Britpop Tuesday

Welcome back to Britpop Tuesday after a bit of a hiatus. We’re glad to have it back again, especially as it returns is just in time for The Britpop Shuffle. As a refresher, I’ve taken a few Britpop Playlists and put them in a giant Playlist of over 1,000 Songs. The game is to close my eyes and “spin the bottle” (i.e. shuffle the Playlist), and share the first five Britpop Songs that come up.

If you want to hear these as they go along, month-by-month, you can listen to the evolving Britpop Shuffle Playlist on Spotify and YouTube.

Ready, Set, Spin – here we go!

 Britpop Shuffle Five – March Edition

1. “24 Hour Party People” by Happy Mondays

The Film named after the Song “24 Hour Party People” was released in 2002, and is about Manchester’s popular music community from 1976 to 1992, and specifically about Factory Records. It was written by Frank Cottrell Boyce and directed by Michael Winterbottom.

It begins with the punk rock era of the late 1970’s and moves through the 1980’s into the rave and DJ culture and the “Madchester” scene of the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. The main character is Tony Wilson, a news reporter for Granada Television and the head of Factory Records. The narrative largely follows his career, while also covering the careers of the major Factory artists, especially Joy Division and New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column and Happy Mondays. (from Wikipedia)

2. “All Around the World” by Oasis

“All Around the World” by Oasis was written by the band’s lead guitarist and principal songwriter Noel Gallagher. It was released in January of 1998. The Track peaked at number one in the UK Singles Chart; it is the longest number one single in UK history.It is also the longest song ever recorded by Oasis.

The single went gold in the UK. This was the last Oasis single to be released on the Creation Records label. The song also reached #15 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. (from Wikipedia)

3. “Click…Off…Gone” by Sleeper

“Click…Off…Gone” is the last Track off of the 1996 Album, The It Girl. It is is the second studio album by Sleeper. The Band is fronted by Louise Wener. They were formed in London and had 8 UK Top 40 Hit Singles and 3 UK Top 10 Albums during the 1990’s.

The band split up in 1998 but reunited in 2017 for some live appearances. (from Wikipedia)

4. “Do You Remember the First Time?” by Pulp

“Do You Remember the First Time?“ is off of Pulp’s 1994 Album His ‘n’ Hers. It was released in March of 1994 as the second Single from the album, charting at #33 in the UK Singles Chart. It was the first Pulp single to reach the UK Top 40.

The song’s lyrics are not necessarily about first sexual encounters, but rather a plea from the singer for his lover not to return to her partner, no matter how much it “makes good sense” for her and her straight-laced partner to be together. In the end, the singer resigns himself to losing his lover, if only for the night, as long as she “saves a piece” of her heart for him. (from Wikipedia)

This is the second time “Do You Remember the First Time?” has hit the Britpop Shuffle.

One of the Musical examples I use when describing the songwriting of Jarvis Cocker is this Song. If you take in all of it, all the words and his vocal tone, the sarcasm, the wit, the vulnerability, the honesty, all of it, well it paints a picture that is so clear it feels like I know, and can see, all the characters. Listen to it. Maybe more than once. I think you’ll see what I mean.

5. “Sit Down” by James

“Sit Down” was released in 1989 by Rough Trade Records. In its 7 1/2 minute original form, the Song only reached #77 on the UK Singles Chart, although it did make #8 on John Peel’s Festive Fifty of that Year.

The Song’s Lyrics were written in the Autumn of 1988 in homage to Author Doris Lessing and Singer Patti Smith, who have both inspired James’ Singer, Tim Booth.

After experiencing success as part of the “Madchester” Music Scene, a new version was released in March 1991 that was shorter and with new Lyrics. It reached number 2 in the Singles Chart, spending three weeks there. It was the 20th best-selling Single of 1991 in the UK, one of the highest selling singles of the year not to reach #1. (from Wikipedia)

I love James, especially their 1993 Album Laid, which has very personal meaning to me. “Sit Down” reminds me of living in Chicago, and the Music and Mixes I made back then.

