Blur's third album captured the mundane glory of British life with such specificity that Phil Daniels' cockney drawl on the title track became a cultural shorthand for mid-90s England. Damon Albarn's songwriting matured beyond pastiche, threading music hall whimsy through new wave punch while Graham Coxon's guitar work added necessary grit.

The album's quadruple platinum success and four Brit Awards confirmed Britpop's commercial viability, offering a defiantly English alternative to grunge's transatlantic dominance. Songs like Girls & Boys proved observational wit could soundtrack both indie discos and mainstream radio simultaneously.