Biblical.
20) Little By Little- Heathen Chemistry
The third single from the 2002 album, feels very meta and dramatic that has a great sing-along chorus, that gets anyone going. Interestingly, Liam was not able to get the vocals right on this one but fortunately Noel had a go and they had themselves a Top 5 single and a bit of tune once more.
The lead songwriter of the band is contemplating existence and trying to find peace with how small your own life can be in the grand schemes of it, leading to the whole tone of the song feeling like a breath of fresh air in the Oasis catalogue. What also needs to be mentioned is how the Chief has taken this song up another gear live in recent years, it feels like one of the bands most full on rock songs.
19) Stop Crying Your Heart Out- Heathen Chemistry
Oasis stripped things back for their 5th record, after all the bells and whistles on Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants. The overly dramatic song is a motivational ballad that finds Liam crooning over a very typical Gallagher melody, with some lovely strings giving a touch of class in its last third.
The chorus has become rather an iconic piece of music in British culture over the years, either using the well crafted emotion within the song or being obviously patronising at a football game. This single’s gentle nature, feeling like every instrument can be heard, is really lovely and a touch of rare venerability by the Britpop band.
18) Go Let It Out- Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants
The groove found on this song and during other moments on the bands 2000 LP, felt like a new era for the band as they began to adjust to the post Britpop era. The swaggery single stands out on the record with its simplicity, while offering the extra touches of production that is found on the album.
Liam sounds classic on the track, with the second half of the song really capturing the attitude of the band, with both Liam and Noel going at it with their vocal delivers. Despite key members of the band leaving by this point, this song feels like it will fit perfectly at an Oasis comeback show…..also does Liam know about a drumloop on this?
17) Cast No Shadow- Whats The Story
Essentially the song about all of Noel’s mates in bands who are ‘bound with the weight of all the words we have to say’...amazing lyric and this deep cut really hits home doesn’t it.
From the peaks of their power, ‘Cast No Shadow’ is a beautiful and at times haunting number that has everything go for it, with the live performance in particular from the mid 90’s sending severe shivers down your spine every time. The melody is of the highest order, while Liam sounds wonderful which is complimented with Noel's backing and overall the result of this song, is truly immense.
16) Some Might Say- What’s The Story
The number one single has a truly iconic opening, blending the sounds we heard on the bands debut record with the sophistication found on Whats The Story. The guitars are razor sharp, with the lyrics feeling so of its time and Liam probably nailing it for the last time with his younger vocal sound.
Its fair to say it is not their most impressive song ever but it captures the Britpop sound so well. You truly can see why, even after all these years, why this one rose to the top of the UK’s single charts and captured the hearts of the nation.
15) Lyla- Don’t Believe The Truth
You can picture Liam walking on stage and rattling his tambourine around, as soon as the drum starts smashing into your ears. This is nne of the songs that felt like Oasis rediscovered some truly top form again in 2005 and was another number one single for them. It must have felt incredible seeing the band hitting this form once more, a decade after their heyday.
Fun fact: Noel was unsure how good this song was until the group started playing this live and you can see why, the atmosphere it creates despite its simplicity, is not far off being godlike. The chanting nature of the melody throughout the song is a crowd pleaser and would make anyone feel like they had the ego that the Gallagher brothers have.
14) Acquiesce- The Masterplan
Swagger drawls out of the guitars on this one and the slight punk nature of Liam’s delivery, just takes this song to the most bad arse of places. As we all know, how incredible and baffling the songs from this B-Side collection were….yep....b-sides….seriously what would humanity could have achieved if this song was a single, hey?
Also, having Noel take the helm in the chorus does capture the brother aspect of Oasis incredibly well and offers such a great variety of sounds to the overall song. It is truly an Oasis highlight and makes you want them to perform together again, so much!!!!!
13) Rock’n’Roll Star- Definitely Maybe
You ready boys? Is what the opening moments shout to us here.
This song really represents the mood and dreams of wanting to be the coolest of rock stars! The attitude and the youth felt on this song is amazing, you can imagine how so many Brits back in 1994 would have felt like they could be anything, after hearing this epic song for the first time.
