Pulp Drummer: ‘Common People’ Sounded Like Tuneless Dirge
Pulp drummer Nick Banks has said that he originally thought the band’s hit ‘Common People’ was a “tuneless dirge”. During an appearance on 5 live Breakfast, Banks was asked if he knew the group were recording something special.
“Not particularly, no,” Banks replied. “It sounded like a bit of a tuneless dirge at first, to be honest.”
Banks said that while Jarvis Cocker’s initial lo-fi recording sounded like a “load of rubbish”, he began to appreciate the song when the band started recording in a real studio.
‘Common People’ was named the ultimate Britpop anthem by listeners of BBC Radio 6 Music.
It pushed The Verve’s ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’ into second place and ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’ by Oasis into third.
‘Common People’ was first released on May 22, 1995 and reached number two in the charts behind ‘Unchained Melody’/'(There’ll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover’ by Robson Green & Jerome Flynn.
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