'You gotta be yourself '- 20 years since the Britpop revolution.

It’s 20 years since the advent of Britpop. The all too familiar sound of the legendary Supersonic guitar riff blazing out of the stereo - released on this day in 1994. Atom Retro reflect on this era of music and it’s profound affect on society, fashion and style.

Forget the Blair-ite Cool Brittania crap that followed shortly after and all too often gets banged in with the Britpop boom, this was about music and the dawning of a new era in style not politics. The lynchpin of the movement being Oasis and the sheer Indie swagger of the lads from Manchester. Mod parkas, desert boots and the iconic Union Jack guitar. The rivalry with fellow Britpop legends Blur who I fondly think of in Retro track tops, Mod Harringtons and cool Indie trainers made the Britpop bang even louder and with everyone’s favourite Common People, Pulp revitalising the trend for skinny Mod blazers, tweeds and fab Seventies shirts, this was bound to be an unforgettable era in British music history.

It was a time where gigs, beer and amazing records flowed freely. A feel good factor gripped the nation. Let’s join together and remember this great time.

Who was your favourite Britpop era band/artist? What was your favourite gig?

Share your stories with us!

In the mean time here’s a jukebox of some of our favourite Britpop tracks from 1994.

1. Supersonic - Oasis 
Released: 11th April 1994

Released on the 11th April, 1994 this was Oasis' debut single. Peaking at the time at only 31 in the UK singles charts, the sales for Supersonic have since topped 215,000 making it Oasis' 13th biggest ever selling single, outselling number 1's The Hindu Times, Lyla and The Importance of Being Idle.
  
Sing-a-long bit: "I need to be myself, I can be no one else..." (Although, basically the whole song should be sung along to at high volume).

2. Parklife - Blur
Released: 22nd August 1994

Parklife - famous for it's catchy chorus, words spoken by Phil Daniels and for going round and round and round in 1994, the single won Best British Single at the 1995 Brit Awards and made a certain Slazenger track top a fashion icon. The single peaked at number 10 in the UK singles chart.
  
Sing-a-long bit: "All the people, so many people, and they all go hand in hand, hand in hand through their parklife!"

3. Do You Remember The First Time - Pulp
Released: 21st March 1994

Pulp had been around since 1983, but not really broken through until 1994 and the release of His N Hers which contained the singles Razzmatazz, Do You Remember The First Time, Lipgloss and Babies. Do You Remeber The First Time peaked at 33 in the UK charts, but Common People was just around the corner...
  
Sing-a-long bit: "Do you remember the first time? I can't remember a worst time..."

4. Speakeasy - Shed Seven
Released: 15th August 1994

Reaching number 24 in the UK singles chart, Speakeasy was the third release from Shed Seven's debut album, Change Giver, and the most successful single from the album. Totally underrated song from a underrated band, Speakeasy definitely deserves more recognition.
  
Sing-a-long bit: "Will there be another breakdown? Communication is a let down..."

5. Stay Together - Suede
Released: 14th February 1994

Non-album single from Suede which proved to be their biggest hit of 1994, peaking at number 3. The single has since been 'disowned by the band' with Brett Anderson saying he thinks it was the worst single released by Suede. It was the last single released while guitarist Bernard Butler was in the band.
  
Sing-a-long bit: "um..."

6. Caught By The Fuzz - Supergrass
Released: 24th October 1994

Debut single from Supergrass which peaked at just 43. A limited number of vinyl 7" records were released on Backbeat Records initially.
  
Sing-a-long bit: "If only my brother could be here now, he'd get me out and sort me out alight, I should have stayed at home tonight!"

7. Connection - Elastica
Released: 10th October 1994

A number 17 debut single from Elastica, which is perhaps most famous now for being the Trigger Happy TV theme tune. The song courted controversy when it was accused of copying Wire's 'Three Girl Rhumba' (oh yeah, it does!)
  
Sing-a-long bit: Just that copied riff really.

8. Hung Up - Paul Weller
Released: ?? 1994

Single from Paul Weller's second solo album, which reached number 11. The song was included on a re-issue and not the original release of Wild Wood.
  
Sing-a-long bit: "Waiting for the moment, keep on looking for a sign."

9. Staying Out For The Summer - Dodgy
Released: ?? 1994

We were all Staying Out for The Summer in 1994. Dodgy's most famous song reached number 38.
  
Sing-a-long bit: "I'm staying out for the summer, playing games in the rain..."

10. Can't Get Out Of Bed - The Charlatans
Released: 24th January 1994

Single from The Charlie's third album, Up To Our Hips, it reached number 24 in early 1994. Also famous for being on a Benylin advert.
  
Sing-a-long bit: "Can't get out of bed, You're keeping it straight, The city's a mess."

11. Rocks - Primal Scream
Released: 28th February 1994

Epic single from Primal Scream which reached number 7 in the UK and remained their biggest hit until 2006 and Country Girl. Really Rolling Stones sounding, the song also borrows a drumbreak from Sly and The Family Stone's 'Dance To The Music'.
  
Sing-a-long bit: "Dealers keep dealing, thieves keep thieving, whores keep whoring, junkies keep scoring..."

12. Love Spreads - The Stone Roses
Released: November 1994

Highest charting song on our list, Love Spreads went in at number 2. An epic song which kinda blows everyone else out of the water. It remains their most successful single, until they get their fingers out and give us a new album..!
  
Sing-a-long bit: "Let me put you in the picture, let me show you what I mean, the messiah is my sister, ain't no king man, she's my queen..."