The Initial Clash
Almost three decades ago, on the current date, Britpop peaked as a significant cultural phenomenon, marked by the simultaneous release of Blur’s Country House and Oasis’ Roll With It singles. While the inherent musical excellence of these compositions might not currently justify their inclusion in the definitive greatest hit live set of either band, their symbolic importance remains paramount. These releases epitomized the climax of a prolonged and escalating rivalry among the leading entities within the Britpop movement, providing an empirical opportunity to determine the superior musical ensemble conclusively through the democratic public vote process.
Indeed, the situation could have been more complex. Almost immediately after declaring a winner in the initial round of the Blur versus Oasis competition, a significant and dynamic shift in the momentum of the contest occurred. This pattern persisted throughout the subsequent decades, with the two musical groups consistently alternating in their ascendancy in terms of popularity, public perception, and overall cultural legacy. Even after the cessation of actual hostilities between the bands and a prolonged period of relative quiet on that front, notably marked by the collaborative performance of their respective frontmen, Damon Albarn and Noel Gallagher, on the former’s composition Tender just two years prior, the discourse remains fervent among dedicated enthusiasts. The fervor ignited in the memorable year of 1995 endures, steadfastly captivating the loyalty of fans seemingly unwilling to let go of the nostalgic allure of that bygone era.
We have meticulously crafted a chronological timeline outlining the ongoing contest within the realm of Britpop over almost three decades following the releases of Country House and Roll With It. Recognizing the intermittent hiatuses of both musical groups and acknowledging the substantial influence exerted by various side projects in shaping the artistic legacies of several involved artists, our assessment incorporates the individual achievements of each member to determine the ultimate victors. Embark on a comprehensive exploration spanning twenty years of an amicable yet competitive rivalry between the formidable Britpop giants, culminating in the revelation of the triumphant entity that prevails over this extended period.
The Battle Victory
From 1995 to 1996, Blur emerged victorious in the battle as Country House triumphed over Roll With It by approximately 60,000 copies. However, the subsequent phases of the war proved to be a formidable challenge for Blur. Undeterred by the setback, Oasis swiftly rebounded and achieved unparalleled success shortly after. Their iconic single, Wonderwall, surpassed any subsequent release from Blur’s The Great Escape and propelled Oasis to superstardom in the United States and worldwide. The album (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? by Oasis significantly surpassed The Great Escape in sales across various territories. The momentum continued with chart-topping hits such as Champagne Supernova and Don’t Look Back in Anger, resonating on both sides of the Atlantic well into 1996. As the year drew to a close, Blur found themselves securing the position of clear silver medalists and potentially bronze if Pulp were considered. With this outcome, Blur entered a severe contemplation and regrouping phase, recognizing the need for strategic planning to navigate their musical future.
The prevailing consensus appeared to endorse the attribution of accolades to Blur, a band that adeptly redefined their artistic identity on the self-titled album. This record showcased their transformation into the whimsical art-school dilettantes they had always possessed elements. It notably featured the genre-defying composition Song 2, an improbable single that would eventually emerge as their most widely recognized hit.
Conversely, Oasis’ album Be Here Now, released in the same year, is now inextricably linked to the era of excessive substance consumption that fueled its creation and the subsequent period of artistic stagnation. However, it is imperative to acknowledge that in 1997, the album attained staggering commercial success, with a global sales figure reaching eight million copies and garnering predominantly favorable reviews—a fact that is often overlooked in contemporary assessments. Despite Song 2 standing out as the enduring musical legacy of both bands from that year, it was eclipsed at the time by Oasis’ D’You Know What I Mean, a chart-topping sensation that secured the No. 1 position on both the U.K. pop charts and the U.S. alternative charts. The apparent discrepancy between the contemporaneous evaluations and retrospective analyses prompts an equitable consideration of the achievements of both bands during that period. Given the contrasting perspectives, it seems fitting to deem the assessment even-handed.
