What is the Bitter Sweet original?
The Verve’s “Bitter Sweet Symphony” is a defining songs from one of my favourite music periods, the Britpop era. In the late 90s, you could hear this song everywhere. It was in indie clubs, on the Cruel Intentions soundtrack, on Nike commercials and every time England played international football matches. The “Bitter Sweet Symphony” melody is based on a sample from the Andrew Oldham Orchestra cover of the Rolling Stones’ 1965 song “The Last Time”. Legal controversy meant that the Verve only received token royalties for one of the most popular 90s songs. But what is the “Bitter Sweet Symphony” original?
“The Last Time” itself is heavily inspired by the Staple Singers’ “This May Be the Last Time”. Also, it is the Andrew Oldham Orchestra recording that features those distinctive string passages heard in “Bitter Sweet Symphony”. That’s why I wonder if “The Last Time” really can be considered the “Bitter Sweet Symphony” original.
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