2000 in British Music

The Story of 2000

The millennium began with a new generation of British bands. Coldplay released 'Parachutes', 'Yellow' becoming the sound of a new decade – sensitive, anthemic and radio-friendly. Radiohead released 'Kid A', a radical departure into electronic experimentalism that baffled fans and critics on first listen but would be recognised as a masterpiece. They followed it with 'Amnesiac' the same year. Dido's 'No Angel' was a sleeper hit that became a phenomenon. Robbie Williams was still enormous, his album 'Sing When You're Winning' spawning 'Rock DJ'. The pop charts were dominated by the tail end of the boyband era – Westlife, A1 and Hear'Say (the first reality TV band from Popstars) all scoring number ones. But a new underground was growing: garage was bubbling, with So Solid Crew, Artful Dodger and Craig David's 'Born to Do It' bringing UK garage to the mainstream. 'Re-Rewind' and '7 Days' were the sound of a new British dance movement. The year was a transition between the millennial pop and the garage revolution that would define the early 2000s.