Britpop at the BBC

In the spring of 1992,

Blur had embarked on their second tour of America.

We'd been there the previous autumn, and had been really well received.

But this time it was very different.

In short, Nirvana. Nirvana. Everywhere, Nirvana.

America had found a voice

and a face capable of expressing its anxiety and self-loathing.

An angelic face amongst the shopping malls.

If America felt like this, then the whole world had to feel

the same way.

In short, if you were in a band that was not Nirvana,

or a diet Nirvana, you were nothing.

Well, I think all that's changed now.

British bands are no longer embarrassed to sing about where

they come from. They've found their voice.

# She can

# Start

# To walk out

# When she wants

# Because we're young

# Because we're gone

# We'll take the tide's electric mind

# Oh, yeah? Oh, yeah

# We're so young and so gone

# Let's chase the dragon, oh

# Because we're young

# Because we're gone

# We'll scare the skies with tigers' eyes

# Oh, yeah? Oh, yeah

# We're so young and so gone

# Let's chase the dragon, oh

# Let's chase the dragon, oh

# Let's chase the dragon

# From our home

# High in the city

# Where the skyline

# Stained the snow

# I fell for a servant

# Who kept me on the boil

# Oh

# We're so young and so gone

# Let's chase the dragon, oh

# From our ho-o-ome

# From our ho-o-ome

# From our ho-o-ome

# From our ho-o-ome... #

Here is a brilliant indie band. Elastica, with Line Up.

# Drivel Head wears her glad rags

# She's got her keys, money and fags

# I know that her mind is made up

# To get rocked

# Drivel Head needs a new man

# As only a drivel head can

# He's a hormonal nightmare

# So beware

# Another victim of line up in line

# Line up in line is all I remember

# Oh, how your favours change

# You could have been kinder

# Yes, yes, line up in line

# Line up in line is all I remember

# Oh, how your favours change

# You could have been mine, oh

# Drivel Head knows all the stars

# Loves to suck their shining guitars

# They've all been right up her stairs

# Do you care?

No!

# Drivel Head loves all the bands

# Knows them like the back of her hands

# You can't see the wood for the trees

# On your knees

# Another victim of line up in line

# Line up in line is all I remember

# Oh, how your favours change

# You could have been kinder

# Yes, yes, line up in line

# Line up in line is all I remember

# Oh, how their favours change

# You could have been mine, oh. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

BOTH: Pulp!

The new so-called Brit Pack, or whatever they call it this week...

-Brit Pop.

-Explosion. BOOM!

I do think that British music is better than

it has been for a long time.

Those bands like Oasis and Blur are big bands,

selling out stadiums and stuff like that.

I'd rather have them selling out stadiums than like, my faves,

Wet Wet Wet.

# Well it happened years ago

# When you lived on Stanhope Road

# We listened to your sister

# When she came home from school

# Cos she was two years older

# And she had boys in her room

# I listened outside and heard her

# All right

# Well that was all right for a while

# But soon I wanted more

# I want to see as well as hear

# And so I hid inside her wardrobe

# And she came home round four

# And she was with some kid called David

# From the garage up the road

# I listened outside, I heard her

# All right

# Oh, I want to take you home

# I want to give you children

# You might be my girlfriend

# Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah

# When I saw you next day

# I really couldn't tell

# Cos you might go and tell your mother

# And so you went with Neve

# And Neve was coming on

# And I thought I heard you laughing

# When his mum and dad were gone

# I listened outside, I heard you

# All right

# Oh, I want to take you home

# I want to give you children

# You might be my girlfriend

# Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah

# I came home one day

# And all her things were gone

# I fell asleep inside

# I never heard her come

# And then she opened up her wardrobe

# And I had to get it on

# Oh, listen

# We were on the bed when you came home

# I heard you stop outside the door

# I know you won't believe it's true

# I only went with her cos she looks like you

# My God!

# Oh, I want to take you home

# I want to give you children

# You might be my girlfriend

# Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah

# Oh

# Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah

# Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah

# Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah

# Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah. #

You're being hyped as the best band around at the moment.

-Is all the hype true?

-Yeah.

-It is?

-Uh-huh. We're the best band about today. On the planet.

It's a fact.

