Last updated on December 31, 2025, updated every month.
In the 1990s, Britpop signifies a resounding return to the quintessentially British pop sounds of the 60s and 70s, championing a renewed cultural identity in stark contrast to the prevailing American grunge influences.
The list below ranks 20 vintage BRITPOP songs in descending order of engagement over the last six months.
1 . The Stone Roses - Sally Cinnamon
A 1987 indie pop gem, “The Stone Roses – Sally Cinnamon” swirls jangly guitars with lyrics ripe with nostalgia.
This track evolves into a cult classic, complete with a colorful video that mirrors the song’s youthful zest.
Writer(s) : Ian Brown (Gb 1), John Squire Publisher(s) : Concord Copyrights London Limited
Genres : britpop
Genres : britpop, dance rock, madchester,britpop, dance rock, madchester
The music video is directed by Kevin McVey
27.22% / -0.44%
2 . Oasis - Some Might Say
Released on April 24, 1995, Oasis’s “Some Might Say” serves as the lead single from their second album, “What’s the Story Morning Glory?,” claiming the band’s first UK No. 1, reigning atop the UK Singles Chart for two weeks.
Penned by Noel Gallagher, the track features Tony McCarroll in his final drumming appearance before his departure, succeeded by Alan White.
The single’s B-sides, “Talk Tonight,” “Acquiesce,” and “Headshrinker,” later surface on 1998’s “The Masterplan.”
Its triumph coincides with Britpop’s global ascent, securing setlists at landmark gigs like 1996’s Knebworth, witnessed by over 250,000 fans.
The lo-fi video, drenched in rural grit and playful nonchalance, radiates the era’s charm.
The music video is directed by W.I.Z..
Writer(s) : Noel Thomas Gallagher Publisher(s) : Oasis Music (Gb 1)
Genres : britpop
Genres : Folk/Acoustic, Pop, Rock,beatlesque, britpop, madchester, permanent wave, rock
The music video is directed by Arni & Kinski
Featured on the album 1995,(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?
19.07% / -1.11%
3 . Saint Etienne - You're In A Bad Way
“You’re in a Bad Way” riffs on 1960s pop tropes with surgical precision, conjuring the breezy charm of Herman’s Hermits in under ten writing minutes.
Originally slotted for a B-side, it sidesteps that fate when the label hears commercial potential and steps in.
Bob Stanley, Pete Wiggs, and Sarah Cracknell craft lyrics sketching a man receding into apathy, TV reruns, and questionable vintage fashion choices.
The album cut opens with a sample from “Billy Liar” (1963), while the single version, produced by Alan Tarney, beams with a shinier, radio-friendly polish.
Two videos exist: one budget-split-screen affair and another channeling 1960s television pastiche with era-accurate flair.
Writer(s) : Sarah Jane Cracknell, Bob Stanley, Peter Stewart Wiggs Publisher(s) : Momentum Music Ltd (Gb), Warner Chappell Music Ltd
Genres : britpop
Genres : Pop,britpop
Featured on the album 1993,So Tough
17.61% / -0.35%
4 . Cast - Alright
Released in 1995 by the British band Cast, “Alright” exudes positivity and resilience in the face of life’s challenges. Led by former La’s bassist John Power, the track is marked by its upbeat tone and encouraging lyrics, offering a message of optimism.
Writer(s) : John Timothy Power Publisher(s) : Spirit B Unique Music
Genres : Pop,britpop
Genres : Pop,britpop
Featured on the album 1995,All Change
12.64% / -0.86%
5 . Black Box Recorder - Child Psychology
Splicing spoken word with a sung refrain, “Child Psychology” sidesteps sentimentality to narrate a series of childhood micro-traumas—mutism, school expulsion, and festive parental discord.
The chorus’s infamous line, “Life is unfair, kill yourself or get over it,” lands like a slap, leading to bans on UK radio and MTV, though Xfm spins it with daylight nonchalance.
In the U.S., post-Columbine, that line plays backwards, irony intact but audible.
Critics appreciate the song’s arch detachment, while it finds unlikely placement in “Monkey Dust” and “Gilmore Girls.”
Writer(s) : Jonathan Edward Hoadley Foster Moore, Luke Michael Haines Publisher(s) : Universal Music Publishing Bl Limited, 3Mv Music Publishing Limited
Genres : britpop
Genres : Pop,britpop
The music video is directed by Julien Temple
Featured on the album 1998,England Made Me
15.59% / -0.14%
6 . Oasis - Roll With It
Oasis’s “Roll With It,” penned by Noel Gallagher, hits its stride as a no-nonsense anthem from their second album, “What’s the Story Morning Glory?” Released August 14, 1995, it faces off with Blur’s “Country House” in the infamous “Battle of Britpop,” landing at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart. Recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales, its music video, directed by Nigel Dick, casts the band performing on Weston-super-Mare beach. Despite Liam Gallagher skipping the MTV Unplugged session in 1996, the track lives on in compilations like “Stop the Clocks.”
