Britpop was a subgenre of alternative rock that originated in the UK in the 1990s as a reaction to the popularity of grunge from the US. Key bands in the movement included Blur, Oasis, Pulp, Supergrass, and Sleeper. Britpop artists drew influence from British guitar music of the past like British Invasion, glam rock, and punk rock as well as bands like The Kinks, The Beatles, and The Smiths. The genre was characterized by a focus on bands rather than solo artists playing drums, bass, guitar and vocals and writing lyrics relevant to British youth.