Stay tuned for next Week’s return to the Song and Artist spotlight for Britpop Tuesday, and stay tuned for the end of April, when I will feature the next Britpop Shuffle Five.

Welcome back to Britpop Tuesday after a short hiatus. I’m glad to have it back again, especially as it returns is just in time for The Britpop Shuffle. As a refresher, I’ve taken a few Britpop Playlists and put them in a giant Playlist of over 1,000 Songs. The game is to close my eyes and “spin the bottle” (i.e. shuffle the Playlist), and share the first five Britpop Songs that come up.

If you want to hear these as they go along, month-by-month, you can listen to the evolving Britpop Shuffle Playlist on Spotify and YouTube.

Ready, Set, Spin – here we go!

Britpop Shuffle Five

1. “Trash” by Suede

The First Single off of the 1996 Album, Coming Up. This is the first Suede Song I remember hearing. The Band reminds me of working at Tower Records, and of my friend from the Tower Days, Casey, who was a huge fan of Suede. It also reminds me of the early aughts, and the Music and Bands I was falling for at the time. I feel like Suede was a gateway drug to those Bands.

2. “This Is How It Feels” by Inspiral Carpets

Early 90’s Britpop, “This Is How It Feels” was released in 1990 as a Single from their Album, Life. It was written by Clint Boon. The Song was their first Single to enter the UK Top 40, where it peaked at # 14. The Song peaked at # 149 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart, as well. Something about this Song reminds me of “I Don’t Like Mondays” by The Boomtown Rats and “Mother’s Little Helper” by The Rolling Stones – not the Songs as much as their stories.

3. “I Am the Resurrection” by The Stone Roses

The Stone Roses were everything to me in 1989-1990. I remember listening to their debut Album over and over again while lying on my bedroom floor, dreaming of things I wanted to be doing, talking on the phone with my best friend and discussing our favorite Tracks, or making out with my boyfriend at the time as the Music washed over us. I’m still sad that they canceled their show back then – they were going to play at Fairfax High School, and me and my best friend and boyfriend had tickets. It would have been one hell of a show!

4. “Step On” by Happy Mondays

Doesn’t this Song make you want to Dance?

5. “Morning Glory” by Oasis

It took me time to love Oasis. But I got there. I am there. Now.

Stay tuned for next Week’s return to the Song and Artist spotlight for Britpop Tuesday, and stay tuned for the third week of March, when I will feature the next Britpop Shuffle Five.

For this Week’s Britpop Tuesday I put together a Britpop-centric Playlist for you to enjoy. I know it already had a few spins in my car during my commute to-and-from work, and I think its mighty keen sounding and great for singing-a-long to. This will be a monthly feature, a Britpop Playlist Collection in the making. Stay tuned for more Tunes.

Bring On the Britpop
A Britpop Tuesday Playlist

Listen on Spotify and YouTube – or Stream below via YouTube

“Ong Ong” by Blur
“God’s Cop” by Happy Mondays
“Beautiful Ones” by Suede
“The Only One I Know” by The Charlatans
“Common People” by Pulp
“Hello” by Oasis
“Stutter” by Elastica
“Stop Whispering” by Radiohead
“Inbetweener” by Sleeper
“Mary” by Supergrass
“Bitter Sweet Symphony” by The Verve
“Sandstorm” by Cast
“Doledrum” by The La’s
“Girl From Mars” by Ash
“Wake up Boo!” by The Boo Radleys
“Female of the Species” by Space
“Brimful of Asha” by Cornershop
“Wide Open Space” by Mansun
“She Said” by Longpigs
“Laid” by James
“The Riverboat Song” by Ocean Colour Scene
“Kandy Pop” by Bis
“Ladykillers” by Lush
“A Design for Life” by Manic Street Preachers
“Punka” by Kenickie
“You’re Gorgeous” by Babybird
“Road Rage” by Catatonia
“A Girl Like You” by Edwyn Collins
“The Changingman” by Paul Weller

Bring On the Britpop

 

For this Week’s Britpop Tuesday I thought we’d try something a little different. I’ve taken a few Britpop Playlists and put them into one big Playlist, and I’m going to close my eyes and “spin the bottle” (or really, shuffle the Playlist), and share the first five Songs that come up. I’ll include a little bit about each Song, too. The Britpop Shuffle will happen every third Tuesday of the Month, giving us a bit of Random to our week. I think this is going to be fun!

