The song contains spoken-word verses by the actor Phil Daniels, who also appears in the music video, which was directed by Pedro Romhanyi.

[4] The song is one of the defining tracks of Britpop, and features on the 2003 compilation album Live Forever: The Rise and Fall of Brit Pop.

I was living on Kensington Church Street, and I used to come into the park at the other end, and I used to, you know, watch people, and pigeons...",[citation needed] at which moment Daniels appears onstage.

[citation needed] The song played a part in Blur's supposed feud with fellow Britpop band Oasis at the 1996 Brit Awards when the Gallagher brothers, Liam and Noel, taunted Blur by singing a drunk rendition of "Parklife", mimicking Albarn's accent (with Liam changing the lyrics to "Shite-life" and Noel shouting "Marmite"), when the members of Oasis were collecting the "Best British Album" award, which both bands had been nominated for.

[8] Larry Flick of Billboard wrote, "Blur continues to explore its newfound interest in shameless pop, first exploited on the giddy, 'New-Romantic'-sounding "Girls & Boys".

This follow-up is pure fun, as the British act pounces through bouncy melodies, woven through playful guitars and spoken-word vocals.

"[9] Chuck Campbell from Knoxville News Sentinel viewed it as a "good song" and "wry British pop", remarking that it features "a chatty performance" by actor Phil Daniels.

Easily irritating for humourless people-haters because it prefers to embrace the commonplace with affection rather than superficial romantic headtrips.

"[17] The song's music video (directed by Pedro Romhanyi) filmed next to The Pilot pub on the Greenwich Peninsula[18] features Phil Daniels as a smarmy double glazing salesman (a homage to Tin Men), with Damon Albarn as his assistant.

Other band members appear as various characters from the song, including Dave Rowntree and Alex James as a couple, with the latter in drag.

Supa Shoppa was an instrumental in the style of acid jazz, recorded with percussion, synth flute and Hammond organ parts.

Drowned in Sound, reviewing Blur's career, noted that it had been a "perfect live opener for the Parklife tour when cranked up.

The advertisement featured the song and Premier League footballers including Eric Cantona, Ian Wright and Robbie Fowler.