I always imagined it to be a revived version of the Kinks and Beetles and 60s stuff so the whole northern soul and funk is a new idea I'll have to have a look at. To be honest though in 1993 I was only 7 so I pretty much missed the significant stuff and got the arse end of it. I remember it in 1997 particularly with the 'cool Britania' thing New Labour were spouting off. And about then Blur and Oasis were staples, Wonderwall and Parklife and all that. I still have Tender as a single which is a bit dull but the French Song (B side) is actually rather cool. I was quite big on the Sterophonics, but some cunt stole my CD. They went majorly downhill though with Just Enough Education to Perform in the same way that Oasis managed to make the worst record ever with Standing on the Shoulders of Giants.
I also heard that Brit Pop was in some ways a reaction to grunge, trying to make a British scene, which kind of makes sense in the same way how the Kinks and British Invasion bands were trying to do a British version of what was going on in America at the time. It's one reason why British music usually works better than some other countries because it just sounds embarrassing when you try to outright copy what's started in the USA.
I never really did the Happy Mondays but I really should buy a few records, any suggestions?