Britpop Shuffle Five

1. “Do You Remember?” by Pulp

One of the Musical examples I use when describing the songwriting of Jarvis Cocker is this Song. If you take in all of it, all the words and his vocal tone, the sarcasm, the wit, the vulnerability, the honesty, all of it, well it paints a picture that is so clear it feels like I know, and can see, all the characters. Listen to it. Maybe more than once. I think you’ll see what I mean.

2. “Out of the Sinking” by Paul Weller

Off of the 1995 Solo Album, Stanley Road, “Out of the Sinking” definitely has some Britpop sensibilities to it. Though the “Modfather” is not known for a Britpop Sound overall, Weller was definitely influenced by the Sound, and played with it, as he seems to do with various Musical genres. This one is my favorite from the Stanley Road Album.

3. “There She Goes” by The La’s

This one will always remind of “Gilmore Girls”, and the iconic first scene in the pilot episode.

4. “Beetlebum” by Blur

Damon Albarn has been quoted as saying that the Song is about heroin, and the experiences he shared with his girlfriend at the time, Justine Frischmann, of Elastica fame. Justine and Damon have had a history of songs about each other and their tumultuous relationship. I listen to the Song and I can hear it from both angles, heroin, and relationships.

5. “Tattva” by Kula Shaker

The chorus of the song is “Tattva, acintya bheda abheda Tattva”. In Hindu philosophy “Tattva” is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘thatness’, ‘principle’, ‘essence’, ‘reality’ or ‘truth’. Does the guitar in this sound familiar? It might, as the guitar riff at the beginning of the song are similar to the four-note riff from Pink Floyd’s “Shine On, You Crazy Diamond”.

Stay tuned for next Week’s return to the Song and Artist spotlight for Britpop Tuesday, and stay tuned for the third week of February, when I will feature the next Britpop Shuffle Five.

“Cigarettes and Alcohol” is the 8th Track on Oasis debut album, Definitely Maybe. It was written by Noel Gallagher, and released as the band’s fourth Single. It was Oasis’ second Single to enter the UK Top Ten. It peaked at #7, three places higher than “Live Forever” did at the time.

In April of 2017, 23 years after its original release, “Cigarettes and Alcohol” was certified gold, indicating 400,000 sales.

“Cigarettes and Alcohol” by Oasis
from the album, Definitely Maybe (1994)

“Cigarettes and Alcohol” was the first Oasis Single to show off the rougher musical attitude that Oasis had in them. The Song touts the appeal of smoking, alcohol, and drug taking to combat the futile, nowhere nature of the working class life. This showcased in Music the disenchantment that was pervasive with the working class in the mid-nineties.

Alan McGee, who discovered Oasis, and has worked with other bit UK bands such as The Libertines, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Primal Scream, and My Bloody Valentine, declared this Song one of the greatest social statements anyone had made in the past 25 years (said in 1994).

In the second case of plagiarism accusations, “Cigarettes and Alcohol” was pointed out to share the main riff of the Song “Get It On” by T-Rex, as well as “Little Queenie” by Chuck Berry. Its also been said that the Song shares a similarity with the opening to “C’mon Everybody” by Humble Pie.

Let’s have a listen, shall we?

“Get It On” by T-Rex

“Little Queenie” by Chuck Berry

“C’mon Everybody” by Humble Pie

I definitely can hear the similarity between the start of “Cigarettes and Alcohol” and the start of “C’mon Everybody”. Despite the possible copying, this is one of my favorite Oasis Tracks. It is easily in my Top 5.

What do you think?

“Cigarettes and Alcohol” (live in Manchester)

Art by Black Box Canvas

“Parklife” by Blur is the first Britpop Tuesday of 2018’s Spotlight choice. We start off the New Year with what is considered one of Britpop’s defining Songs. Live Forever: The Rise and Fall of Brit Pop (2003) features the Song as one of the highlights of the scene. Blur is

The Song is the title Track from Blur’s 1994 album Parklife. It was released as the Album’s third Single and reached #10 on the UK Singles Chart.

