In the nineties Oasis were the everything! The biggest, and if you believed their hype, "not arrogant, just the best band in the world'. I was a fan from the start but I won't claim to be a super fan or even a passionate one. Manic Street Preachers were my band; intelligent, sensitive and angry. They turned me on to Orwell, Camus, Public Enemy and other people with important things to say. Oasis to me were a 'lad' band in the worst sense, with their mostly meaningless lyrics, re-hashed Beatles and T-Rex Rock songs, Ben Sherman shirts and in your face attitude. They represented a culture that I had one foot in, but their attitude never quite aligned with my own. That isn’t to say I didn’t respect their music or ability to unite a disaffected youth, and some of my most memorable concert experiences took place at old Wembley ('What's the Story' tour), Main Road and Finley Park. Their music touched people in a way no other band in my life has been able to, and looking back I think I resented them for it. Why are these yob's so adored whilst my Oh so special Manic's are side lined?
Being a scouser and seeing a Manc band take over the world probably didn't help their cause.
Over the past few weeks I have found myself revisiting Oasis' first four albums. Definitely Maybe, (What' the Story) Morning Glory, the massively under-rated Be Here Now and Masterplan (surely the greatest B-sides album ever) are the Oasis albums I remember, to this day I have not listened to any other album of theirs. I can’t remember why I stopped listening to Oasis (probably because I turned in to a metal head) and I can't remember why I started listening again. I wasn't aware of SuperSonic's impending release but may be I caught a glimpse of a poster and somewhere deep in my brain a memory was triggered. Another admission I should make is that Noel Gallagher (whilst I never rated him as a guitarist – nor him me) was and is my greatest guitar inspiration. He is single handedly responsible for an entire generation of failed guitarist. His songs are simple and can make the worst of us sound competent). Those 30 something who find an acoustic at a party and make us witness the murder of Wonderwall (minus the capo) - yeah, you can thank Noel for them. I mention this as, as one of those failed guitarists I have recently picked up a guitar and started playing again, and I only remember Oasis songs.
As Film and Media students we approach texts by picking them apart and looking for the small things that create big meaning. Learning a song on a guitar follows the same process – looking at and focusing on the small before considering the whole; and when you listen to Gallagher's precision on guitar you appreciate the song, but it does not come alive until it is combined with Liam's unique snarl.
By taking this approach I have re-discovered my love for Oasis, their music and most importantly, their attitude. Gallagher's music was the antidote to self loathing rockers like Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Kurt Cobain sung like 'I Hate Myself and I Want to Die' - Gallagher's retort? I want to LIVE FOREVER
Their songs are simple and the connotation may that they are bad, but that is just an adjective music snobs who do not appreciate great song writing when they hear it. The idea that complexity leads to sophistication is misguided and naive. Noel Gallagher's genius is the simplicity of his songs. He never claimed to be a great guitarist, or even a creative one, but what he has been able to do is pin point a mood in society and turn it in to music. If you are an aspiring guitarists then stop what you are doing, get an old guitar and buy an Oasis guitar book – you sound like a 'Rock N Roll Star' in no time! If there is a point to this post it is that we should cherish the music, films and literature we like regardless of outside opinion, and celebrate genius when we find it. I only wish I had fully appreciated Oasis as they were happening, and this is the lyric that made me realise it and inspired this post:
"I know I think I recognise your face, but I've never seen you before"
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