let me know.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boy_band

That link really doesnt help!

Sadly then I think you have to re-vote, as much as it pains me to lose that particular song from the process.

I went for Don't Look Back in Anger and Song 2.

Surprised nobody went for Live Forever, which I'd say is probably the best Oasis song.

I went for Song 2 and Champagne Supernova

Not my personal favourites from each band but hey. I would have gone for Supersonic by Oasis and Coffee and TV by Blur (not sure the timing of that one would have counted?)

Some great tunes missing, are:

Laid - James
Day We caught the Train - OCS
Slight return - The Bluetones
Tender - Blur
Live Forever - Oasis
Saturday Night - Suede
Disco 2000 - Pulp

Would have chosen Laid or Destiny Calling if I'd've known James were Britpop. Curse my ignorance - already looking like another round without scoring.

Would anyone have voted for Lucky Man? I prefer it to Bittersweet Symphony and was stuck between that, Live Forever (which I actually had then changed ) and my choice.

im a bit surprised Parklife hasn't been picked

Live Forever is the best Oasis song, then Don't Look Back in Anger. I'm not a huge fan of Oasis, mainly because I don't rate Liam Gallagher as a singer. I think Noel is actually a better singer, as well as obviously being the better song writer.

I'd rate Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds as better than Oasis, it's a shame that Noel didn't leave the much less talented brother earlier.

The Special Juan wrote:Would anyone have voted for Lucky Man? I prefer it to Bittersweet Symphony and was stuck between that, Live Forever (which I actually had then changed ) and my choice.

I love Lucky Man, was on the radio yesterday actually too. History as well I'd have over Bittersweet and the dirge that was Drugs don't Work.

round 5 picks sent in , not my genre of music but neither was britpop really

I can see that there will be a lot of controversy with picks in the next round (of New Radicals proportion!).

For example, Take That are a boy band but Gary played Piano - so do they qualify?