File 75 - Britpop Tests

Part of 1 VHS and 1 mp4 (40.2 MB)

Three versions of a colour test advert with sound promoting an Observer feature on Britpop:

a. Shows a long shot of the Abbey Road zebra crossing made famous by the Beatles, with passing traffic and a man using the crossing and walking directly away from the camera.

Commentary: 'In this Sunday's Observer, my generation compares the music of 1966 to the music of 1996. We compare the key bands and records from the two eras, and ask just how much the Britpop sound owes to the classic bands of the 1960s. Is it everything, or is that just the prejudiced view of an aging generation trying to glorify its past?'

The advert ends with the written tagline 'The Observer', next to a white representation of a head in profile. A brain appears in the head and begins to vibrate, to the closing commentary: 'The Observer, set your alarm this Sunday.'

The advert starts at 0.13 on the mp4 file. Duration: 30 seconds. It is preceded by a written screen giving the date and duration of the text and the name of the advertising agency responsible. (St Luke's).

b. Shorter, 10 second test version of (a). The test is incomplete; it shows the same footage with the altered commentary: 'In this Sunday's Observer, my generation compares the key bands of the 60s with key bands of the 90s and asks what-'

The advert starts at 0.59 on the same mp4 file. It is also preceded by an information screen.

c. Duplicate of version (a), but with wide angle footage, shot from a different viewpoint showing the zebra crossing running from left to right.

The advert starts at 02.44 on the same mp4 file and has a duration of 30 seconds. It is also preceded by an information screen.

Creator: The Observer Limited, 1917-1993

Access via GNM Digital Repository.

Also included on the VHS and mp4 are Observer adverts OBS/9/1/1/76