History UsefulNotes / TheBritishInvasion

* Music/PrettyThings

The key here is this actually was a cycle, as most of these bands were actually influenced by American rock and blues, including some featured in the JayneMansfield film ''Film/TheGirlCantHelpIt''. Many of these bands took it to the next level, and not just the oft-cited Beatles; consider bands who laid the groundwork for hard rock and heavy metal, such as Music/TheRollingStones, Music/TheKinks, and Music/TheWho. (It may not be a coincidence that the [[BuccaneerBroadcaster offshore pirate radio boom]] took place around the same time, giving bands much-needed airplay that TheBBC didn't have time for until the launch of Radio 1 in 1967.)

The first invasion may have just been in the 1960s, but it turned full circle when American artists took the sound yet further, such as [[Music/JimiHendrix The Jimi Hendrix Experience]] (even if only the guitarist and second bassist were American) and early heavy metal bands. This lead to the Second British Invasion in the late [[TheSeventies 1970s]] and early [[TheEighties 1980s]], with {{punk rock}}, the NewWaveOfBritishHeavyMetal (or NWOBHM), and Music/NewWave (not to be confused with the heavy metal). This second wave of British music was brought on, perhaps inadvertently, by {{MTV}}. In their early years, MTV was desperate for any music videos they could get their hands on, and it just so happened that most of the music videos of that time were coming out of Britain, thanks to shows like ''TopOfThePops'' that helped to popularize the format over there in TheSeventies. By contrast, most American music videos during the same period were merely videotaped concert performances. MTV threw these British videos on the air, and the bands suddenly saw themselves developing [[{{Squee}} screaming]] [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff American fanbases]] virtually overnight. Combine this with the [[DorkAge creative slump]] in American popular music following [[DeaderThanDisco the anti-disco backlash]] of the late '70s/early '80s, and British pop and rock took over the American music market.

* [[Music/VanMorrison Them]]

* Music/Donovan

Finally in about 2005, there was a British television invasion on American shores, thanks to the creation of BBC America as well as the rise of video sharing websites and the revival of British juggernaut ''DoctorWho.'' Following in ''Who's'' footsteps were both of its spinoffs, ''Series/{{Torchwood}}'' and ''TheSarahJaneAdventures,'' ''BeingHuman,'' ''Sherlock,'' ''TopGear,'' ''Merlin,'' and ''DowntonAbbey.''

Finally in about 2005, there was a British television invasion on American shores, thanks to the creation of BBC America as well as the rise of video sharing websites and the revival of British juggernaut ''DoctorWho.'' Following in ''Who's'' footsteps were both of its spinoffs, ''Series/{{Torchwood}}'' and ''TheSarahJaneAdventures,'' ''BeingHuman,'' ''Sherlock,'' ''TopGear,'' ''Merlin,'' ''DowntonAbbey,'' and even British talk shows such as ''Graham Norton'' are shown often day and date with the British broadcast.

A fourth British invasion started in 2007, when Amy Winehouse's album "Back to Black" enjoyed huge commercial and critical acclaim, including winning 5 Grammy's in a single night then more than any other British artist had ever won. It also became the highest charting debut album on the Billboard 200 by a British female artist at that point. Back to Black subsequently paved the way for British artists, particularly for female and soul artists to enjoy success on the Billboard charts. Following Back to Black's release, artists like Adele, Duffy, Florence and The Machine, Lily Allen, MIA, Mumford & Sons, Jay Sean and Leona Lewis all enjoyed critical and commercial success stateside to different degrees. Many of these artists including Florence Welch, Ellie Goulding and even Adele herself cited Winehouse's success with paving the way for them. In 2009 Susan Boyle's debut album "I Dreamed a Dream" became the best selling album of the year. In 2011 Adele's album "21" became the best-seller of the year and gave her three number-one hit songs and other artists like, Taio Cruz, Mumford & Sons, Jessie J, Tinie Tempah and The Wanted started having hits crossing over the Atlantic. The invasion continued into 2012, when an onslaught of British artists invaded the American pop charts. The only one of these artists to join Adele and Mumford & Sons in becoming U.S. superstars were One Direction; in fact, those three artists (along with Coldplay, who have been popular long before the start of this invasion), were the only British acts to have topped the Billboard 200 since "21" was first released. Still, The Wanted, Ellie Goulding, Cher Lloyd, Alex Clare, Ed Sheeran, Olly Murs, Emeli Sande, Labrinth, Passenger, Bastille, and John Newman have all scored one top 40 hit each, while Calvin Harris, the other big British breakout, had four top 40 hits (not counting a Rihanna song he was featured on), but all were sung by different people. Artists like Rita Ora, Marina & The Diamonds, Paloma Faith, Emeli Sande, Little Mix, The Saturdays, Conor Maynard, Disclosure, and Naughty Boy are also aiming for American stardom.