It is incredible how this track and Oasis as a whole, can really take the essence of the rock attitude and put it into so many anthems. Its just rock n roollll.
12) Talk Tonight- The Masterplan
The songs background became infamous after the Supersonic documentary but hey, the track itself is the main reason why it is so highly regarded. Written after Noel going to this random girls flat in America after a terrible gig, the purity felt of this recording and Noel’s vocals is out of this world.
It feels like classic songwriting at its finest and with its demo aesthetic, the song draws you in like you are experiencing the first ever delivery of it, by Noel himself. Im sure many of us have enjoyed some sort of release and relaxation after putting this one on with a mate or lover, in your teenage room.
11) Slide Away- Definitely Maybe
I know this placement of this amazing song will surprise people, but come on! This list is filled with some of Britains finest work!!!
The love song that is 'Slide Away', captures your emotions and past experiences of a lover in the most incredible and epic way possible. Here we have some beautifully painful guitars while Liam sings in almost a god like way, while still keeping the attitude of their debut album. The acoustic version of the song (mostly done by Noel these days on special occasions), for me captures the quality of the songwriting within the song but the original version, it has something special to it.
10) Supersonic- Definitely Maybe
Again, how good was this band with simply capturing swagger and the strut that rock n roll can give you? The psychedelic mood of the guitars gives the song a great aesthetic, while there is also a lot of Beatles nods within the lyrics and backing harmonies. It was the song Oasis first played on the tele, with it looking so 90s that it makes you throw up Euro 96 stickers and the New Labour manifesto, what a time for culture ay.
Noel wrote this song while the rest of the band went to the chippie and just imagine coming back to hearing this magically appearing. Liam and co must of seen the newsiest member of the band as their golden ticket to the big time. Despite its simplicity, it really does a lot and the stripped back version, feels incredibly dramatic and even emotion somehow….fair bloody play.
9) The Masterplan- The Masterplan
Was Bond ever in mind??? Was It???
Anyway, the way it goes from that demo like beginning into such an INCREDIBLE song makes this feel even more brilliant. The dramatic guitar strumming and dreamy electric guitar, truly creates a mood that is incredibly beautiful and atmospheric.
Written in Camden, Noel needed to write up some more B-Sides and when Creation Records responded to how great this song was, the songwriters response was that he never writes bad songs, so the B-sides are going to be this good!!!! Liam and Guigsy do not feature on the track but this gem of a song, is celebrated as one of the bands best work and everything in this song, feels so perfect.
8) The Importance of Being Idle- Don’t Believe The Truth
As previously mentioned, the sixth Oasis record felt like a big return to form and this number one single is a prime example of why so many thought that. This classic 'older Noel' cut, captured the mood for so many in the early 00’s and was recorded in the last recording session for their record, leaving this album to have back to back number 1’s on the UK single charts!
The whole atmosphere and melody is fascinating and impressive, taking us along different stories of characters with a lack of drive and passion, while also referencing Noel quitting cocaine a few years prior. Sometimes I feel like the chief looks back on this song fondly with his debut solo album having a lot in common. (Who else was obsessed with this music video as a kid?)
7) Cigarettes and Alcohol- Definitely Maybe
Oasis may not have a lot ‘iconic’ riffs but this one is golden, it is worthy for both an arena and the working man, to strut down the road to with pride. The song was deemed slightly political, as it was commenting on working class folk dealing with the state of affairs in the early 90’s but also diving into what they were aspiring for.
Liam's vocals are a highlight, with his legendary drawl in the lyrics and amazing attitude taking centre stage in the verses; anyone who sings to this will stick their neck forward as far as they can!
The slight blues rock riff is amazing, incorporating the much loved guitar tones found on the bands debut studio album and it biblically making you feel like you can take on the world.
6) Half The World Away- The Masterplan
Another B-side…..yes its both frustrating but truly outstanding how this band were on fire, to such a degree, that Noel left these for other side of singles.
