Britpop at Its Peak – When the nation picked a side

If you were around in the mid 90s, you will remember this clearly. It was not just about the music. It was about identity. Attitude. Allegiance. You were either in one camp or the other.

The summer of 1995 became the moment everything exploded. Oasis released Roll With It. Blur dropped Country House. The so called Battle of Britpop dominated headlines, breakfast telly and playground debates. Even people who did not normally follow the charts had an opinion.

For many Gen X listeners, Britpop soundtracked real life. Sixth form common rooms. First proper jobs. Student unions. Packed out pubs on a Friday night. These were songs you could shout along to with your mates, arm in arm, convinced this was your era.

But Britpop was bigger than just two bands. Pulp gave us observational anthems about ordinary lives. Suede brought a darker edge. Elastica delivered sharp, punchy tracks that felt fresh and fearless. It was a time when British guitar music felt confident again.

Fashion followed music. Parkas, Adidas trainers, Fred Perry polos. Union Jack guitars. Attitude with a hint of swagger. And for a while, it felt like the centre of the music world was right here in the UK.

Looking back, the rivalry was fun, but the real winner was the music. Those tracks still fill dancefloors. They still spark arguments over which band really mattered more. And they still transport you straight back to the 90s within the first few bars.

So where did you stand? Team Oasis or Team Blur? Or were you quietly buying every album regardless?

Whatever your side back then, you can relive those Britpop classics on Atom Radio. Listen live on the free Atom Radio app for music you want to hear.