Not to be confused with UsefulNotes/TheAmericanRevolution or the WarOf1812, the only occasions of an actual invasion by [[BritsWithBattleships His Majesty's Armed Forces]] of the United States.

Not to be confused with UsefulNotes/TheAmericanRevolution or the WarOf1812, the only occasions of an actual British invasion by [[BritsWithBattleships His Majesty's Armed Forces]] of the United States.

Not to be confused with UsefulNotes/TheAmericanRevolution or the WarOf1812.

The first invasion may have just been in the 1960s, but it turned full circle when American artists took the sound yet further, such as JimiHendrix and early heavy metal bands. This lead to the Second British Invasion in the late [[TheSeventies 1970s]] and early [[TheEighties 1980s]], with {{punk rock}}, the NewWaveOfBritishHeavyMetal (or NWOBHM), and Music/NewWave (not to be confused with the heavy metal). This second wave of British music was brought on, perhaps inadvertently, by {{MTV}}. In their early years, MTV was desperate for any music videos they could get their hands on, and it just so happened that most of the music videos of that time were coming out of Britain, thanks to shows like ''TopOfThePops'' that helped to popularize the format over there in TheSeventies. By contrast, most American music videos during the same period were merely videotaped concert performances. MTV threw these British videos on the air, and the bands suddenly saw themselves developing [[{{Squee}} screaming]] [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff American fanbases]] virtually overnight. Combine this with the [[DorkAge creative slump]] in American popular music following [[DeaderThanDisco the anti-disco backlash]] of the late '70s/early '80s, and British pop and rock took over the American music market.

A fourth British invasion had its seeds first planted in 2007, when Amy Winehouse's album "Back to Black" enjoyed huge commercial and critical acclaim, including winning 5 Grammy's in a single night then more than any other British artist had ever won. It also became the highest charting debut album on the Billboard 200 by a British female artist at that point. Back to Black subsequently paved the way for British artists, particularly for female and soul artists to enjoy success on the Billboard charts. Following Back to Black's release, artists like Adele, Duffy, Florence and The Machine, Lily Allen, MIA, Mumford & Sons, Jay Sean and Leona Lewis all enjoyed critical and commercial success stateside to different degrees. Many of these artists including Florence Welch, Ellie Goulding and even Adele herself cited Winehouse's success with paving the way for them. In 2009 Susan Boyle's debut album "I Dreamed a Dream" became the best selling album of the year. The invasion really took off in 2011, when Adele's album "21" also became the best-seller of the year and gave her three number-one hit songs and other artists like, Taio Cruz, Mumford & Sons, Jessie J, Tinie Tempah and The Wanted started having hits crossing over the Atlantic. The invasion continued into 2012, when an onslaught of British artists invaded the American pop charts. The only one of these artists to join Adele and Mumford & Sons in becoming U.S. superstars were One Direction; in fact, those three artists (along with Coldplay, who have been popular long before the start of this invasion), were the only British acts to have topped the Billboard 200 since "21" was first released. Still, The Wanted, Ellie Goulding, Cher Lloyd, Alex Clare, Ed Sheeran, Olly Murs, Emeli Sande, Labrinth, Passenger, Bastille, and John Newman have all scored one top 40 hit each, while Calvin Harris, the other big British breakout, had four top 40 hits (not counting a Rihanna song he was featured on), but all were sung by different people. Artists like Rita Ora, Marina & The Diamonds, Paloma Faith, Emeli Sande, Little Mix, The Saturdays, Conor Maynard, Disclosure, and Naughty Boy are also aiming for American stardom.