“Parklife” by Blur
from the album, Parklife (1994)

Damon Albarn Sings the Chorus, while Phil Daniels, best known as playing Jimmy Cooper in The Who’s Quintessential “Mod” Film, Quadrophenia. Daniels also appears in the Video for “Parklife”.

Damon originally attempted the spoken verses, but couldn’t get into character. Guitarist Graham Coxon suggested Daniels as Blur were big fans of Quadrophenia. Coxon told The Guardian in 2012:

“At the line ‘There was a piece of my heart,’ Phil said, “Should I drop the ‘h’? If I pronounce it, it’ll sound more adorable.” We didn’t want to use a forced mockney accent, so he pronounced the ‘h.'”

The Song won “Best British Single” and Best Video at the 1995 BRIT Awards. Blur also performed “Parklife” at the 2012 BRIT Awards (Source: Wikipedia).

It was during the Awards circuit that the ongoing feud between Blur and Oasis utilized this Song into the battle. At the 1996 BRIT Awards, the Gallagher brothers mocked Blur by singing “Parklife” in full drunken slur fashion, Liam changing the Lyrics to “Shitelife” and Noel shouting “Marmite” at the crowd. This was while Oasis was on-stage collecting their “Best British Album” award, which both themselves, and Blur, had been nominated for.

Q magazine, in August 2005, interviewed Albarn who explained:

“London Fields (a novel by English writer Martin Amis) inspired Parklife. That book changed my outlook on life.” Bassist Alex James said, “The first time Damon played Parklife to me I was certain that it would be big. It was one of the most complete things I’d ever heard.”

Graham Coxon told The Guardian in 2012 that the Song was:

“about the park class: dustbin men, pigeons, joggers – things we saw every day on the way to the studio [Maison Rouge in Fulham]. It epitomises what Blur were about – having fun and doing exactly what you want to do.”

“Parklife” (Live, Jools Holland, 1994) by Blur

Happy New Year of Britpop Tuesdays and thanks for indulging with us on Blur’s Big Britpop Hit, “Parklife”. Be sure to tune in next Tuesday to see and hear what Britpop goodies will be playing here at Lyriquediscorde.

Feel free to leave feedback and/or requests for future Britpop features in the comments below.

“She Said” by Longpigs
Britpop Tuesday

Longpigs are this week’s pick for the Best of Britpop Music Tuesday Spotlight. “She Said” is this week’s song choice, the band’s biggest Britpop hit. The song is track 2 on their debut album, The Sun Is Often Out, which was released in 1996 on Mother Records. “She Said” was the 1st single released.

5 songs were released from Longpigs before their debut album came out. “She Said” was one of the first 2 released. It did not crack the UK Top 40 at first. Instead, it stuck at # 67, and never got any higher. That is until another album track, “On and On” hit # 16 on the UK charts and broke the band. During this success, and just after the album release, “She Said” was re-released, and this time it hit. It made it to # 16, as well, on the UK Top 40.

Most recently, the song was chosen by NME readers as # 50 on the “50 Greatest Britpop Songs” list. Lyriquediscorde voted Longpigs # 9 on the Top 10 Britpop Band of the 90’s.

“She Said” by Longpigs

“But I’m not afraid,
of being more than pretty,
while your getting paid, 
to wind yourselves up,
until you drop.”

The Longpigs rose to fame on the fringe of 90’s Britpop. The band included Crispin Hunt on vocals, Richard Hawley on guitar, Simon Stafford on bass, and Dee Boyle on drums (previously of Cabaret Voltaire). The band is from Sheffield, and their biggest hit was “She Said”, followed closely by the Britpop ballad “On and On”.

Elektra Records was the band’s first label, but on the cusp of their first single release, two major crises occurred. First, lead singer Crispin Hunt was in a serious car accident. He ended up in a 3-day coma following the accident. Then, shortly after, the UK arm of Elektra Records shut down leaving the Longpigs’ career in doubt. They were released from their recording contract for £500,000.