The Masterplan and Bustin’ + Dronin’
In 1998, Oasis and Blur contributed little to the music scene. However, each band released a compilation album. Oasis presented The Masterplan, a compilation meticulously gathering numerous highly acclaimed B-sides from the band’s initial three albums. This compilation resonated with audiences on both sides of the Atlantic, effortlessly surpassing the impact of Be Here Now in the process. Notably, it gave rise to a new hit in the form of the Acquiesce track, originally featured as the B-side to Some Might Say. In a parallel vein, Blur introduced the remix collection Bustin’ + Dronin‘, notable for including a noteworthy William Orbit edit of the lesser-known Blur track Movin’ On. However, aside from this standout inclusion, the compilation is generally considered to have faded into obscurity and is not remembered prominently in the annals of musical history. Blur inaugurated this period with their remarkable album 13, exploring their more drone-infused and emotionally introspective inclinations. Despite its occasional inconsistency, the album yielded frequently stunning outcomes. Within this musical journey, the band produced three unforgettable singles: the near-hymnal Tender, the breezily crushing Coffee and TV, and the lights-out closing ballad No Distance Left to Run. Complementing this artistic endeavor, Blur curated and released Blur: The Best Of, a canonical compilation that stands as one of the greatest hit albums in the annals of British alt-rock.
Damon Albarn, Blur’s frontman, concurrently embarked on a prolific second chapter in his career, emerging as one of the architects behind the post-everything animated supergroup Gorillaz. This venture bore fruit with the international success of the Clint Eastwood track featuring Del tha Funkee Homosapien. This song marked a significant milestone for Albarn and contributed to Gorillaz’s global recognition. In parallel, Oasis contributed to this musical epoch by releasing Standing on the Shoulder of Giants. Village Voice editor Robert Christgau delivered a memorable and mostly accurate album review, succinctly encapsulated by the single word “Neither.” Thus, Blur and Oasis played pivotal roles in shaping the musical landscape during this period, leaving an indelible mark on the British alt-rock scene.
A Critical Stumble
Oasis’ album Heathen Chemistry failed to convince critics of a turnaround in the band’s artistic decline, as indicated by Pitchfork’s scathing review, which gave it a mere 1.2 rating. The album was likened to the Gallaghers, who “Xeroxed the entirety of Crime and Punishment, changed the title to Russian Psycho, and released it to the public.” Despite this critical reception, the album achieved significant commercial success by selling over a million copies in the United Kingdom alone, surpassing that of Giants. The first three singles from Heathen Chemistry all reached the top two positions on the charts. Notably, the album marked a rare hit for Liam Gallagher as a songwriter, with his composition Songbird garnering success.
In contrast, Blur took a hiatus during the same period. However, they did release a one-off curiosity titled Don’t Bomb When You’re the Bomb. This unconventional track, characterized by its squelching, puzzling, almost-jam quality, was swiftly forgotten by the public. While Blur did not actively engage in the music scene throughout the year, their sporadic release provided a unique, albeit transient, addition to their discography. For more than a decade, it seemed that Think Tank would serve as the culmination of Blur’s musical endeavors, embodying an auditory manifestation that undeniably reflected traits of discord, weariness, and bittersweet contentment steeped in a palpable sense of conclusiveness. Remarkably, the album has transformed auditory appeal with time, surpassing its reception in 2003. Indeed, the album’s eclectic, world-traversing sound and vocals characterized by a distant yet resolute quality would establish the prevailing thematic essence in Damon Albarn’s subsequent musical oeuvre. However, amidst these retrospective appreciations, it remains a formidable challenge to confer an unequivocal victory upon Blur for the year that effectively marked the disintegration of the band’s cohesive unity. During this critical juncture, the integral guitarist Graham Coxon played a limited role in creating Think Tank and notably refrained from participating in the accompanying tour. Consequently, the band promptly entered a hiatus following the culmination of these events, encapsulating a pivotal period of transition and uncertainty in Blur’s trajectory as a musical collective.
Meanwhile, Oasis exhibited a comparatively limited degree of innovation within the context of musical endeavors. However, it is noteworthy that the Gallagher Brothers distinctly emerged triumphant in the ongoing legacy discourse within the realm of Britpop, as vividly portrayed in the documentary Live Forever. In this cinematic representation, Noel Gallagher unabashedly expresses his disdain for the perceived inadequacies of Be Here Now while seated upon an imposing, oversized throne. Concurrently, Liam Gallagher remains perpetually oblivious to the realization that the zenith of Cool Britannia has long since transpired. In stark contrast, Damon Albarn assumes a demeanor of general embarrassment throughout the documentary, adopting a modest stance in response to his more questionable moments and consistently seeking refuge behind the shielding presence of his ukulele. This narrative perpetuates the timeless notion that, in the realm of enjoyment and merriment, the fraternity of brothers consistently claims a more joyous and gratifying experience.
