"Popscene" is a song by English rock band Blur, released as a non-album single on 30 March 1992. Despite its relatively low chart placing, it has since become critically praised and regarded as one of the pioneering songs of the Britpop genre.

Recording

The song was first played live in late 1991, and recorded at Matrix Studios in Holborn with producer Steve Lovell. The lyrics showed frontman Damon Albarn's distaste for the music business, complaining that there were too many insignificant indie bands.

Musically, it was different to the style seen on the group's first album Leisure and featured heavily flanged guitars, a Can influenced drumbeat, and brass from session players the Kick Horns. The band considered "Popscene" to be the loudest and best thing they had worked on at that point.

Reception

The single reached No. 32 on the UK Singles Chart,

The experience of recording "Popscene" led the band to believe they should simply play music in their own style and not worry about trends. The "Britishness" of "Popscene" carried over to the group's second album, Modern Life Is Rubbish. The song was not released on the British version of the album, though it was added as an extra track in the United States and Japan. In Australia, "Popscene" was not released until 1998, when it was issued as a double A-side with "On Your Own"; it reached No. 69 on the ARIA Singles Chart.

Track listings

All songs were written by Albarn, Coxon, James and Rowntree.

7-inch and cassette

  1. "Popscene" – 3:12
  2. "Mace" – 3:24

12-inch

  1. "Popscene" – 3:12
  2. "I'm Fine" – 3:01
  3. "Mace" – 3:24
  4. "Garden Central" – 5:58

CD

  1. "Popscene" – 3:12
  2. "Mace" – 3:24
  3. "Badgeman Brown" – 4:47

Production credits

  • "Popscene" produced by Steve Lovell
  • "Mace", "Badgeman Brown", and "Garden Central" produced by Blur and John Smith
  • "I'm Fine" produced by Blur
  • Damon Albarn: lead vocals, synthesizers
  • Graham Coxon: guitars, backing vocals
  • Alex James: bass guitar
  • Dave Rowntree: drums
  • The Kick Horns: brass

Charts

{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1992)

!Peak<br/>position

|-

|}

{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1998)

!Peak<br/>position

|-

!scope="row"|Australia (ARIA)<br/><small>with "On Your Own"</small>

|69

|}

References

Bibliography