U2’s new record label at the time, Mother Records, stepped in an bought the Longpigs’ recording contract. Touring began and as the Longpigs found themselves opening for Echobelly, Supergrass, and Radiohead in early 1995.

“She Said” by Longpigs
Live on Top of the Pops, 1996

Thank you for joining us for another Best of Britpop Music Tuesday, this Week Featuring the Longpigs, and their Hit Song, “She Said”, a Definitive Best of Britpop Song from The Longpigs, from 1996.

What did you think of the Song?

What did you think of the 2 featured cover versions/

I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

BE SURE TO TUNE IN NEXT TUESDAY TO SEE AND HEAR WHAT BRITPOP GOODNESS WILL BE PLAYING RIGHT HERE AT LYRIQUEDISCORDE. UNTIL THEN, TURN UP THAT MUSIC AND ENJOY!

“If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next” by Manic Street Preachers for Britpop Tuesday

Manic Street Preachers are this week’s band in the Best of Britpop Music Tuesday Spotlight. “If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next” is this week’s song choice, the band’s biggest Britpop hit. The song was released in August of 1998 through Epic Records. It was the 1st single form their 5th studio album, This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours.

The song sold 156,000 copies in its 1st week of sales and reached # 1 on the UK Singles Chart the same month of release.

Are you ready to take a listen and explore some of the history of Manic Street Preachers, and their Britpop hit, “If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next”? Let’s have a look…and listen.

“If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next” by Manic Street Preachers

“Bullets for your brain today,
but we’ll forget it all again.
Monuments put from pen to paper,
turns me into a gutless wonder.

And, if you tolerate this,
your children will be next.”

The song’s theme is taken from the Spanish Civil War, and the idealism of Welsh volunteers who joined the left-wing International Brigades fighting for the Spanish Republic against Francisco Franco’s military rebels.

The song takes its name from a Republican poster of the time, displaying a photograph of a young child killed by the Nationalists under a sky of bombers with the stark warning “If you tolerate this, your children will be next” written at the bottom.

Various works on the Spanish Civil War were the inspiration for this song, and certain lyrics pertain directly to these works.

For example, the line “If I can shoot rabbits/then I can shoot fascists” is attributed to a remark made by a man who signed up with the Republican fighters to his brother in an interview years later. This was originally quoted in the book Miners Against Fascism by Hywel Francis.

Another work George Orwell’s first-hand account, “Homage to Catalonia“. “I’ve walked Las Ramblas/but not with real intent” brings to mind the account in Orwell’s book of fighting on the Ramblas, with the various factions seemingly getting nowhere, with the fighting and often a sense of camaraderie overriding the vaunted principles each side was supposed to be fighting for.

Nicky Wire has also acknowledged that he was also inspired by a song by The Clash, “Spanish Bombs”, which has a similar subject.

“Spanish Bombs” by The Clash

The single was released in August of 1998 and it secured the # 1 spot in the UK Singles Chart despite competition from “One for Sorrow” by Steps, which was released the same day and even topped the midweek chart.

It has sold more than 400,000 copies in the UK and has been certified Gold. It also became the group’s biggest success on the Irish Singles Chart reaching # 3 and is the only Manic Street Preachers track to be released as a single in the United States.

The single was also a success in Sweden where it reached # 21 and stayed in the chart for a total of 10 weeks. In Germany it reached # 79 and in Netherlands # 62; in both countries it remained on the chart for 9 weeks. In Norway the song only charted for 2 weeks, despite reaching # 19.

The recording was issued as two CD singles: the first included versions of “Prologue to History” and “Montana/Autumn/78”, and the second featured a remix by Massive Attack and a mix by David Holmes.

In March 2009, it was discovered that the song was used on the website of the British National Party as the soundtrack of an article describing “the violence, hatred, fragmentation and despair” wrought on London by the “great multicultural experiment”.