Struggles and Challenges
In 2004, Oasis faced a lack of substantial acclaim, highlighted by a notably lackluster headlining performance at Glastonbury and the addition of a Beatle descendant to their ranks. Similarly, Blur encountered comparable challenges during the same period. However, in contrast, Graham Coxon distinguished himself with a solo endeavor that achieved commendable success. His album Happiness in Magazines attained silver status in England and produced a few modestly popular tracks, including the delightful Freakin’ Out. It is worth acknowledging Coxon’s contributions as a guitarist during this phase. Oasis experienced a significant resurgence with Don’t Believe the Truth, their most commercially successful and critically acclaimed album since at least Be Here Now. This musical endeavor resulted in two chart-topping singles in the United Kingdom: Lyla and The Importance of Being Idle. Notably, this revitalization extended across the Atlantic, leading to their inaugural performance at Madison Square Garden in June of that year.
During this period, Blur maintained a period of inactivity; however, Damon Albarn, the lead singer, reached a pinnacle of success with his side project Gorillaz. Their album Demon Days earned widespread acclaim, securing placements on numerous year-end lists. Albarn achieved crossover success with the collaborative effort Feel Good Inc. featuring De La Soul, surpassing the mainstream success he had attained with his primary musical group on the U.S. Top 40 charts. It is important to note that despite remarkable success, Gorillaz is still perceived as a side project. Consequently, in the broader context, the overall musical landscape during this period is characterized by a balanced equivalence between Oasis and Blur, with the former undergoing a notable revival and the latter witnessing the flourishing of Albarn’s creative pursuits.
In the interim between Gorillaz albums, and with the complete band lineup presently observing a sabbatical, Blur finds itself in a phase where its primary noteworthy endeavors consist of Damon Albarn’s well-received yet predominantly unremarkable contributions to the second supergroup, The Good, The Bad, and the Queen. Meanwhile, Oasis thrived on the success of Don’t Believe the Truth for one to two years. Subsequently, they issued the commendable, albeit not entirely definitive, compilation Stop the Clocks, followed by the triumph of the 2008 commercially successful successor, Dig Out Your Soul. While not heralded as a masterpiece, the latter emerged as a year-end contender within critical circles. Furthermore, Oasis solidified its enduring legacy as the quintessential band of the people from the Britpop era. A reader poll conducted by Q magazine 2008 listing the 50 Best British Albums placed Oasis’s initial two albums at the coveted No. 1 and No. 2 positions, respectively. The band’s influence extended to an extent where even Jay Z, known as the “Jigga Man,” found himself provoked enough to direct disparaging remarks towards Noel Gallagher, as evidenced in his lyrical assertion, “That bloke from Oasis said I couldn’t play guitar; somebody shoulda told him I’m a fucking rock star.” Jay Z further humorously incorporated a snippet of Oasis’ iconic track Wonderwall into his composition Jockin Jay Z.
The Brothers’ Gallagher Fallout
After an absence of five years, Blur made a triumphant return to the stage in 2009, headlining several major U.K. festivals. One notable performance was at Hyde Park, later commemorated with the release of a dedicated live album. 2010 Blur reached a significant milestone, delighting fans with their long-awaited return to live performances and offering new music—their first since 2003. Fool’s Day, a surprisingly buoyant composition, reaffirmed the band’s artistic prowess. Damon Albarn played a dual role by actively participating in the virtual band Gorillaz, showcasing his versatility across different musical projects with the release of their third studio album, Plastic Beach. The V Festival in 2009 marked a pivotal moment for the Brothers Gallagher, leading to the irrevocable dissolution of their band due to a backstage altercation. This unfortunate incident served as the conclusive chapter in the narrative of the iconic British rock band, signaling the end of their musical journey together. In reflection, the cyclical nature of musical evolution unfolded—a juxtaposition of new beginnings for some and the poignant conclusion of a significant chapter for others—emblematic of the transient and ever-changing landscape of the music industry.