# Maybe I don't really want to know

# How your garden grows

# Cos I just want to fly

# Lately, did you ever feel the pain

# In the morning rain

# As it soaks you to the bone?

# Maybe I just want to fly

# I want to live, I don't want to die

# Maybe I just want to breathe

# Maybe I just don't believe

# Maybe you're the same as me

# We see things they'll never see

# You and I are gonna live forever

# I said maybe I don't really want to know

# How your garden grows

# Cos I just want to fly

# Lately, did you ever feel the pain

# In the morning rain

# As it soaks you to the bone?

# Maybe I will never be

# All the things that I want to be

# But now is not the time to cry

# Now's the time to find out why

# I think you're the same as me

# We see things they'll never see

# You and I are gonna live forever

# Maybe I don't really want to know

# How your garden grows

# Cos I just want to fly

# Lately, did you ever feel the pain

# In the morning rain

# As it soaks you to the bone?

# Maybe I just want to fly

# I want to live, I don't want to die

# Maybe I just want to breathe

# Maybe I just don't believe

# Maybe you're the same as me

# We see things they'll never see

# You and I are gonna live forever

# Gonna live forever. #

British music has started to re-establish itself.

It's as simple as that. It's not us on our own.

I think maybe we were the first people to start

shouting about it, but I think bands like Oasis who,

as far as I'm concerned, it should have been a joint thing - best band.

# Street's like a jungle

# So call the police

# Following the herd

# Down to Greece

# On holiday

# Love in the '90s

# Is paranoid

# On sunny beaches

# Take your chances looking for

# Girls who are boys Who like boys to be girls

# Who do boys like they're girls Who do girls like they're boys

# Always should be someone you really love

# Avoiding all work

# Cos there's none available

# I'm a battery thinker

# Count my thoughts

# On one, two, three, four, five fingers

# Nothing is wasted

# We only reproduce

# You'll get nasty blisters

# Du bist sehr schon

# But we haven't been introduced

# Girls who are boys Who like boys to be girls

# Who do boys like they're girls Who do girls like they're boys

# Always should be someone you really love

# Girls who are boys Who like boys to be girls

# Who do boys like they're girls Who do girls like they're boys

# Always should be someone you really love

# Oh, oh, oh, oh-oh-oh

# Oh, oh, oh, oh-oh

# I'm looking for

# Girls who are boys Who like boys to be girls

# Who do boys like they're girls Who do girls like they're boys

# Always should be someone you really love

Bass guitar.

# Girls who are boys Who like boys to be girls

# Who do boys like they're girls Who do girls like they're boys

# Always should be someone you really love

# Girls who are boys Who like boys to be girls

# Who do boys like they're girls Who do girls like they're boys

# Always should be someone you really love

# Girls who are boys Who like boys to be girls

# Who do boys like they're girls Who do girls like they're boys

# Always should be someone you really love

And all the girls go...

# Oh, oh, oh, oh-oh-oh

# Oh, oh, oh, oh-oh. #

# Oh, oh, oh, oh-oh-oh

# Oh, oh, oh, oh-oh... #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

'Louise Wener. All-action Louise.

'Fronts a jazz-fusion, electro punk-rock group.

'She sings not of tenderness and love,

'but of vile sexual perversions and tawdry liaisons in darkened hovels.

'Not of beauty and sensitivity, but of vulgarity, pestilence

'and sordid copulation on bean bags.

'Having said that, she does bake exceedingly good cakes.'