The choice of this song was considered ironic by many, considering the song contains lyrics such as “So if I can shoot rabbits/Then I can shoot fascists”. Record company Sony successfully had the song removed from the site on the grounds of unauthorised use.

The BNP later released a press statement claiming that “the song had mistakenly been automatically streamed on to its site and had nothing to do with the official party”, and that “you can interpret the lyrics any way you want”.

“If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next” was nominated in the category of Best British Single at the 1999 BRIT Awards. However, the award was won by Robbie Williams for “Angels”.

The song was covered by David Usher on his 2003 album Hallucinations.

“If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next” by David Usher

DJ Eric Chase also recorded a cover of the song in December 2009.

“If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next” by DJ Eric Chase

And, Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke occasionally sang portions of the song during live performances of “Everything in Its Right Place” during Radiohead’s 2001 tour.\

Thank you for joining us for another Best of Britpop Music Tuesday, this Week Featuring the Manic Street Preachers, and their Hit Song, “If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next”, a Definitive Best of Britpop Song from Manic Street Preachers, in 1998.

What did you think of the Song?

What did you think of the 2 featured cover versions/

I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

BE SURE TO TUNE IN NEXT TUESDAY TO SEE AND HEAR WHAT BRITPOP GOODNESS WILL BE PLAYING RIGHT HERE AT LYRIQUEDISCORDE. UNTIL THEN, TURN UP THAT MUSIC AND ENJOY!

“Stutter” by Elastica for Best of Britpop Tuesday

Elastica is this Week’s Band in the Best Britpop Music Tuesday Spotlight. We are featuring their Hit Song “Stutter”, which we briefly mentioned in the Blur Spotlight. The Song was written by Justine Frishmann, Elastica’s Lead Singer. It was originally Released as a Single in 1993 and then included on the band’s 1995 Self-Titled Debut Album.

So, let’s take a seat, shall we? We’ll adjust our Speakers together, or throw on a pair of Headphones and Turn the Volume way Up. We can have a Listen together, learning a bit as we go about one of the Best Britpop Bands, and Songs, with this week’s, Featured Artist, Elastica, and their Top Hit Single, “Stutter”.

“STUTTER” BY ELASTICA

“Is there something you lack, 
when I’m flat on my back?
Is there something that I can do for you? 
It’s always something you ate, 
or it’s something you hate.
Tell me is it the way that I touch you? 
Have you found a new mate, 
and is she really great?
Is it just that I’m much too much for you?”

“Stutter”, from the Self-Titled Debut Album by Elastica,  is a little over two minutes long and contains just two verses and two choruses because of Lead Singer, and Songwriter, Justine Frischmann thinking that any more would be unnecessary.

The lyrics are basically about “the occasional problem of drunken male impotence” (quote from John Harris’ book The Last Party) and are also said to be directly about Justine’s then on-again/off-again boyfriend, Damon Albarn, the Lead Singer of Blur.

“Stutter” was Elastica’s Debut Single and was first released in November 1993 for the independent Deceptive label. It sold out within one day!

The Single was re-released the following year, and according to SoundScan, it had sold over 6,000 copies by May 1995. The song was not worked into radio until later in 1995, after which it charted in the US and Canada.

“Stutter” was included as the 14th track on Elastica’s 1995 Self-Titled Debut Album, and it was also included in the 2002 20th Century Masters collection, Best of Brit Pop.

“Stutter” received positive reviews from Music Critics. Spin wrote that “[The Single] Stutter delivers four brilliant pop songs.” According to Douglas Walk of CMJ New Music Monthly, “Elastica’s best moments are all on its own, especially the astonishing single ‘Stutter'”.

The Single peaked at # 80 in the UK in November 1993. In the US, “Stutter” stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 9 weeks, peaking at # 67 on August 26, 1995. It also went to # 10 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart on August 12. In Canada, the song peaked at #4 on the Alternative chart on August 14.

The Song’s Music Video (see above), which was directed by David Mould, aired regularly on MTV in 1995 It features shots of the band members walking down crowded streets and performing at concerts.