The music video is directed by Matthew Amos.
Writer(s) : Noel Thomas Gallagher Publisher(s) : Oasis Music
Genres : britpop
Genres : Folk/Acoustic, Pop, Rock,beatlesque, britpop, madchester, permanent wave, rock
The music video is directed by Michel Gondry
Featured on the album 1995,(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?
15.44% / -0.88%
7 . Cast - Walkaway
Becoming notable after being used by the BBC during Euro 96, “Walkaway” is the fourth single by Liverpool’s Britpop band Cast, led by former La’s bassist John Power. The song addresses the moment when all possibilities in a situation are exhausted, and staying would be self-damaging. Written by Power, it features a descending major scale melody reminiscent of classical and soul influences.
Writer(s) : John Timothy Power Publisher(s) : B Unique Music
Genres : Pop,britpop
Genres : Pop,britpop
Featured on the album 1995,All Change
13.95% / -0.82%
8 . James - Sit Down
First released in 1989 and re-recorded in 1991, “Sit Down” by James, produced by Gil Norton for the “Gold Mother” album, crashes into the UK Singles Chart at No. 2 and lingers in the Top 10 for weeks.
The original seven-minute arrangement morphs into a tighter, radio-friendly version, becoming an emblem of unity at festivals and concerts.
Featured on “Top of the Pops” and the “Best of James” compilation (1998), its keyboard riff and Tim Booth’s stirring lyrics remain iconic.
The music video is directed by Ed Barton.
Writer(s) : James Patrick Glennie, Gavan Michael Whelan, Lawrence Gott, Timothy Booth Publisher(s) : Kobalt Music Services Ltd, Irish Town Songs, Kobalt Music Services America Inc
Genres : britpop
Genres : Pop, Rock,britpop, madchester, permanent wave, pop rock
13.14% / 0.14%
9 . EMF - Unbelievable HD
Known for its catchy rhythm and vocal samples, “Unbelievable” by British band EMF captured the energetic vibe of the 90s alternative scene. Released in 1990, the song achieved international success, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1991.
The music video is directed by Josh Taft.
Writer(s) : Ian Dench, Zachary Foley, James Atkin, Mark Simon Decloedt, Derran Gene Brownson Publisher(s) : Warner Chappell Music Ltd
Genres : Pop, Rock,britpop, dance rock, grebo, indietronica, madchester
Genres : Pop, Rock,britpop, dance rock, grebo, indietronica, madchester
The music video is directed by Josh Taft
Featured on the album 1991,Schubert Dip
12.46% / -0.03%
10 . Lush - For Love
“For Love,” nestled within Lush’s debut album *Spooky*, feels like wandering into a hazy dreamscape curated by the shoegaze gods themselves, circa 1992.
Produced by Robin Guthrie of Cocteau Twins, the track is saturated with shimmering guitars and ghostly vocals that practically beg for a rain-drenched British skyline as their backdrop.
Miki Berenyi’s voice floats like an echo in the ether, delivering lines coated in unplaceable yearning against an instrumental that balances delicacy with dense layers of reverb.
This isn’t a song that rushes to any kind of resolution; it’s more about unfolding a mood, one lodged between melancholy and quiet defiance.
Charting at #28 on the UK Singles Chart, its moderate success is less a testament to its potential and more a reminder of how radio-friendly singles weren’t really Lush’s game at the time.
The accompanying music video, directed by Martin Bisi, is more an artifact of its moment than an essential viewing experience, but it’s there if you’re in the mood for some early-’90s visual clichés.
Fast forward to 2001, “For Love” earned its place on the *Ciao! Best of Lush* compilation, lending credibility to its role as a cornerstone of their catalog despite missing the awards circuit altogether.
In live settings, the track took on grittier dimensions, cutting through festival air—see the Reading Festival ’92 if you need proof this wasn’t just a studio darling.
By the time they hit their *Lovelife* era in ’96, you’d have thought the band had moved past this kind of gauzy, introspective haze, but it remains a snapshot of a period when Lush captured the essence of shoegaze’s tender, shimmering identity.
