2008 in British Music

The Story of 2008

The financial crisis hit, and British music responded with escapism and introspection. Duffy's 'Rockferry' was the year's biggest British album – 'Mercy', 'Warwick Avenue' and 'Stepping Stone' channeling 60s soul with a Welsh accent. She won the Brit Awards and sold millions, the latest in a line of retro-soul stars following Winehouse. Adele released '19', her debut, winning the Critics' Choice Brit Award. 'Chasing Pavements' was a stunning introduction to the voice of a generation. Elbow's 'The Seldom Seen Kid' won the Mercury Prize, 'One Day Like This' becoming an unlikely anthem. Coldplay's 'Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends' was a Brian Eno-produced reinvention, the title track their first number one single. Kings of Leon's 'Only by the Night' was massive, 'Sex on Fire' everywhere. Dizzee Rascal went mainstream pop with 'Dance Wiv Me'. The indie scene was still strong but increasingly tired. The credit crunch was affecting the industry, and the album format was struggling. The year felt like the end of an era, though nobody quite knew what was coming next.