Three reasons:

1 - Britpop was a reaction against Grunge. At the time, America was firmly in the grasp of Grunge and (unfortunately) the Country Music revival (which wasn't a revival as much as a bastardization of the greatness set down by the likes of Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, and Patsy Cline), so Britpop was ignored. There seems to be nothing Americans hate more than when somebody comes along and tells them that what they like is shit and they should do something else (like put on some clothes that aren't ripped to shreds and listen to some music that's not angry and depressing).

2 - Britpop, in the mind of the average American, is gay. The last thing you want to do is seem unmasculine, right? (I type that last line in sarcastic mock or testosterone heads everywhere) You walk around singing the la la la refrain from For Tommorrow and your asking for a beating. Silly really.

3 - Politeness. It's no accident that the only Britpop group to 'make it' in America in the mid-ninety's was Oasis. Oasis were the only ones loud enough and assholes enough to get attention. Where other Britpop band came over with the attitude of "We hope you like our stuff", Oasis came over and said "We're the best thing since the Beatles and if America don't like it then they can properly go fuck themselves", or something like that.

By hallie on Sunday, March 11, 2001 - 09:48 pm:

ha ha, thank toby - lol at the gay beating, though (but there IS a point to that). you took me by surprise with a whole topic for me - i hope it isn't too short-lived though - would be interesting to find out what exactly is britpop and why it was successful, etc. - and btw, toby, if i quote you, how should the credit read? " such such and such is true", states sir toby of blur coping?
lovely day to all!
nat.

By stereopop on Sunday, March 11, 2001 - 10:35 pm:

Yeah, Blur faked us out with "Song 2" ... made us think they're incoherant and rude. Then I bought Parklife and realise they aren't. Jipped again, I tell you!

But really, Britpop, especially to those of us who reside in the US, is just a string of one or two hit wonders (aka the bands that have taken over the rest of the world). With the exception of Radiohead's and Oasis' stuff, nobody here bought the albums that went along with the catchy singles. Everyone here knows "Song 2," "Coffee and TV," "Virtual Insanity," "Why Does It Always Rain On Me," and "Hush" but purely by Mtv's habit of over playing videos.

I believe another reason that Britpop never caught on here is that it is too smart for the average American listener. Or is it that we're too dumb? Either way, people don't like to think. Not so much that Britpop is thought-provoking as there is more to it than there is to grunge (the nega-Britpop of the day). That's also the other reason people liked Oasis. Nobody thought about what the hell a Champagne Supernova is because there's no point in thinking about it.

(Totally unrelated note, but had to be stuck somewhere ... I once read a album review of an Oasis cd that said, and I quote: "Oasis sucks shit from my dog's asshole." Not saying I agree, but nonetheless funny.)

Then there's the American answer to Britpop: the Dandy Warhols and the Eels. Some of our boys don't mind being called gay ... too bad it hinders any sort of success they might could have had if they'd been born in a different country.

So, a poorly written as that was, I hope it helps a bit, Nat. Hopefully, the recent success of Travis (as quickly as that came and went for most of the country), Coldplay (watching my clock, counting the seconds til they are too forgotten), and British comedies with *wonderful* soundtracks (coughcoughSnatchcough) Britpop will return. And I certainly don't think it's dead. It's just changed a little.

By Ooom PAPA! on Monday, March 12, 2001 - 07:55 am:

Britpop was also very patriotic, as it's name suggested. (Cue image of Noel playing a Union Jack guitar as most obvious example) Britpop was basically a re-hashing of 60's English pop (aka The British Invasion) which, curiously, WAS very successful in the USA. Times have changed, though, and I do agree with most of what has been already said by Toby and Stereopop. The aggravatingly ridiculous notion of 'gayness' is relevant, unfortunately. I've heard someone near and dear to me (who only knows Song 2, Country House and Coffee + TV) describle Blur as "one of those queer looking groups." Image is very important in pop music (as it always has been) and the USA just didnt seem to buy the English look and fashion this time around as they did in the 60's (when The Beatles - styled completely differently to the current fashion - were accepted, embraced and even caused changes.)

Yeah.

By Butter~Girl on Monday, March 12, 2001 - 08:11 am:

Look, you're not alone. Hackneyed Observations Anonymous IS out there for you, [S]tereopop, "hallie" & Toby.
It really is!!1 So now you GET that Serenity prayer memorized, you GO gentle into that good night, you WALK past that store selling bromide & before long, she'll be apples.

No, don't bother leaping triumphantly upon those last three words either. Everyone else noticed what you were just about to "point out" too.
Mwah, Monsieur Occifer.

By Toby on Monday, March 12, 2001 - 01:40 pm:

Were we just slagged?

I have absolutely no idea what Butter-Girl (Sorry, I can't seem to find the squigly thing you put between your names on my keyboard) was trying to say.

If the people slagged don't truly know they've been slagged, then have they really been slagged?

By The Occifer on Monday, March 12, 2001 - 06:36 pm:

Slagged, like, totally!!!!!!11

Ahem.

By joe on Monday, March 12, 2001 - 07:18 pm:

Hmm. I leave for a week and the place dissolves into anarchy.

By nathallie on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 12:58 am:

aw, joee (like jo aye, except i can't make the little "accent aigu" things on the board).
anyway....
butter, although i am sure that post bleeds insight and brilliance, i have to admit that it does read fairly incomprehensively to mine eye...
and thank you everyone! ~ hope you're all having fun whatever you've been doing ~
love, nat.

By Bastard the cat on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 06:33 am:

I've got no time to write something hugely long-winded and philosophical, but I guess 'Britpop' never took off in America, precisely the same way 'Yankpop' would never take off in Good Ol' Blighty.

Oh dear, it has.