Blur underwent considerable readjustment to the rhythm of recording and touring. Simultaneously, Oasis re-emerged onto the music scene through divergent factions: Beady Eye, led by Liam Gallagher, and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. Although neither faction reached the zenith of success seen during the collaborative efforts of the Gallagher brothers, both received acclaim for their debut albums. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds’ self-titled debut mainly achieved substantial commercial success, propelled by singles like If I Had a Gun and The Death of You and Me, reminiscent of Oasis’s signature style. In the absence of the collaboration of the Gallagher siblings, fans embraced these musical endeavors, appreciating the offerings presented by both factions.
Oasis received recognition at the 2012 Olympics in London, where Beady Eye performed Wonderwall during the closing ceremonies. It elicited consternation from the notably absent Noel Gallagher. In contrast, Blur hosted a closing concert for the ceremonies at Hyde Park and had representation from the U.K.’s Household Division. This distinguished military unit marched while covering Blur’s iconic track, Parklife. Additionally, Blur experienced a significant musical resurgence by releasing their most compelling work in a decade, exemplified by the elegiac composition Under the Westway and the energetically frenetic The Puritan.
Wonderwall
Articulating a compelling argument in favor of either musical band in this remarkably uneventful year proves challenging. Nevertheless, one can assert that 2013 marked the crystallization of Wonderwall as a cultural anthem for Oasis, extending its influence beyond the United Kingdom. Notably, Australia’s esteemed Triple J station bestowed upon it the title of the number-one song of the preceding two decades. Adding to its global resonance, the then-emerging American pop-culture icon Hannah Horvath rendered the song while submerged in a bathtub on an episode of the popular television series Girls.
Oasis contributed to recollecting their past triumphs by presenting meticulous two-disc reissues of their seminal first two albums. These reissues were curated meticulously, with abundant supplementary tracks that serve as poignant reminders of the vast creative reservoir that underscored their brilliance during those formative years. Similarly, Albarn and Blur matched and surpassed this archival endeavor. Damon Albarn’s solo venture, Everyday Robots, followed by the band’s collective effort, The Magic Whip, represent two musical opuses that seamlessly extend the singer-songwriter’s artistic purview. This dual release effectively positions Albarn as an artist whose creative resonance remains as contemporaneously relevant as that of individuals nearly two decades his junior.
Despite the laudable accolade bestowed upon Wonderwall as our preeminent Alt-Rock Song of 1995, Blur’s The Magic Whip emerges as a formidable contender for inclusion in the pantheon of superlative albums this year. It follows the trajectory set by Damon Albarn’s solo project, Everyday Robots, which garnered acclaim and secured its position on best album lists the previous year. The indelible mark left by these releases reinforces Albarn’s enduring relevance as a recording artist, a status that surpasses the temporal confines typically associated with musicians of his era. The prospect of Oasis achieving a comparable narrative remains to be determined, leaving us to ponder if and when the band will carve out a similar trajectory of sustained artistic resonance.
An Ever-Changing Landscape
Oasis undeniably stands as a formidable force, with the Gallagher Brothers embodying a larger-than-life presence that appeared impervious to failure in almost every aspect. Their indomitable spirit and musical prowess propelled them to heights few dared to challenge. The essence of Oasis emitted an aura of inevitability as if they were destined to be the undisputed frontrunners in the ever-evolving landscape of rock and Britpop. However, the ebb and flow of musical dominance is an intrinsic part of the industry’s narrative, and currently, the torchbearer is none other than Blur. In a surprising twist of fate, the spotlight has shifted, and Blur finds itself at the forefront of the scene, carrying the torch with finesse and innovation. Their ability to capture the moment’s zeitgeist and reinvent themselves has positioned them as the current standard-bearers, a testament to their enduring relevance. The story unfolds with Blur in the protagonist’s role, standing on the threshold of the next two decades. The trajectory of their musical journey, marked by resilience and artistic evolution, hints at a future where they seamlessly continue to carry the torch of musical brilliance. The unfolding chapters of the next 28 years promise a captivating and unpredictable narrative as the ever-shifting dynamics of the music industry shape the destiny of those who hold the torch aloft.
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