Parklife  by Blur

Parklife of 1994 was the moment when britpop acquired its own manifesto. Blur, under the guidance of producer Stephen Street, abandoned American grunge influences for a purely British sound: an explosive mix of punk energy, music hall theatricality, and synth-pop touches. The songwriting by Damon Albarn touched on genius, capturing with irony and tenderness the everyday life of the British working class.

The singles became anthems of a generation: the danceable Girls & Boys, the melancholic End Of A Century, and the iconic Parklife. The unique element that sealed the album was the participation of actor Phil Daniels (star of Quadrophenia), who lent his cockney accent to the title track, turning it into a surreal stroll in the park. With Parklife, Blur won 4 Brit awards, confirming that British music had found its confidence.

Its success was sweeping. The album shot to No1 on the UK charts, staying there for 90 weeks, while it went four times platinum.