By TobyZ on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 06:58 am:

Enjoying Papa Roach? Wait'll Linkin Park hits. Poor sods.

By TobyZ on Wednesday, March 14, 2001 - 02:45 am:

On a slightly askew note, but not totally unrelated, percieved gayness is also the reason soccer will not be a massively popular sport in America anytime soon.

American football is a very physically punishing game played by big, meaty, tough guys, where soccer, considering you can't use for hands for some godforsaken reason, is played by the scrawnier wussyier guys, and is more like Riverdance with a ball.

By rob on Wednesday, March 14, 2001 - 06:14 am:

I guess that there's also a reason why American Football isn't massively popular, or even slightly popular, in the UK. Its seen as Rugby for wimps. I mean, wearing body armour and helmets?

Also, compared to soccer it's seen as slow, boring and frankly quite skillless. In soccer the players stay on the pitch for 45 minutes at a time with breaks of only a few seconds while play is stopped. In American Football there seems to big short spurts of action, where only (at best) two people having any contact with the ball. Then it's back to the adverts.

No, I'm not really into soccer or rugby but I can really enjoy watching two good teams play against each other, the skill and tension visible onscreen. I've tried watching American football games but it all I can make out is that:
a/ loads of big, stupid guys run into each other while
b/ one or two big, stupid guys throw the ball to each other, then
c/ they all come together to be told what to do next by the old, intelligent guy.
d/ cut for adverts
e/ repeat steps a-d
f/ some times score a touchdown by not touching the ball down, like in rugby, but running across a line.

Also, we people playing soccer only use their feet because that is what we call "football". I'm confused as to why American football is called that if they mostly use their hands. Beats me.

Still, I've got real essays to write...

Rob

By Rents on Wednesday, March 14, 2001 - 08:43 am:

That's 'cos they're Americans- simple really.

By natty watty on Wednesday, March 14, 2001 - 01:18 pm:

I love Toby

By natty watty on Wednesday, March 14, 2001 - 01:31 pm:

oh nathalie, natty watty does not originate from your name, but if you are annnoyed, then I'll stop using it, seeing you are one of the most cheerful copers here.

By Toby Woby on Wednesday, March 14, 2001 - 06:14 pm:

What ever floats your boat is superduperawesome with me nat-a-wat-a-ding-dong.

By nathallie on Thursday, March 15, 2001 - 10:51 pm:

why thank you whoever decided to give me the nickname "natty watty" (which, in truth, ranks in the same league as "natsie"). and i do try to be cheerful, because it's too common to just tell people to go fuck off and piss themselves.
alright everyone?
so have a great day!
love, nat.
(in short, i am not annoyed - please note the double 'l' in my name, though - thanks)

By natty watty on Friday, March 16, 2001 - 01:21 pm:

just hope the boat doesn't sink.
Oh, sorry about the mispell- Nathallie..yes, I got it right.
Thanks for not being annoyed.
I hope you have a great day Nat.

By nittaya on Friday, March 16, 2001 - 04:02 pm:

sigh, natty watty - you just that on this topic? and it ain't from my name, you say? hm, i've never had a boat, so it can't sink then, can it, eh? and i will have a great day, thank you very much.
love, nat.

By Nathallie on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 05:59 pm:

Alright, so now I need all your opinions/reviews on the new Strokes, Travis, Gorrilaz, etc. (anything else you had a reaction to fairly recently), please? You were much help last time! thanks.

By indigo on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 08:54 pm:

Gorillaz - I like them, but it was better when nobody else had heard of them and I was the weird girl in HMV asking for Tomorrow Comes Today EP. It gave it an air of mystery when noone knew who was behind it.
Strokes - cute and catchy as bugs. A good thing I think. however, they only own one outfit.
Travis - same as ever really - nice, sweet, something to hum along to and infinitely better than Kelly "dour" Jones.

By Chris on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 10:39 pm:

Odd how I never noticed this topic before. Shame, it's a good one. Let's keep it going!

By chris on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 10:50 pm:

for once you are not being negative LOL

By Chris - sour grapes remix on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 11:22 pm:

I wish I could say that for once you're not saying "LOL". Having said that, if you ever manage to type a coherent sentence people might start getting us confused so keep up the good work old son.

By chris on Thursday, September 27, 2001 - 02:37 am:

whatever@ 'Chris'.....

By Kenzie on Thursday, September 27, 2001 - 01:34 pm:

Everything that Indigo said really. Unfortunately, I have no money to go and actually BUY them.... oh well

Jeez you two (Chris and Chris) You'd think you're related.

By Chris on Thursday, September 27, 2001 - 05:34 pm:

Don't shrug your shoulders at me, young man.

By Chris on Friday, September 28, 2001 - 09:07 am:

LOL

By indigo@another.com on Friday, September 28, 2001 - 04:37 pm:

*smacks the two Chris heads together*

By Anonymous on Friday, September 28, 2001 - 06:15 pm:

prodigy made in america they should have stood together they were a good band

By Graham Shields on Saturday, September 29, 2001 - 12:11 am:

Strange you should mention them, I'm listening to Liam Howlets dirtchamber sessins thing...

By Anonymous on Saturday, September 29, 2001 - 08:08 am:

Gorillaz are fun, but I'd much rather be listening to a new Blur record. I think Graham's analysis is spot on in regards to why Gorillaz are doing well in the charts. It's also the same in that the shittier a band is, the more hardcore their fans are...

By Nat on Sunday, September 30, 2001 - 02:41 am:

um ... may I draw your attention to Weezer fans? my GOD are they violent in their adoration!

By Anonymous on Sunday, September 30, 2001 - 10:27 am:

Yeah, see. My point exactly.

By Thomas Williams {The voice for the youth of today} on Tuesday, June 18, 2002 - 09:23 pm:

Yeah!