A fourth British invasion started in 2007, when Amy Winehouse's album "Back to Black" enjoyed huge commercial and critical acclaim, including winning 5 Grammy's in a single night then more than any other British artist had ever won. It also became the highest charting debut album on the Billboard 200 by a British female artist at that point. Back to Black subsequently paved the way for British artists, particularly for female and soul artists to enjoy success on the Billboard charts. Following Back to Black's release artists like Adele, Duffy, Florence and The Machine, Lily Allen, Ellie Goulding, Eliza Dolittle, MIA, Mumford & Sons, Jay Sean and Rumer all enjoyed critical and commercial success stateside to different degrees. Many of these artists including Florence Welch, Ellie Goulding and even Adele herself cited Winehouse's success with paving the way for them. In 2009 Susan Boyle's debut album "I Dreamed a Dream" became the best selling album of the year. Two years later in 2011 Adele's album "21" also became the best-seller of the year and gave her three number-one hit songs and other artists like, Taio Cruz, Mumford & Sons, Jessie J, Tinie Tempah and The Wanted started having hits crossing over the Atlantic. The invasion continued into 2012, when an onslaught of British artists invaded the American pop charts. The only one of these artists to join Adele and Mumford & Sons in becoming U.S. superstars were One Direction; in fact, those three artists (along with Coldplay, who have been popular long before the start of this invasion), were the only British acts to have topped the Billboard 200 since "21" was first released. Still, The Wanted, Ellie Goulding, Cher Lloyd, Alex Clare, Ed Sheeran and Olly Murs have all scored one top 40 hit each, while Calvin Harris, the other big British breakout, had three top 40 hits (not counting a Rihanna song he was featured on), but all were sung by different people. Artists like Rita Ora, Marina & The Diamonds, Paloma Faith, Emeli Sande, Little Mix, The Saturdays and Conor Maynard are now aiming for American stardom.

A fourth British invasion started in 2008, when Amy Winehouse's album "Back to Black" enjoyed huge commercial and critical acclaim, including winning 5 Grammy's in a single night then more than any other British artist had ever won. Back to Black subsequently paved the way for British artists, particularly for female and soul artists. Following Back to Black's release artists like Adele, Duffy, Florence and The Machine, Lily Allen, Ellie Goulding, Eliza Dolittle, MIA, Mumford & Sons, Jay Sean and Rumer all enjoyed critical and commercial success stateside to different degrees. Many of these artists including Adele herself cited Winehouse's success with paving the way for them. In 2009 Susan Boyle's debut album "I Dreamed a Dream" became the best selling album of the year. Two years later in 2011 Adele's album "21" also became the best-seller of the year and gave her three number-one hit songs and other artists like, Taio Cruz, Mumford & Sons, Jessie J, Tinie Tempah and The Wanted started having hits crossing over the Atlantic. The invasion continued into 2012, when an onslaught of British artists invaded the American pop charts. The only one of these artists to join Adele and Mumford & Sons in becoming U.S. superstars were One Direction; in fact, those three artists (along with Coldplay, who have been popular long before the start of this invasion), were the only British acts to have topped the Billboard 200 since "21" was first released. Still, The Wanted, Ellie Goulding, Cher Lloyd, Alex Clare, Ed Sheeran and Olly Murs have all scored one top 40 hit each, while Calvin Harris, the other big British breakout, had three top 40 hits (not counting a Rihanna song he was featured on), but all were sung by different people. Artists like Rita Ora, Marina & The Diamonds, Paloma Faith, Emeli Sande, Little Mix, The Saturdays and Conor Maynard are now aiming for American stardom.

