Rankings / Metro

The Sound of Manchester

United Kingdom · #18 origin · 5 Velvet Rock tracks

Combined (3:1)
322.4
US score
16
UK score
72.1
Attributed artists
63

Signature decade 2020s · era-distinctiveness 2.09 · score per artist 5.1

Decade fingerprint

1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020

Top artists

  1. 1Harry Styles68.8
  2. 2Oasis50.5
  3. 3Simply Red41.2
  4. 4Take That27.8
  5. 5Herman's Hermits25.5
  6. 6The Hollies17.4
  7. 710cc13.3
  8. 8Lisa Stansfield10.1
  9. 9Joy Division6.1
  10. 10The Verve5
  11. 11The Mindbenders4.5
  12. 12Buzzcocks3.8
  13. 13New Order3.8
  14. 14Freddie and the Dreamers3.7
  15. 15The Smiths3.6

Signature songs

  1. 1“As It Was” — Harry Styles · UK / US #1 (2022)
  2. 2“Watermelon Sugar” — Harry Styles · UK / US #1 (2020)
  3. 3“Late Night Talking” — Harry Styles · UK / US #2 (2022)
  4. 4“He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother” — The Hollies · UK / US #1 (1969)
  5. 5“I'm Telling You Now” — Freddie and the Dreamers · UK / US #1 (1963)
  6. 6“All Around the World” — Lisa Stansfield · UK / US #1 (1989)
  7. 7“I'm Not in Love” — 10cc · UK / US #1 (1975)
  8. 8“A Groovy Kind of Love” — The Mindbenders · UK / US #2 (1966)
  9. 9“Sign of the Times” — Harry Styles · UK / US #1 (2017)
  10. 10“Holding Back the Years” — Simply Red · UK / US #1 (1986)
  11. 11“Aperture” — Harry Styles · UK / US #1 (2026)
  12. 12“American Girls” — Harry Styles · UK / US #1 (2026)
  13. 13“Wonderwall” — Oasis · UK / US #2 (1995)
  14. 14“Silhouettes” — Herman's Hermits · UK / US #3 (1965)
  15. 15“The Air That I Breathe” — The Hollies · UK / US #2 (1974)

Chart-topping #1 singles

Year ▼SingleArtistChart
2026“American Girls”Harry StylesUK
2026“Aperture”Harry StylesUK / US
2022“As It Was”Harry StylesUK / US
2020“Watermelon Sugar”Harry StylesUS
2017“Sign of the Times”Harry StylesUK
2014“Me and My Broken Heart”RixtonUK
2014“These Days”Take ThatUK
2013“Under Control”HurtsUK
2012“Sing”Gary Barlow & The Commonwealth BandUK
2009“The Official BBC Children in Need Medley”Peter Kay's Animated All Star BandUK
2008“Greatest Day”Take ThatUK
2008“Singin' in the Rain”Mint RoyaleUK
2008“That's Not My Name”The Ting TingsUK
2007“(I'm Gonna Be) 500 Miles”Brian Potter & Andy PipkinUK
2007“Shine”Take ThatUK
2006“Patience”Take ThatUK
2005“(Is This the Way to) Amarillo”Peter KayUK
2005“Lyla”OasisUK
2005“That's My Goal”Shayne WardUK
2005“The Importance of Being Idle”OasisUK
2002“The Hindu Times”OasisUK
2000“Go Let It Out”OasisUK
1998“All Around the World”OasisUK
1997“Block Rockin' Beats”The Chemical BrothersUK
1997“D'You Know What I Mean?”OasisUK
25 of 60 #1 singles · click a column to sort

Velvet Rock

5 Master Tape tracks by Manchester artists: Holding Back the Years - 2008 Remaster (Simply Red) · If You Don't Know Me by Now - 2008 Remaster (Simply Red) · Breakout (Swing Out Sister) · Holding Back the Years - Extended Single Mix; 2008 Remaster (Simply Red) · The Things We Do For Love (10cc)