Manchester is a city steeped in musical history, with some of the biggest names coming from the area. From Oasis to Joy Division, The Smiths to Happy Mondays, plenty of talent has s[ruing from Manchester and the surrounding area.
With this, some of the most memorable and iconic songs in UK music have been created by these local acts. Many of these songs remain just as popular as they were when first released.
To celebrate the rich Mancunian music influence, we’ve taken a stab at collecting together the best songs which have come from the city. Many of these were suggested by you, our readers.
1. Joy Division- Love Will Tear Us Apart
The classic Joy Division track was released in 1980 and was focused around lead singer Ian Curtis and his troubled relationship with wife Deborah Woodruff. The song has gone on to influence many other musicians and bands including The Pet Shop Boys. The song focuses on Curtis’ marriage, but also takes into account his own struggles with epilepsy and his efforts to hold down a day job whilst his singing career got off the ground. The track is rough and elegant, and will go down as a work of art for years to come. It was released a month after Curtis died by suicide.
2. Oasis- Champagne Supernova
This cult Oasis classic featured on the huge hit album ‘(What’s The Story) Morning Glory?’ which was released in 1995. The song is the longest on the album and is also the last on the tracklist. The Jam’s Paul Weller is a backing vocalist and guitar player on the track which rounds off arguably one of the greatest albums of the last 30 years in style. It was a song which many Oasis fans hoped to hear when heading to one of their live shows.
3. New Order - Blue Monday
This electronic tribute to the New York club scene is one which has become known the world over. Released in 1983, the track has a techno beat which is instantly recognisable to hard core music fans. Widely recognised as a ‘synth pop classic’, Blue Monday continues to be one of the best known tracks to come from Manchester. The original single made the top 10 in many countries. It reached number nine on the UK Singles Chart and spent 38 weeks in the top 75. (Photo by Jo Hale/Getty Images)
4. The Smiths- This Charming Man
Released in 1983, ‘This Charming Man’ was written by Johnny Marr and Morrissey. The track was released as a single and has become an iconic tune. It was released just five months after the band’s debut single, but has since become their most well known track.