A fourth British invasion started in 2008, when Amy Winehouse's album "Back to Black" enjoyed huge commercial and critical acclaim, including winning 5 Grammy's in a single night then more than any other British artist had ever won. Back to Black subsequently paved the way for British artists, particularly for female and soul artists. Following Back to Black's release artists like Adele, Duffy, Florence and The Machine, Lily Allen, Ellie Goulding, Eliza Dolittle, MIA, Jay Sean and Rumer all enjoyed critical and commercial success stateside to different degrees. Many of these artists including Adele herself cited Winehouse's success with paving the way for them. In 2009 Susan Boyle's debut album "I Dreamed a Dream" became the best selling album of the year. Two years later in 2011 Adele's album "21" also became the best-seller of the year and gave her three number-one hit songs and other artists like, Taio Cruz, Mumford & Sons, Jessie J, Tinie Tempah and The Wanted started having hits crossing over the Atlantic. The invasion continued into 2012, when an onslaught of British artists invaded the American pop charts. The only one of these artists to join Adele and Mumford & Sons in becoming U.S. superstars were One Direction; in fact, those three artists (along with Coldplay, who have been popular long before the start of this invasion), were the only British acts to have topped the Billboard 200 since "21" was first released. Still, The Wanted, Ellie Goulding, Cher Lloyd, Alex Clare, Ed Sheeran and Olly Murs have all scored one top 40 hit each, while Calvin Harris, the other big British breakout, had three top 40 hits (not counting a Rihanna song he was featured on), but all were sung by different people. Artists like Rita Ora, Marina & The Diamonds, Paloma Faith, Emeli Sande, Little Mix, The Saturdays and Conor Maynard are now aiming for American stardom.

A fourth British invasion started in 2008, when Amy Winehouse's album "Back to Black" enjoyed huge commercial and critical acclaim, including winning 5 Grammy's in a single night then more than any other British artist had ever won. Back to Black subsequently paved the way for British artists, particularly for female and soul artists. Following Back to Black's release artists like Adele, Duffy, Florence and The Machine, Lily Allen, Ellie Goulding, Eliza Dolittle and Rumer all enjoyed critical and commercial success stateside to different degrees. Many of these artists including Adele herself cited Winehouse's success with paving the way for them. In 2009 Susan Boyle's debut album "I Dreamed a Dream" became the best selling album of the year. Two years later in 2011 Adele's album "21" also became the best-seller of the year and gave her three number-one hit songs and other artists like, MIA, Jay Sean, Taio Cruz, Mumford & Sons, Jessie J, Tinie Tempah and The Wanted started having hits crossing over the Atlantic. The invasion continued into 2012, when an onslaught of British artists invaded the American pop charts. The only one of these artists to join Adele and Mumford & Sons in becoming U.S. superstars were One Direction; in fact, those three artists (along with Coldplay, who have been popular long before the start of this invasion), were the only British acts to have topped the Billboard 200 since "21" was first released. Still, The Wanted, Ellie Goulding, Cher Lloyd, Alex Clare, Ed Sheeran and Olly Murs have all scored one top 40 hit each, while Calvin Harris, the other big British breakout, had three top 40 hits (not counting a Rihanna song he was featured on), but all were sung by different people. Artists like Rita Ora, Marina & The Diamonds, Paloma Faith, Emeli Sande, Little Mix, The Saturdays and Conor Maynard are now aiming for American stardom.

A fourth British invasion started in 2008, when Amy Winehouse's album "Back to Black" enjoyed huge commercial and critical acclaim, including winning 5 Grammy's in a single night then more than any other British artist had ever won. Back to Black subsequently paved the way for British artists, particularly for female and soul artists. Following Back to Black artists like Adele, Duffy, Florence and The Machine, Lily Allen, Ellie Goulding, Eliza Dolittle and Rumer all enjoyed critical and commercial success stateside to different degrees. Many of them including Adele herself cited Winehouse's success with paving the way for them. In 2009 Susan Boyle's debut album "I Dreamed a Dream" became the best selling album of the year. Two years later in 2011 Adele's album "21" also became the best-seller of the year and gave her three number-one hit songs and other artists like, MIA, Jay Sean, Taio Cruz, Mumford & Sons, Jessie J, Tinie Tempah and The Wanted started having hits crossing over the Atlantic. The invasion continued into 2012, when an onslaught of British artists invaded the American pop charts. The only one of these artists to join Adele and Mumford & Sons in becoming U.S. superstars were One Direction; in fact, those three artists (along with Coldplay, who have been popular long before the start of this invasion), were the only British acts to have topped the Billboard 200 since "21" was first released. Still, The Wanted, Ellie Goulding, Cher Lloyd, Alex Clare, Ed Sheeran and Olly Murs have all scored one top 40 hit each, while Calvin Harris, the other big British breakout, had three top 40 hits (not counting a Rihanna song he was featured on), but all were sung by different people. Artists like Rita Ora, Marina & The Diamonds, Paloma Faith, Emeli Sande, Little Mix, The Saturdays and Conor Maynard are now aiming for American stardom.

