Suddenly, it all went very serious. Noel Gallagher seemed to be every politician’s friend. And bands who smiled were a very bad thing indeed.
Thankfully it gave us some of the best music to emerge from the 90’s. While Blur quietly revinvented themselves (again) with tracks like ‘Song 2’, ‘OK Computer’, ‘Ladies And Gentlemen’, ‘Urban Hymns’, ‘Radiator’ and ‘Vanishing Point’ were all released this year and reminded everyone just how beautiful music could be.
Album of the year: Take your pick. Spiritualized, The Verve, Radiohead….the list goes on.
Single of the year: ‘Bittersweet Symphony’ by The Verve
Band of the year: Radiohead
Year Belonged To: The General Election 
Once more, Glastonbury proved beyond all doubt that this was the year for ‘serious’ bands. In a headlining slot on the Main Stage, Radiohead managed to take people’s mind off both the mud and The Prodigy’s disappointing set on the previous day.
Summer also saw the long-awaited General Election which booted the Tories out of power. Latching desperately onto Cool Britannia (about two years too late but still…), Tony Blair got the kids’ vote and consequently clinched power.