# She's shopping for kicks, got the weekend to get through

# Keeping the rain off her Saturday hairdo

# She stops for a coffee, she smiles at the waiter

# He winks at his friends and they laugh at her later

# He's cleaning his car on his pebble-dash driveway

# New chamois leather he got for his birthday

# He reads Harold Robbins, he flirts with his neighbour

# Ignores her at breakfast, he's reading the paper

# He dreams of a roller, she dreams of a fast getaway

# He's not a prince

# He's not a king

# She's not a work of art or anything

# It makes no sense, another year

# What kind of A to Z would get you here?

# He's nothing special

# She's not too smart

# He studies fashion

# She studies art

# I think I told you right from the start

# You were just my in between

# Just my in between

# You're such an in-betweener

# She went to the Dream Boys, got tickets from Keith Prowse

# She cancelled his lifelong subscription to Penthouse

# She goes round the corner, she sees Harry Conway

# She says to herself that she'll leave him on Monday

# He dreams of a roller, she dreams of a fast getaway

# He's not a prince

# He's not a king

# She's not a work of art or anything

# It makes no sense, another year

# What kind of A to Z would get you here?

# He's nothing special

# She's not too smart

# He studies fashion

# She studies art

# I think I told you right from the start

# You were just my in between

# Just my in between

He's not a prince

# He's not a king

# She's not a work of art or anything

# It makes no sense, another year

# What kind of A to Z would get you here?

# He's nothing special

# She's not too smart

# He doesn't listen

# She doesn't laugh

# I think I told you right from the start

# Now it's much too late to ask me where I've been

# You were just my... #

-# Summer's gone

-Summer's gone

-# Days spent with the grass and sun

-Grass and sun

-# I don't mind

-I don't mind

# To pretend I do seems really dumb

# It seems really dumb

# I rise as the morning comes

# Crawling through the blinds

# I shouldn't be up at this time

# But I can't sleep with you there by my side

-# Wake up, it's a beautiful morning

-Wake up

# Feel the sun shining for your eyes

-# Wake up, it's so beautiful

-Wake up, Boo

# For what could be the very last time

-# 25

-25

-# Don't recall a time I felt this alive

-This alive

-# So wake up, Boo

-Wake up

# There's so many thing's for us to do

# Things that we could do

# It's early so take your time

# Don't let me rush you, please

# I know I was up all night

# I can do anything, anything, anything

-# Wake up, it's a beautiful morning

-Wake up

# Feel the sun shining for your eyes

-# Wake up, it's so beautiful

-Wake up, Boo

# For what could be the very last time

# Wake up

# Wake up

# Wake up

# Wake up

# Wake up

# Wake up

# Wake up

# Wake up

# But you can't blame me now for the death of summer

# But you can't blame me now for the death of summer

# But you're gonna say what you wanna say

-# You have to put the death in everything

-Thing

-# Wake up

-Wake up, it's a beautiful morning

# Feel the sun shining for your eyes

-# Wake up

-Wake up, it's so beautiful

# For what could be the very last time

-# Wake up

-Wake up, it's a beautiful morning

# Feel the sun shining for your eyes

-# Wake up

-Wake up, it's so beautiful

# For what could be the very last time

# Ah-ah-ah. #

# Caught by the fuzz

# Well I was still on a buzz

# In the back of the van

# With my head in my hands

# Just like a bad dream

# I was only 15

# If only my brother could be here now

# He'd get me out, he'd sort me out all right

# I knew I should have stayed at home tonight

# Locked in the cell, feeling unwell

# I talked to a man

# He said it's better to tell

# Who sold you the blow?

# Well it was no-one I know

# If only you'd tell us, we'd let you go

# We'll make it up for you, my son, so tell us what you know

# We'll make you wish you'd stayed at home tonight

# Ooh-ah-ooh

# Ah-ooh

# Ooh-ah-ooh

# Ah-ooh

# Here comes my mum, well she

# Well, she, she knows what I've done

# Just tell them the truth

# You know where he's from

# You've blackened our name

# Well you, you should be ashamed

# If only your father could see you now

# He'd break down and he'd throw you out for sure

# I never should have let you out tonight... #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# Easing through a city