Genres : Rock, Pop,alternative rock, britpop, dream pop, shoegaze
Featured on the album 1992,Spooky
12.35% / -0.17%
11 . Utah Saints - What Can You Do For Me
Sampling Eurythmics’ “There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)” and Gwen Guthrie’s “Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ on But the Rent,” Utah Saints’ “What Can You Do For Me” introduces innovative sampling methods for its time. Emerging from the UK’s early ’90s rave scene, this track by Jez Willis and Tim Garbutt embodies the duo’s acid house and electronic rock roots, creating a genre-bending mix that paved the way for widespread sampling in electronic music. In 2012, a remix by Drumsound & Bassline Smith revived the track, resonating with newer audiences and illustrating its enduring influence.
Writer(s) : Gwendolyn Guthrie, Jez Willis, David Allan Stewart, Ann Lennox Publisher(s) : Notting Hill Music Ltd (Uk), Pri Music Inc
Genres : britpop
Genres : Electronic, Pop,big beat, britpop, hardcore techno, hip house
Featured on the album 1991,Utah Saints
11.88% / -0.26%
12 . Oasis - Stand By Me
Oasis slip “Stand by Me” onto their 1997 album Be Here Now, wedging Britpop into a rock ballad without blinking.
Noel Gallagher takes writing credit, doubles as co-producer with Owen Morris, and lets younger brother Liam handle the singing—family business as usual.
The track features layered guitars and lyrics that aim for introspection with a straight face.
Released as the second single, it scales the UK charts and hangs around as one of those songs people remember, whether they mean to or not.
The music video is directed by David Mould.
Writer(s) : Julian Casablancas Publisher(s) : Oasis Music (Gb 1), Oasis Music (Gb 3)
Genres : britpop
Genres : Folk/Acoustic, Pop, Rock,beatlesque, britpop, madchester, permanent wave, rock
11.73% / -0.35%
13 . Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine - Sheriff Fatman
“Sheriff Fatman” by Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine is a 1989 single known for its critique of exploitative landlords. With references to notorious figures like Nicholas van Hoogstraten and Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie, the song blends dance alternative and punk elements, capturing the band’s distinctive sound.
Writer(s) : Leslie George Carter, James Neil Morrison Publisher(s) : Island Music Ltd
Genres : Pop, Rock,britpop, grebo, madchester
Genres : Pop, Rock,britpop, grebo, madchester
Featured on the album 1991,101 Damnations
11.29% / -0.32%
14 . Edwyn Collins - A Girl Like You
Performed by Scottish singer-songwriter Edwyn Collins, “A Girl Like You” was released as a single in December 1994. The song, featuring a distinctive blend of alternative rock and soul, is built on a drum sample from Len Barry’s “1-2-3” (1965). It features Paul Cook of the Sex Pistols and is praised for its catchy yet slightly funky sound, with lyrics admiring a unique woman.
The music video is directed by John Flansburgh & Gavin Evans.
Writer(s) : Paul Vincent Collins Publisher(s) : Paul Collins Music
Genres : Pop, Rock,britpop, scottish new wave, solo wave
Genres : Pop, Rock,britpop, scottish new wave, solo wave
The music video is directed by John Flansburgh & Gavin Evans
Featured on the album 1994,Gorgeous George
11.22% / -0.18%
15 . Shed Seven - Going For Gold
Rick Witter’s commanding vocals shine in this 1996 anthem of ambition and perseverance. The song’s lush arrangements and melodic rhythm explore the pursuit of success amidst challenges. A notable highlight of Shed Seven’s discography, it coincided with their departure from Polydor Records, marking the end of an era and cementing their status as Britpop icons of their time.
Writer(s) : Paul Adrian Banks, Alan Steven Leach, Thomas Peter Gladwin, Richard James Witter Publisher(s) : Polygram Music Publishing Ltd (Gb)
Genres : britpop
Genres : Pop, Rock,britpop, york indie
Featured on the album 1999,Going For Gold
11.12% / -0.48%
16 . Oasis - Live Forever
From Oasis’s 1994 debut “Definitely Maybe,” “Live Forever” lands as their third single and first UK Top 10 hit.
Noel Gallagher writes it, Owen Morris and Mark Coyle handle production, and Liam Gallagher does what he does best—sing like he means it.
The song casually pairs melodic guitars with lyrics that flirt with hope and cocky defiance.
A Britpop anthem before Britpop really picks a team, it ends up a keeper in the early Oasis playbook.
The music video is directed by Nick Egan.
