Annus Britpopulus

Britpop proper, they say, began
In nineteen-ninety four
(Plus or minus a year or more):
Between Stuart Maconie becoming a fan
And indie-rock starting to bore.

Up to then there'd only been
A sort of "baggy" sound,
That people only found
By chance, if they were keen
(All very underground!)

Then all at once: fiat guitars!
The awkward kids got fame,
And every gig became
The hope you'd hear tomorrow's stars:
A quite unwinnable game!

So there was relief (not just a bit)
When, in two thousand and nine
(Like an oracular sign),
Liam and Noel finally split:
And music carried on just fine.