On the record
A LOVE letter to British music, this joyful documentary whizzes through the decades, capturing the huge cultural impact of each era.
From the rock and roll of the 60s, through glam rock, punk and acid house, all the way to 90s Britpop and beyond, this is a reminder of how Britain has always forged ahead in music.
“Rock and roll was an actual art form and we Brits have played a huge part in that,” says Cliff Richard, one of the many musical legends interviewed.
Record producer Pete Waterman adds: “You felt you could achieve anything in the 60s. There were no rules.”
Charting the colossal impact of The Beatles, through to Slade, Pink Floyd and on to Oasis and Blur, it’s a journey through the soundtrack of our lives. It also highlights the cultural, social and political changes over the eras – with music that challenged people to fight the power.
Women’s rights marches set against an emerging festival culture and psychedelic sounds, and punk rock coming out as discontent brewed in Thatcher’s Britain. There’s a reminder of the famous chart head-to-head in 1995 when Oasis and Blur released singles on the same day – and a marvellous anecdote from Blur’s Alex James about a Swedish festival: “I came in with the bass and a bra hit me in the face.” Finally, the celebrity talking heads are asked: “Why is British music so great?”
“We punch way above our weight,” says Alex James. He’s not wrong.