# But we're breathing dirty ashtrays

# Sucking at her boots

# Chewing lace or hairspray

# Eating disco biscuits

# Not for me

# Life is depressing

# Changing hands like diamonds

# Underneath Formica table

# One down

# Melt you to the ground

# Can you feel your head pound

# Pumping to the sound

# Sending my regards

# Bloody-eyed massage

# Don't stray too far

# Don't stray too far

# Aphrodisiac, shrink-wrapped, pre-packed

# It's the racks on your back till you feel like a jack

# Aphrodisiac, four wraps, smoke stack

# Means you're so far gone that you can't crawl back

# Everybody in the house get back

# Quit hanging round like a miracle's coming

# Slippery black eyes

# Neon eyes, electric sign

# Scratch your smile like a flick-knife

# Got me feeling ultra foxy

# Dealing toxic pheromone

# Missed you, so lonely

# You'll be reaching up to put your shoes on

# One down, melted to the ground

# Can you feel your head bang, pumping to the sound

# Sending my regards

# Bloody eyed massage

# Don't stray too far

# Don't stray too far

# Aphrodisiac, shrink wrapped, pre-packed

# It's the racks on your back till you feel like a jack

# Aphrodisiac, fall out, smoke stack

# Means you're so far gone that you can't crawl back

# Everybody in the house get back

# So

# One down, melted to the ground

# Can you feel your head bang, pumping to the sound

# Sending my regards

# Bloody-eyed massage

# Don't stray too far

# Don't stray too far

# There's no holds barred

# Aphrodisiac, shrink-wrapped, pre-packed

# It's the racks on your back till you feel like a jack

# Aphrodisiac, four wraps, smoke stack

# Means you're so far gone you can't crawl back

# Aphrodisiac, shrink-wrapped, pre-packed

# It's the racks on your back till you feel like a jack

# Aphrodisiac, four wraps, smoke stack

# Means you're so far gone you can't crawl back

# Everybody in the house keep back. #

Two of Britain's most popular pop groups

have begun the biggest chart war in 30 years.

It's been described as the British heavyweight pop music championship.

In one corner, four young middle-class men

from the south of England,

collectively known as Blur, and in the other corner,

five young working-class men from Manchester called Oasis.

HORN HONKS

Hello. We're Blur, we're number one

and we're going to be camping it up later on Top Of The Pops.

CHEERING DROWNS SPEECH

But tonight, there's no denying Blur are top of the pops!

And so the story begins.

# City dweller, successful fella

# He thought to himself "Oops, I've got a lot of money"

# Caught in a rat race terminally

# I'm a professional cynic but my heart's not in it

# I'm paying the price of living life at the limit

# Caught in the century's anxiety

# It preys on him

# He's getting thin

# He lives in a house, a very big house in the country

# Watching afternoon repeats and the food he eats in the country

# He takes all manner of pills

# And piles up analyst bills in the country

# It's like an animal farm, lots of rural charm in the country

# Now he got morning glory, life's a different story

# Everything's going Jackanory

# Touched with his own mortality

# He's reading Balzac and knocking back the Prozac

# A helping hand that makes you feel wonderfully bland

# Oh, it's the century's remedy

# For the faint at heart

# A new start

# He lives in a house, a very big house in the country

# He's got a fog in his chest

# So he needs a lot of rest in the country

# He doesn't drink, smoke, laugh,

# Takes herbal baths in the country

# But you'll come to no harm on an animal farm in the country

# In the country

# In the country

# In the country-y-y

# Blow, blow me out

# I am so sad

# I don't know why

# Blow, blow me out

# I am so sad, I don't know why

# But I'm happy

# He lives in a house, a very big house in the country

# Watching afternoon repeats and the food he eats in the country

# He takes all manner of pills and piles up analyst bills in the country

# Oh, it's like an animal farm, lots of rural charm in the country

# Oh, he lives in a house, a very big house in the country

# He's got a fog in his chest

# So he needs a lot of rest in the country

# He doesn't drink, smoke, laugh, takes herbal baths in the country

# Yes, you'll come to no harm on the animal farm in the country

# La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

# La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

# La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

# La-la-la-la... #

OK, prepare yourselves

for a sartorial Top Of The Pops experience now.

Having a particularly good flare day, those groovy little muckers Menswear.

# Bobby boy's full of bravado

# His girlfriend looks like Brigitte Bardot

# He got drunk and crashed his car

# He is such a superstar

# He's a supercharged lover

# Sold his soul and sold his mother

# For his rock 'n' roll and fame

# Again and again and again and again and again

# Bobby boy wears leather trousers

# They look so sexy they arouse us

# Travelled near and travelled far

# He is such a superstar

# He's a superhuman lover

# Loves himself and loves no other

# Just rock 'n' roll and fame

# Again and again and again and again and again

# Woo!

# He's a superficial...

# Has girls one after the other

# For rock 'n' roll and fame

# Again and again and again and again

# He's a supercharged lover

# Sold his soul and sold his mother

# For rock 'n' roll and fame

# Again and again and again and again

# He's a superhuman lover

# Loves himself and loves no other

# Just rock 'n' roll and fame

# Again and again and again and again and again

OK, from the chaos of Camden...

