Many of us have probably heard about the how the British invaded and colonized the United States, and how we fought for independence during the American Revolution. However, there is a second British invasion occurring currently, and that is within the world of music. British artists have become increasingly popular, especially in the rock and pop genres of music, and we can trace the roots of this so-called “invasion” all the way back to 1964, with the Beatles.

The Beatles started this invasion when they first appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964. The band performed five songs during this show, and attracted 73 million television viewers that night. The Beatles kicked off this trend of British bands gaining popularity in the United States, but they were not the only band to achieve such feat.

The Rolling Stones also became an important part of our music history. The band’s song “The Last Time” was a top ten hit in the United States, and it also appeared on the Ed Sullivan show, gaining even more American bands. The Rolling Stones were best remembered for its explicit lyrics, which were uncommon at the time, and still has numerous fans today.

Moving to more recent music, Coldplay is a well-known band that people avidly listen to today. Although Coldplay started recording its first album “Parachutes,” in 1999, its invasion into the United States started in October 2000, when the single “Shiver” was sent to U.S. college and alternative radio stations. Since then, Coldplay has been releasing hit singles and gaining more and more popularity in America. Its album “Viva la Vida or Death and All of His Friends” made the American Top 40 charts and its title track “Viva la Vida” was the band’s first number one single on the Billboard Charts.

Currently in music, British artists can be found all over American radio stations, MTV, VH1 and Billboard charts. Although not common knowledge, artists such as Jessie J, Tinie Tempah, Taio Cruz and Jay Sean all have British origins, just to name a few. These artists have collaborated with American artists to form chart-topping hits, and will probably continue releasing new work and gaining even more popularity. No one knows what the British will come up with next, but it’s guaranteed to continue on the trend of its invasion into music.