Bitter Sweet Symphony • The Verve

Bitter Sweet Symphony • The Verve • 1997

Bitter Sweet Symphony... is a song by English alternative rock band, The Verve, as sung by lead vocalist Richard Ashcroft. It was released in June 1997 from The Verve’s 3rd studio album, Urban Hymns. The record went to #2 on the UK pop charts, and #12 in the US. Rolling Stone magazine named the song Single of the Year for 1997. It is considered one of the defining records of what has been called the “Britpop” era (a British alternative rock music reaction to the darker American “grunge” music scene). 

This song has an unusual beauty to it. You have to hear it for yourself. In the video attached below, Richard Ashcroft performs the song in Hyde Pork, London, at the end of a Coldplay concert, in July 2005. Ashcroft is introduced by Chris Martin, who refers to him as “the best singer in the world,” and calls Ashcroft’s song “the best song ever written.” 

I hope you’ll take a moment and take in this musical work of art. You be the judge whether Chris Martin is right in his assessment.

This is the video of Richard Ashcroft performing Bitter Sweet Symphony as part of a 2005 Coldplay concert in London: 

More on the Britpop Movement

Until next time….