Don't worry, he is insured.

You know what it's like.

Being on holiday doesn't necessarily guarantee good weather,

so you can come down to the Winter Gardens here at the People's Palace.

In fact, a couple of members of Echobelly have come

for a bit of a chat and some tasty fruit cocktails.

# I wanna do great things

# I don't wanna compromise

# I wanna know what life is

# I wanna know everything

# I wanna do great things

# I don't wanna compromise

# I wanna know what love is

# Is it something I do to myself?

# All is fair in love and war

# Or so they say and so the saying goes

# But I've seen more broken hearts

# Than you can count the bullets in a war

# Oh, what do I know?

# There's gotta be so much I don't know

# I wanna do great things

# I don't wanna compromise

# I wanna know what life is

# I wanna know everything

# I wanna do great things

# I don't wanna compromise

# I wanna know what love is

# Is it something I do to myself?

# Do to myself?

# What is life apart from memories

# Or dreams and friendships we have known?

# And the smells and childhood tales

# Contemplating clothes that you have worn

# Oh, what do I know?

# There's gotta be so much I don't know

# I wanna do great things

# I don't wanna compromise

# I wanna know what love is

# Is it something I do to myself?

# Something I do to myself?

# Never wanted many things

# Except the chance to learn from my mistakes

# Funny how you never learn

# But know them when they come around again

# Oh, what do I know?

# There's gotta be so much I don't know

# I wanna do great things

# Don't wanna compromise

# I wanna know what life is

# I wanna know everything

# I wanna do great things

# I don't wanna compromise

# I wanna know what love is

# Is it something I do to myself?

# Something I do to myself?

# Something you do to yourself? #

-Oh, this is another treat.

-Hello, there. What can I get for you?

We're here to do a signing.

No way. We're waiting for a Mr Cocker. You're not him, are you?

Yeah, that's me.

-Mr J Cocker?

-Yeah.

Mr J Cocker who sings -

# Love lifts us up where we belong... #

No...

Who the blinking heck are you, then?

We're Pulp. You know, we've done a record that's been in the charts etc.

# We were born within an hour of each other

# Our mothers said we could be sister and brother

# Your name is Deborah, Deborah

# It never suited you

# They thought that when we grew up

# We'd get married and never split up

# Oh, we never did it

# Although I often thought of it

# Oh, Deborah, do you recall?

# Your house was very small

# With woodchip on the wall

# When I came round to call

# You didn't notice me at all

# And I said let's all meet up in the year 2000

# Won't it be strange when we're all fully grown?

# Be there 2 o'clock by the fountain down the road

# I never knew that you'd get married

# I would be living down here on my own

# On that damp and lonely Thursday years ago

# You were the first girl at school to get breasts

# And Martin said that you were the best

# Oh, the boys all loved you but I was a mess

# I had to watch them try and get you undressed

# We were friends, that was as far as it went

# I used to walk you home sometimes but it meant

# Oh, it meant nothing to you

# Cos you were so popular

# Oh, Deborah, do you recall?

# Your house was very small

# With woodchip on the wall

# When I came round to call

# You didn't notice me at all

# And I said let's all meet up in the year 2000

# Won't it be strange when we're all fully grown?

# Be there 2 o'clock by the fountain down the road

# I never knew that you'd get married

# I would be living down here on my own

# On that damp and lonely Thursday years ago

# Oh, yeah!

# Oh, yeah!

# Oh, Deborah, do you recall?

# Your house was very small

# With woodchip on the wall

# When I came round to call

# You didn't notice me at all

# And I said let's all meet up in the year 2000

# Won't it be strange when we're all fully grown?

# Be there 2 o'clock by the fountain down the road

# I never knew that you'd get married

# I would be living down here on my own

# On that damp and lonely Thursday years ago

# What are you doing Sunday, baby?

# Would you like to come and meet me maybe?

# You could even bring your baby

# Ooh-oh-oh-oh-oh

# What are you doing Sunday, baby?

# Would you like to come and meet me maybe?

# You could even bring your baby

# Ooh-oh-oh-oh-oh

# Ooh-oh-oh. #

The winner of the 1996 Mercury Music Prize is...

