The 100 Ultimate Britpop Anthems revealed

As voted by thousands of Absolute Radio listeners

Absolute Radio's Ultimate Britpop Anthem countdown
Author: Scott ColothanPublished 22nd Aug 2025
Last updated 22nd Aug 2025

After thousands of you had your say throughout Britpop Summer, we’re delighted to reveal the top 100 Ultimate Britpop Anthems as voted by Absolute Radio listeners!

The epic countdown began on Absolute Radio at 9am this morning during the Dave Berry Breakfast Show with Ben Burrell, before Richie Firth announced the Number 1 at 6pm during Hometime.

In a closely fought battle that went down to the wire, Pulp’s seminal 1995 anthem ‘Common People’ was voted the greatest Britpop song of all time ahead of The Verve’s enduring 1997 classic ‘Bittersweet Symphony’.

Richie Firth says: “This result shows the enduring quality of a song which was released 30 years ago but which still sounds as fresh today. Seeing crowds of all ages sing it live on Pulp’s recent tour demonstrates why it is now officially the greatest Britpop anthem of all-time’.

Blur weren’t too far behind Pulp and The Verve in third spot with ‘Parklife’, while the reunited Oasis’ highest entry in the countdown was Number 4 with ‘Live Forever’. Pulp’s ‘Disco 2000’ rounded out the Top 5.

Despite missing out on the Number 1, Oasis dominated the countdown with an astonishing 18 songs inside the Top 100 by Liam and Noel Gallagher.

Blur racked up 10 songs on the list, while other 90s icons with multiple entries include Ocean Colour Scene, Suede, The Charlatans, Pulp, The Verve, Manic Street Preachers, Stereophonics, Cast, James, Catatonia, The Bluetones, Ash and Radiohead.

Proving that Britpop transcended just the indie rock genre, dance bangers ‘Born Slippy’ by Underworld and Fatboy Slim’s ‘Praise You’ made the list alongside soul classic ‘Yes’ by McAlmont & Butler.

Check out the full 100 Ultimate Britpop Anthems at the bottom of the page, and the Top 10 right below. You can also listen back to the entire countdown on the Rayo app and on absolute radio.co.uk RIGHT HERE.

10: Suede - Animal Nitrate

The greatest Britpop songs as voted by Absolute Radio listeners.

9: Oasis - Wonderwall

The greatest Britpop songs as voted by Absolute Radio listeners.

8: Manic Street Preachers - A Design For Life

The greatest Britpop songs as voted by Absolute Radio listeners.

7: Ocean Colour Scene - The Day We Caught the Train

The greatest Britpop songs as voted by Absolute Radio listeners.

6: Oasis - Don't Look Back In Anger

The greatest Britpop songs as voted by Absolute Radio listeners.

5: Pulp - Disco 2000

The greatest Britpop songs as voted by Absolute Radio listeners.

4: Oasis - Live Forever

The greatest Britpop songs as voted by Absolute Radio listeners.

3: Blur - Parklife

The greatest Britpop songs as voted by Absolute Radio listeners.

2: The Verve - Bittersweet Symphony

The greatest Britpop songs as voted by Absolute Radio listeners.

1: Pulp - Common People

The greatest Britpop songs as voted by Absolute Radio listeners.

The 100 Greatest Britpop Anthems:

1: Pulp - Common People

2: The Verve - Bittersweet Symphony

3: Blur - Parklife

4: Oasis - Live Forever

5: Pulp - Disco 2000

6: Oasis - Don't Look Back In Anger

7: Ocean Colour Scene - The Day We Caught the Train

8: Manic Street Preachers - A Design For Life

9: Oasis - Wonderwall

10: Suede - Animal Nitrate

11: Blur - Song 2

12: Oasis - Champagne Supernova

13: Supergrass - Alright

14: James - Laid

15: Ocean Colour Scene - The Riverboat Song

16: Blur - Girls and Boys

17: Shed Seven - Chasing Rainbows

18: Elastica - Connection

19: The Charlatans - One To Another

20: Oasis - Slide Away

21: James - Sit Down

22: Pulp - Sorted For E's and Wizz

23: Underworld - Born Slippy

24: The Bluetones - Slight Return

25: Oasis - Cigarettes and Alcohol

26: Suede - Trash

27: Blur - Country House

28: Ash - Girl From Mars

29: Stereophonics - The Bartender and The Thief

30: Oasis - Supersonic

31: The Verve - Lucky Man

32: Pulp - Babies

33: Oasis - The Masterplan

34: McAlmont & Butler - Yes

35: Pulp - Do You Remember The First Time?

36: Shed Seven - Disco Down

37: Catatonia - Road Rage

38: Suede - Beautiful Ones

39: Oasis - Acquiesce

40: Stereophonics - Local Boy in The Photograph

41: Cast - Walkaway

42: The Verve - The Drugs Don't Work

43: Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

44: Oasis - Some Might Say

45: Stereophonics - A Thousand Trees

46: Blur - The Universal

47: Oasis - Half The World Away

48: Mansun - Wide Open Space

49: Longpigs - She Said

50: Oasis - Whatever

51: Fatboy Slim - Praise You

52: The Stone Roses - Love Spreads

53: Boo Radleys - Wake Up Boo!

54: Cast - Sandstorm

55: Blur – Beetlebum

56: Oasis - What's The Story Morning Glory?

57: Reef - Place Your Hands

58: Cast - Finetime

59: Blur - Charmless Man

60: Ash - Goldfinger

61: Pulp - Mis-Shapes

62: James - She's a Star

63: Oasis - Columbia

64: Radiohead - Street Spirit (Fade Out)

65: Placebo - Nancy Boy

66: Seahorses - Blinded By The Sun

67: Sleeper - Inbetweener

68: James - Sometimes (Lester Piggott)

69: The Verve - Sonnet

70: James - Tomorrow

71: Cast - Alright

72: Edwyn Collins - A Girl Like You

73: James - Say Something

74: Oasis - Roll With It

75: Ocean Colour Scene - Hundred Mile High City

76: Placebo - Pure Morning

77: Radiohead - Fake Plastic Trees

78: Seahorses - Love Is The Law

79: Shed Seven - Going For Gold

80: Sleeper - Sale of The Century

81: Paul Weller - The Changingman

82: Blur - Tender

83: The Charlatans - North Country Boy

84: Oasis - Rock N Roll Star

85: Babybird - You're Gorgeous

86: Garbage - Stupid Girl

87: Space - Female of The Species

88: Blur - Coffee & Tv

89: Divine Comedy - Something For The Weekend

90: Kula Shaker - Hush

91: Ash - Oh Yeah

92: Oasis - Cast No Shadow

93: The Bluetones - Bluetonic

94: Blur - End of a Century

95: Charlatans - Just When You're Thinking Things Over

96: The Stone Roses - Ten Storey Love Song

97: Catatonia - Mulder and Scully

98: Radiohead - Just

99: Monaco - What Do You Want From Me?

100: Oasis - She's Electric

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