Writer(s) : Noel Thomas Gallagher Publisher(s) : Oasis Music (Gb 1)
Genres : britpop
Genres : Folk/Acoustic, Pop, Rock,beatlesque, britpop, madchester, permanent wave, rock
The music video is directed by Randee St. Nicholas
Featured on the album 1994,Definitely Maybe
10.72% / -0.71%
17 . Catatonia - Mulder and Scully
A 1998 slice of indie rock, “Mulder and Scully” spins curious lyrics around a melody that sticks without trying too hard.
The track lightly nods to its X-Files namesakes, but don’t expect a UFO—this is more connection than conspiracy.
The video leans into the absurd, keeping things playful and just shy of parody.
A tune where the mystery lies as much in the sentiment as in the packaging.
Writer(s) : Mark (Gb 3) Roberts, Powell Owen, Aled Wyn Richards, ) David Paul (Gb 1 Jones, Cerys Mathews,, Publisher(s) : Sony Music Publishing
Genres : britpop
Genres : Pop, Rock,britpop, candy pop, welsh indie, welsh rock
Featured on the album 1998,International Velvet
10.68% / -0.33%
18 . Oasis - Cigarettes & Alcohol
Released as the fourth single from *Definitely Maybe* on 10 October 1994, “Cigarettes & Alcohol” manages to reach number seven on the UK charts—then stays just short of forever, clocking 79 weeks there.
Noel Gallagher’s riff draws instant comparisons to T. Rex’s “Get It On” and Chuck Berry’s “Little Queenie”, which earns him more lawyers than flattery.
The lyrics don’t bother with subtlety, pointing straight at the dull ache of working-class life in ‘90s Britain, where some find more promise in pints and smokes than in steady paychecks.
“Is it worth the aggravation to find yourself a job when there’s nothing worth working for?” sums up the mood—call it economic despair with a sneer.
Musically rougher than their earlier leanings, its release signals a shift away from Oasis’s more psychedelic flirtations.
On 13 March 2020, “Cigarettes & Alcohol” is certified Platinum in the UK, which translates to 600,000 people giving disillusionment a spin.
Writer(s) : Noel Thomas Gallagher Publisher(s) : Oasis Music (Gb 1)
Genres : britpop
Genres : Folk/Acoustic, Pop, Rock,beatlesque, britpop, madchester, permanent wave, rock
Featured on the album 1994,Definitely Maybe
10.63% / -0.76%
19 . Happy Mondays - Step On
Originally a John Kongos number from 1971, “Step On” gets the Mondays treatment in 1990, landing on their album “Pills ’n’ Thrills and Bellyaches.”
Under the watchful ears of Paul Oakenfold and Steve Osborne, the track swaps its glam rock leanings for something heavier in Madchester funk and laced with psychedelic hints.
Shaun Ryder vocalises with typical swagger, while Bez stomps, shakes, and generally exists in parallel time.
It ends up as Happy Mondays’ biggest hit in the UK, and not entirely by accident.
Writer(s) : Theodore John Kongos, Demetriou Christos Publisher(s) : Tapestry Music Ltd
Genres : britpop
Genres : Pop, Rock,britpop, dance rock, madchester
The music video is directed by Matt Broadley
Featured on the album 1990,Pills N Thrills And Bellyaches
10.16% / -0.27%
20 . Oasis - Don’t Look Back In Anger
“Don’t Look Back In Anger” by Oasis, released in 1996, is one of the British band’s most recognizable anthems. Noel Gallagher, who sings lead vocals for a rare time, is heavily inspired by the Beatles, particularly John Lennon. The song’s chorus is often sung by crowds at concerts, creating an unparalleled sense of communion and nostalgia.
The music video is directed by Nigel Dick.
Writer(s) : Noel Thomas Gallagher Publisher(s) : Oasis Music (Gb 3), Oasis Music (Gb 1)
Genres : beatlesque, britpop, madchester, permanent wave, rock
Genres : Folk/Acoustic, Pop, Rock,beatlesque, britpop, madchester, permanent wave, rock
The music video is directed by Nigel Dick
Featured on the album 1995,(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?
10.14% / -0.11%
The Stone Roses’ “Sally Cinnamon” stays at number one, followed by Oasis’ “Some Might Say” and Saint Etienne’s “You’re In a Bad Way.” Oasis re-enter at number twenty with “Don’t Look Back in Anger.” Cast, James, and Black Box Recorder maintain steady positions across the list.
The Britpop chart closes the year with little change, highlighted by Oasis’ late re-entry and stable dominance of familiar names.
Modest disclaimer: We don’t claim to be exhaustive. It’s possible you won’t find a title you expected to see on this list. Sorry about that — these things happen.