..Pulp's Different Class!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# With every wind

# I hear you sing

# You will be fine

# With every note

# Stuck in your throat

# This is your time

# But

# Everyone's just walking away from me

# Am I really that nasty?

# All the dust and the dirt affects my skin

# Everyone is just turning away from me

# Am I really that filthy?

# Oh, it's cold and dark so let me in

# Oh, yeah

# I'm in love with this land of plenty

# Full of folks that still are friendly

# I've lost my will but still I see some hope

# Give me a rope I'll take it gladly

# Find me a tree, make it sturdy

# Bye, Ma, it's my time to go

# Yes, this one's for the dead

# With every wind

# I hear you sing

# You will be fine

# With every note

# Oh, Lord, I hear you choke

# This is your time

# But

# Everyone's just walking away from me

# Am I really that nasty?

# All the dust and dirt affects my skin

# Everyone is just turning away from me

# Am I really that filthy?

# Oh, it's dark and cold so let me in

# Oh, yes, I'm in love with this land of plenty

# I'm at my best when I'm Elvis Presley

# I'm a world best then I see some...

# Now give me a rope, I'll take it gladly

# Find me a tree and make it snappy

# Bye, Ma, it's my time to go

# Yes, this one's for the dead

# Yes, this one's for the dead

# O-oh. #

The next group we've got on, well, people must love them

because their first record shot to number one in the charts.

I saw them at the weekend and they were excellent.

Please welcome The Bluetones.

# Where did you go?

# When things went wrong for you?

# When the knives came out for you?

# Where did you go?

# All you needed was a friend

# You just had to ask and then

# You don't have to have the solution

# You've got to understand the problem

# And don't go hoping for a miracle

# All this will fade away

# So I'm coming home

# I'm coming home

# What did you learn?

# Locked away all on your own

# Chance and your head all blown

# What did you learn?

# It was unfortunate

# You missed your chance to find out that

# You don't have to have the solution

# You've got to understand the problem

# And don't go hoping for a miracle

# All this will fade away

# So I'm coming home

# I'm coming home

# You don't have to have the solution

# You've got to understand the problem

# And don't go hoping for a miracle

# Yeah

# All this will fade away

# So I'm coming home

# I'm coming home

# Yeah

# I'm coming home

# Just for a short while. #

Oasis are undoubtedly the greatest rock 'n' roll band of the decade

and what better way for them to mark the summer

than a series of massive outdoor events?

I'm here at Knebworth Park to bask in the morning glory.

Just take pictures. Don't ask questions.

-Do you feel like you're making history?

-We are making history.

-Definitely, yeah.

-Definitely.

Good evening, Top Of The Pops.

Best band in the world, live and exclusive. It's not Blur.

# Slip inside the eye of your mind

# Don't you know you might find a better place to play?

# You said that you'd never been

# But all the things that you've seen

# Will slowly fade away

# So I start a revolution from my bed

# Cos you said the brains I had went to my head

# Step outside cos summertime's in bloom

# Stand up beside the fireplace

# Take that look from off your face

# You ain't ever gonna burn my heart out

# So Sally can wait

# She knows it's too late as we're walking on by

# Her soul slides away

# But don't look back in anger I heard you say

# Take me to the place where you go

# Where nobody knows if it's night or day

# Please don't put your life in the hands

# Of a rock 'n' roll band who'll throw it all away

# Gonna start a revolution from my bed

# Cos you said the brains I had went to my head

# Step outside cos summertime's in bloom

# Stand up beside the fireplace

# Take that look from off your face

# Cos you ain't ever gonna burn my heart out

# So Sally can wait

# She knows it's too late as she's walking on by

# My soul slides away

# But don't look back in anger I heard you say

# So Sally can wait

# She knows it's too late as we're walking on by

# The soul slides away

# But don't look back in anger I heard you say

# So Sally can wait

# She knows it's too late as she's walking on by

# My soul slides away

# But don't look back in anger

# Don't look back in anger

# I heard you say

# At least not today. #