A fourth British invasion started in 2008, when Amy Winehouse's album "Back to Black" enjoyed huge commercial and critical acclaim, including winning 5 Grammy's in a single night then more than any other British artist had ever won. Back to Black subsequently paved the way for British singers, particularly for female and soul singers. Following Back to Black artists like Adele, Duffy, Florence and The Machine, Lily Allen, Ellie Goulding, Eliza Dolittle and Rumer all enjoyed critical and commercial success stateside to different degrees. In 2009 Susan Boyle's debut album "I Dreamed a Dream" became the best selling album of the year. Two years later in 2011 when Adele's album "21" became the best-seller of the year and gave her three number-one hit songs other artists like, MIA, Jay Sean, Taio Cruz, Mumford & Sons, Jessie J, Tinie Tempah and The Wanted started having hits crossing over the Atlantic. The invasion continued into 2012, when an onslaught of British artists invaded the American pop charts. The only one of these artists to join Adele and Mumford & Sons in becoming U.S. superstars were One Direction; in fact, those three artists (along with Coldplay, who have been popular long before the start of this invasion), were the only British acts to have topped the Billboard 200 since "21" was first released. Still, The Wanted, Ellie Goulding, Cher Lloyd, Alex Clare, Ed Sheeran and Olly Murs have all scored one top 40 hit each, while Calvin Harris, the other big British breakout, had three top 40 hits (not counting a Rihanna song he was featured on), but all were sung by different people. Artists like Rita Ora, Marina & The Diamonds, Paloma Faith, Emeli Sande, Little Mix, The Saturdays and Conor Maynard are now aiming for American stardom.

A fourth British invasion started in 2008, when Amy Winehouse's album "Back to Black" enjoyed huge commercial and critical acclaim and paved the way for British singer particularly female and soul singers. Following its success artists like Adele, Duffy, Florence and The Machine, Lily Allen, Ellie Goulding, Eliza Dolittle and Rumer all enjoyed critical and commercial success stateside. In 2009 Susan Boyle's debut album "I Dreamed a Dream" became the best selling album of the year. Two years later in 2011 when Adele's album "21" became the best-seller of the year and gave her three number-one hit songs other artists like, MIA, Jay Sean, Taio Cruz, Mumford & Sons, Jessie J, Tinie Tempah and The Wanted started having hits crossing over the Atlantic. The invasion really continued into 2012, when an onslaught of British artists invaded the American pop charts. The only one of these artists to join Adele and Mumford & Sons in becoming U.S. superstars were One Direction; in fact, those three artists (along with Coldplay, who have been popular long before the start of this invasion), were the only British acts to have topped the Billboard 200 since "21" was first released. Still, The Wanted, Ellie Goulding, Cher Lloyd, Alex Clare, Ed Sheeran and Olly Murs have all scored one top 40 hit each, while Calvin Harris, the other big British breakout, had three top 40 hits (not counting a Rihanna song he was featured on), but all were sung by different people. Artists like Rita Ora, Marina & The Diamonds, Paloma Faith, Emeli Sande, Little Mix, The Saturdays and Conor Maynard are now aiming for American stardom.