'Half The World Way' became the theme song for The Royal Family and has a great feeling of immortality and comfort for so many, who love the band and the famous tv-show. Boneheads organ does wonders to this song, his playing and the tone of it all feels majestic throughout and in particular, the closing moments.
Noel’s vocal delivery is both sweet and sincere, singing over another solid melody and subtle instrumentation. And how can you not forget the little clapping moment, it somehow feels genius that tone and oh boy, this song just feels like comfort food at its finest.
5) Wonderwall- What's The Story
And now time for Wonderwall……yes one of the most placed British songs on Spotify is at this place, on the ranking of Oasis best songs. We have all heard that annoying guy at a party strum it, we have sung to it at a wedding, we have skipped it on our phones and we have also at one stage, believed that this song could cure anything.
The mega single off the bands most celebrated record, is still a delight and it is no surprise how successful it is all over the world. It is accessible, catchy, you can sing to it in the most easiest of ways and feels universal despite questioning, what is a wonderwall? The songs simple chord progression and Liams singing has left the cut to be era defining and a significant song in pop music. Also, again another clown in a 90's music video?
4) Whatever- Whatever EP
The bridge between Oasis’ first and second albums was a mighty of a song....honestly it is truly incredible. Bonehead knew how amazing the song was as soon as Noel played it to the band for the first time, again he must of been standing there in sheer astonishment having this dude in the band.
This beautiful but still very Oasis esq number offers such class and a great sing song for all, with the lyrics delivered by Liam in such great form and tapping into that human spirit of wanting to feel free. Many bands come along with a great debut record but imagine hearing this and realising how this band are so much more than another guitar band?
3) Live Forever- Definitely Maybe
We hear that drum intro and are instantly taken to somewhere special. Noel wrote this incredible number while working on a building site and is both a response to the Grunge scene at the time and being an ode to the power of music, with how immortal it can be.
It was the groups third single off their debut record, with the first two really showing off the ethos and attitude of the band and their antics, however this one turned heads. ‘Live Forever’ has a mesmerising spirit to it despite its simple structure and is seen as Noel’s first masterpiece, showcasing the classic songwriting touch he possesses. Liams vocals is out of this world too, offering a great feeling of wanting to feel immortal and celebrating the essence of existence, the young frontman here is at his peak of his singing here.
2) Don’t Look Back In Anger- What’s The Story
Theres only a few songs that could become the nations next national anthem, this being one of them. The chords to imagine and then the guitar slips us into the eye of Noel’s mind, with his vocal delivery feeling so delicate but atmospheric. It has a great feel of British Rock and hope, with the build up to the chorus being so dramatic, with the drumming teasing us before it hits. You can instantly hear anyone signing to this chorus and leaving you to either emotionally sing it back or chant it with your 5th pint of stellar in your hand.
Its verse structure and chorus keeps coming back but with its lyrics and instrumentation, the band really make us feel like we are delving into a place of wonder and magic. I have to say, the drumming on this is criminally underrated, as it serves the song so well and the sound of it automatically feels like a British classic.
The power of this song has endured beautifully, becoming a medicine of music when the people of Manchester needed comfort and community spirt, after the tragedy of the Manchester Arena bombings.
1) Champagne Supernova- Whats The Story
The journey of this song is undoubtably a serious triumph by the band and portrays the might of the band brilliantly. We are swept onto the shores of this Oasis song with some cool guitars and a very tranquil sounding Liam before our minds our blown for the next seven minutes.
The Supersonic documentary showed off how incredible the frontman was in the mid 90’s, delivering this unbelievable vocal performance in an afternoon, its legendary what the man was doing at the height of this bands power. Paul Weller features on guitars and all who performed with the instrument, bring this rough and trippy experience in an extremely iconic way. Does anything come close to the sounds on this song?
The melody is outstanding, it somehow sounds mega while having this emotional quality that has left thousands at gigs (even at non Oasis related ones) to belt this one out like the world depends on it. ‘Champagne Supernova’ is the perfect masterpiece to show where Noel Gallagher was at between 91-96 as a songwriter; daring and capturing universal themes that left the world eating out the palm of Oasis’ hand for years.
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