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Bitter Sweet Symphony
Rock · 1997 · 3 tracks

Bitter Sweet Symphony

The Verve

Cinematic strings meet a steady breakbeat in this definitive 90s anthem of urban existentialism and the relentless cycle of modern life.

June 1, 1997 · Hut Recordings

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This single represents the peak of the Britpop era's transition into something more expansive, cinematic, and emotionally heavy. At its core is the tension between the 'sweet' soaring orchestral sample and the 'bitter' reality of the lyrics, which grapple with the monotony of capitalism and the search for spiritual meaning in a grey world. It sounds like the moment of realization that comes when you stop trying to fit in and start walking your own path, regardless of who you bump into along the way.

Tracklist · 3 Tracks
02
Lord I Guess I’ll Never Know
4:52
03
Country Song
7:51
04
Bitter Sweet Symphony
4:35
Moments Worth Listening For
the moment the soaring strings first lock in with the steady, hip-hop-influenced drum beat
Richard Ashcroft’s voice dropping to a near-whisper during the bridge section
the chaotic wall of noise and ad-libs that builds as the track reaches its final minute
Where This Album DepartsEach spoke is a trait. The orange shape shows where this album pulls away from — or holds to — the rest of the artist’s catalogue. Tap for more.

How does Bitter Sweet Symphony sound next to the rest of The Verve's catalogue?

Violin+3.8σ

The instrumentation foregrounds violin far more than the catalogue usually does.

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