Here is a Live Version of “Stutter”:

“Stutter” by Elastica
Live in 1995

Justine was part of the Band Suede before breaking off and starting Elastica. She was fed-up when she left her stint with Suede and felt like she was “the token girl Playing Guitar in the back”. Brett Anderson of Suede was her then boyfriend at the time, and the frustration grew to uncomfortableness and agitation when Justine started dating his arch-rival Damon Albarn, of Blur.

In 1992 Justine formed Elastica with Drummer Justin Welch, a fellow early Suede dropout, Bassist Annie Holland, and Guitarist Donna Matthews.

The popularity of early Singles “Line Up”, “Connection”, and of course “Stutter” got the attention of many in the Music Business, including Steve Lamacq, who began championing Justine and the Band on his BBC Radio 1 Show, and later signed them to his Label, Deceptive Records.

Thank you for joining us for another Best of Britpop Music Tuesday, this Week Featuring Elastica, and their Hit Song, “Stutter”, a Definitive Best of Britpop Song from Elastica, in 1995.

What did you think of the Song?

We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

BE SURE TO TUNE IN NEXT TUESDAY TO SEE AND HEAR WHAT BRITPOP GOODNESS WILL BE PLAYING RIGHT HERE AT LYRIQUEDISCORDE. UNTIL THEN, TURN UP THAT MUSIC AND ENJOY!

“Girl From Mars” :: Ash :: Best Britpop Music Tuesday

Ash is this Week’s Best Britpop Music Tuesday’s Band in the Best Britpop Spotlight, Featuring their Hit Song, “Girl From Mars”. The Song was Ash’s First Top 40 Single, reaching # 11 on the UK Singles Chart, and # 16 on the Irish Singles Chart. It was the Song that would bring Ash to mainstream prominence. “Girl From Mars” is mid-90’s Britpop Goodness, as it was Released in July of 1995.

So, let’s take a seat, shall we? We’ll adjust our Speakers together, or throw on a pair of Headphones, and Turn that Volume way Up. We can have a listen together, learning a bit as we go about one of the Best Britpop Bands, and Songs, with this Week’s Featured Artist, Ash, and their Top Hit Single, “Girl From Mars”.

“Girl From Mars” :: Ash

“And as I look to the stars,
I remember the time ,
I knew a Girl From Mars.
I don’t know if you knew that. 

Oh, we’d stay up late playing cards ,
Henri Winterman Cigars.
Though she never told me her name ,
I still love you Girl From Mars.”

“Girl From Mars”, by the Band Ash, was written by Lead Singer/Guitarist/Keyboardist Tim Wheeler when he was sixteen. The Song was Played by the Band on their First Top of the Pops appearance just two weeks after the Band had finished their A-level exams.

The Song was included of Ash’s First Official Album, 1977, released in May of 1996. “Girl From Mars”, as a Single, came out prior than the Album’s Release, coming out at the end of July, in 1995, as a CD Single, Cassette Single, and a 7″ Vinyl.

Though the Song, and the Album 1977, are considered part of the Britpop Genre, the band was definitely influenced by Punk Rock. The Album, and Song, became popular in the UK and Ireland, and to a lesser degree in places where Britpop was a lesser cult phenomenon.

“Girl From Mars” can also be found on Ash’s Greatest Hits Collection, Intergalactic Sonic 7’s and The Best of Ash.  The Song also appeared on the Television Series Gilmore Girls, as well as on the Series Soundtrack, Gilmore Girls Our Little Corner of the World.

Live Versions can be found on Ash’s Live at the Wireless Album, Tokyo Blitz DVD, and the Numbskull EP.

The track has been used by NASA as the hold music on their telephone lines.

“Girl From Mars” (Live, 1995) :: Ash

“Girl From Mars” (Live, Acoustic) :: Ash

Thank you for joining us for another Best of Britpop Music Tuesday, this Week Featuring Ash, and their Hit Song, “Girl From Mars”, a Definitive Best of Britpop Song from Ash, in 1995.

What did you think of the Song?

We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

Be sure to Tune in Next Tuesday to See and Hear what Britpop Goodness will be playing right here at lyriquediscorde. Until then, Turn Up That Music and Enjoy!