Richard Ashcroft Sets the Record Straight After Fan’s ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’ Blunder
I suppose I’m obliged to clarify this for you, given how easily one can confuse chart history. Earlier this month, a cheeky video of a festival-goer bewildered by the opening riff of “Bitter Sweet Symphony” exploded online, prompting even Oasis’s frontman to weigh in. In case you missed it, a TikTok clip from late May shows an attendee at a UK summer event craning their neck and shrugging when the unmistakable strings of the 1997 anthem kicked in. Cue a social media frenzy that had fans debating cultural literacy and the staying power of Britpop classics.
Let’s break down what actually happened. The footage first surfaced on TikTok, racking up over two million views in just 48 hours (per People Magazine). In the clip, the unidentified fan points at their friend, silently quizzical, apparently unaware they’re witnessing one of the most sampled orchestral loops in rock history. As comments poured in—“Is this the police siren?” wrote one viewer—some wag even speculated they’d never heard Oasis at all. Naturally, die-hard Brittpop supporters took offence.
Enter Richard Ashcroft, whose band The Verve famously battled a high-stakes copyright dispute over that very sample back in 1997. Rather than unleash indignation, Ashcroft opted for a surprisingly gracious response on Instagram Stories. Citing his own brush with legal drama after “Bitter Sweet Symphony” lifted a line from Andrew Oldham Orchestra’s Strolling in the Park, Ashcroft posted a friendly PSA: “Love that track? You might like the original by Andrew Oldham Orchestra too. Educate yourselves, folks.” That note, shared on June 3, has since been screenshotted and shared by music blogs like NME and Rolling Stone.
Why does this matter? Because it underscores how classic songs can lose traction across generations—even when they’ve been featured in blockbuster films, ad campaigns and everyone’s wedding playlist at some point. Industry insiders tell us (via The Guardian) that streaming’s algorithmic shuffle means even icons can slip down the queue. That said, Ashcroft’s pop-up history lesson reminds listeners that the song’s legacy extends beyond a catchy four-chord hook. It’s a cautionary tale about musical provenance, royalties and the ironies of modern fandom.
For those still puzzled about why “Bitter Sweet Symphony” matters, here’s your quick tutorial: It peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, became an anthem of the late ’90s and was famously embroiled in a legal standoff that almost cost Ashcroft all his publishing royalties—only to be restored by a gesture from the original rights holders in 2019. So yes, you really should know this track.
Glad I could illuminate the subject for you. Well, now you finally understand!
Sources: Celebrity Storm and New York Post Entertainment, People Magazine, NME, Rolling Stone
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