A fourth British invasion started in 2008, when Amy Winehouse's album "Back to Black" enjoyed huge commercial and critical acclaim. Following its success artists like Adele, Duffy, Florence and The Machine, Ellie Goulding, Eliza Dolittle, Rumer and Susan Boyle's whose debut album "I Dreamed a Dream" became the best selling album in America in 2009. Two years later in 2011 when Adele's album "21" became the best-seller of the year and gave her three number-one hit songs other artists like, MIA, Jay Sean, Taio Cruz, Mumford & Sons, Jessie J, Tinie Tempah and The Wanted started having hits crossing over the Atlantic. The invasion really continued into 2012, when an onslaught of British artists invaded the American pop charts. The only one of these artists to join Adele and Mumford & Sons in becoming U.S. superstars were One Direction; in fact, those three artists (along with Coldplay, who have been popular long before the start of this invasion), were the only British acts to have topped the Billboard 200 since "21" was first released. Still, The Wanted, Ellie Goulding, Cher Lloyd, Alex Clare, Ed Sheeran and Olly Murs have all scored one top 40 hit each, while Calvin Harris, the other big British breakout, had three top 40 hits (not counting a Rihanna song he was featured on), but all were sung by different people. Artists like Rita Ora, Marina & The Diamonds, Paloma Faith, Emeli Sande, Little Mix, The Saturdays and Conor Maynard are now aiming for American stardom.

A fourth British invasion started in 2011, when Adele's album "21" became the best-seller of the year and gave her three number-one hit songs. During that time, artists like Leona Lewis, MIA, Jay Sean, Taio Cruz, Susan Boyle, Mumford & Sons, Jessie J, Tinie Tempah and The Wanted started having hits crossing over the Atlantic. The invasion really kicked off in 2012, when an onslaught of British artists invaded the American pop charts. The only one of these artists to join Adele and Mumford & Sons in becoming U.S. superstars were One Direction; in fact, those three artists (along with Coldplay, who have been popular long before the start of this invasion), were the only British acts to have topped the Billboard 200 since "21" was first released. Still, The Wanted, Ellie Goulding, Cher Lloyd, Alex Clare, Ed Sheeran and Olly Murs have all scored one top 40 hit each, while Calvin Harris, the other big British breakout, had three top 40 hits (not counting a Rihanna song he was featured on), but all were sung by different people. Artists like Rita Ora, Marina & The Diamonds, Emeli Sande, Little Mix, The Saturdays and Conor Maynard are now aiming for American stardom.

When British ComicBook talents like AlanMoore and GrantMorrison started coming over in 1980s America to make their mark, their tremendous success was likened to being a comic book British Invasion.

Not to be confused with TheAmericanRevolution or the WarOf1812.

A fourth British invasion started in 2011, when Adele's album "21" became the best-seller of the year and gave her three number-one hit songs. During that time, artists like Susan Boyle, Mumford & Sons, Jessie J, Tinie Tempah and The Wanted started having hits crossing over the Atlantic. The invasion really kicked off in 2012, when an onslaught of British artists invaded the American pop charts. The only one of these artists to join Adele and Mumford & Sons in becoming U.S. superstars were One Direction; in fact, those three artists (along with Coldplay, who have been popular long before the start of this invasion), were the only British acts to have topped the Billboard 200 since "21" was first released. Still, Leona Lewis, MIA, Taio Cruz, The Wanted, Ellie Goulding, Cher Lloyd, Alex Clare, Ed Sheeran and Olly Murs have all scored one top 40 hit each, Jay Sean scored two top 10 hits, and Calvin Harris, the other big British breakout, had three top 40 hits (not counting a Rihanna song he was featured on), but all were sung by different people. Artists like Rita Ora, Marina & The Diamonds, Emeli Sande, Little Mix, The Saturdays and Conor Maynard are now aiming for American stardom.

A fourth British invasion started in 2011, when Adele's album "21" became the best-seller of the year and gave her three number-one hit songs. During that time, artists like Mumford & Sons, Jessie J, and Tinie Tempah started to have hits crossing over the Atlantic. The invasion really kicked off in 2012, when an onslaught of British artists invaded the American pop charts. The only one of these artists to join Adele and Mumford & Sons in becoming U.S. superstars were One Direction; in fact, those three artists (along with Coldplay, who have been popular long before the start of this invasion), were the only British acts to have topped the Billboard 200 since "21" was first released. Still, The Wanted, Ellie Goulding, Cher Lloyd, Alex Clare, Ed Sheeran, and Olly Murs have all scored one top 40 hit each, while Calvin Harris, the other big British breakout, had three top 40 hits (not counting a Rihanna song he was featured on), but all were sung by different people. Artists like Rita Ora, Marina & The Diamonds, Emeli Sande, Little Mix, The Saturdays, and Conor Maynard are now aiming for American stardom.

* Music/SmallFaces