This is one of my favourite Oasis songs, and this is my favourite performance of the song. This is the first version of the song I ever heard, and I thought that this was the original - there is no reason for it not to be, apart from the lack of real production and engineering quality.
I've said a good few times before that I love an acoustic version of a song, to hear it stripped down to just one or two instruments and a very raw vocal, it's easy to tell the real musicians from the amateurs - and this just shows that Oasis were REAL musicians. It's nice to just see just Noel and Liam performing together (well, ignoring the fact that Alan White is there playing on a tambourine), it's nice to hear them singing "Stand by me, nobody knows the way it's going to be" - as if they're asking for each other to stand by the other.
Personally I think it's Liam Gallagher's greatest live vocal performance. In my opinion, when I've heard Oasis live I've always felt as though he could have done a lot better with his vocals, compared to how he sounds on record his vocals are very poor during live performances. I can't believe how much his voice his suited to an acoustic guitar, it sounds so naive and beautiful - and his youthfulness is captured in these few minutes of song. It's beautiful.
I can guarantee that this could turn anyone into an Oasis fan.
I've been sat listening to this on a loop for an hour today in music tech, simply because I've finished my work and have nothing else to do until my recording is finished and can be mastered. I'm recording 'Half the world away' by Oasis (surprisingly enough), it's the only song that is on my music tech hard drive so it was all I had on offer to listen to, because Matt would think I'm up to something if I went onto Vevo. So there I sat for an hour, with half the world away on a loop so I could try and start planning what I'll need to do for my mastering and mixing part of the coursework.
I began listening in closely to the reverb used, and the more and more I listened to it the more I found it to be so beautifully used, the song just wouldn't work without it - because you can't deny that when you are listening to it you just begin to imagine Noel Gallagher in an empty room, with his guitar on his lap and singing beautifully to himself. I always thought of 'Idler's dream' as the most spine tingling Oasis song, but sitting down and really giving 'Half the world away' a listen, I found that to be wrong. The electric guitar that jingles and plays with one of the most famous introductions and carried on through the whole song, that simple drum pattern played on a snare with brushes - it's astounding.
I just can't believe how long it's taken me to figure this out.
The day you buy your first album is a big day, it's that first sign of being independent enough to make your own decisions. My first album was Stop The Clocks by Oasis, I was twelve years old and just beginning to get into music. I usually went shopping with my dad on a Saturday, I had £8 pocket money to spend and usually I was buying DVDs, but that week I wanted to buy an Oasis CD. It was in the middle of HMV, in Middlesbrough, on the right hand side of the aisle of rock and pop and a big pink sticker with '£7' was slapped on the case, I checked the track listing and noticed that most of my favourite Oasis songs were printed on it. I already had '(What's the story) Morning Glory?', 'Definitely Maybe' and 'Don't Believe The Truth' but these two discs held extra Oasis songs that I hadn't yet heard. I held it tightly in my hand and my dad told me to go and pay for it whilst he went out for a cigarette. It was the first time I had been to the till by myself, the man at the till shouted "Next" and I slowly walked up to him, my money in my left hand and my CD in my right, lifting them both up to him, carefully he took the CD and smiled at me "Good choice" was his comment as he scanned it in.
When I got into the car, on the journey home, I took immense pleasure out of torturing my dad with turning the volume up as loud as it would go as I listened to 'Stop The Clocks'.
Everyone remembers the first album they bought, most even remember the first single they bought. It's a big step in a kid's life when they hold up that album and think "This is what I want to spend my money on." It's a memory that appears to be dying out among the younger generation of ITunes kids, to keep the tradition alive I'd love to hear and post about your first album.
Catch me on my email; samanthahawxwell@hotmail.co.uk
I was two when I got into Oasis. My mam was at home looking after me, a big fan of Take That she was and had the radio on so she could hear their new single. 'Don't look back in anger' was number one that week and was regularly getting played, my mam often tells me that as soon as the piano entered the speakers and sounded around the living room I would drop whatever toys I was playing with and just listen.
The first album I ever bought, out of my own money, was 'Stop the clocks' - the best of Oasis, soon after that my parents split up. I was twelve. I began drifting into a pit of depression and I would shut myself in my room, all day and all night I would lay on my bed and listen to Oasis because the words that were being sang to me were the only words that ever made sense. I had grown ups, family, friends, councilors, and strangers telling me that everything was going to be fine but it was only Noel Gallagher who made me believe that I will find a brighter day.
Recently I found out I have bipolar, for a couple of days I was distraught thinking that nothing will ever be the same again - that I would just be classes as a freak and an outcast in society. But I went to see Noel Gallagher in Newcastle, it was the first time I had seen my hero in the flesh and as I sang 'Don't Look Back In Anger' with him and the crowd I got back my hope.
I know that if I didn't have the power of music and Oasis behind me I would have never been able to cope so long. Thank you Oasis.
An argument I have been involved in many times, and I'm biased - I choose Noel every time. But Noel would never be the same with Liam, would he? Liam is so untouchable, sometimes it's hard to believe that he's a human being, it's a questions that often comes to my mind; is Liam Gallagher a monkey or a God? Because he's nothing in between the two. The way he can control a crowd is magic, all he has to do is stand there arrogantly with his tambourine and they are all in awe of him, it never comes to a surprise to me when he's voted the greatest front man in these polls because there is no front man like him, I even get intimidated by his presence when he's just on my TV screen. But there are a lot of things he does that really piss me off, like throwing an award that Oasis had, so rightly, earned into the crowd, mind you it was funny to see his tweet, regarding Peter Kay, the next day - even if I did agree with Kay's comments "What a knob head". I also don't particularly like the way he undermines people, like television presenters who are pretty much just trying to do their job - as Liam is doing - and he acts like a complete idiot, when he was a kid it was hilarious, in the early Oasis days it was fun to watch but now that he's on the wrong side of thirty it just isn't that funny now.
But we forgive Liam for it, because he's not only Noel's younger brother, he's like the country's younger brother and really, we just want to look after him - cherish him because he is one of the most important figures of British music.
Noel Gallagher, the Chief - if you may. I have loved the guy since I was in nappies, he is probably the most influential figure in my life - as well as one of the most influential figures in music. He gave Oasis a soul, Liam was their voice but Noel was the soul of this beautiful band, the words and music he wrote have connected to so many people around the world and gave them hope - I accept in the past few months, when asked about Liam, he's been a little immature, regarding his comments on why Liam couldn't attend one of their gigs at V festival. But we love the Gallagher's for their fueds, that's why Britain loves them so much and have let them into their hearts, whenever we hear that Liam has called Noel this and Noel has called Liam that, it gives us a few days of entertainment - doesn't it?
It's hard to choose a favourite Gallagher brother, even though I have mine. They're both as important as each other, they both need each other as much as what England needs them, so come on lads - sort yourselves out.
Coming to you from Newcastle again, but this time from another venue - the Metro Arena of all places, spectacular place to have a gig, one of my favourite venues because it doesn't matter where you're sat, you still get a clear, crisp sound and don't miss one note of what's going on.
I travelled with my friend Jade, with her Dad (Richard) giving us a lift, and also joining us. We walked down to the Metro Arena, going underneath that little tunnel and seeing some people camping outside the parent and children meeting point (maybe as some sort of holiday? Times are tough, my friends). Jade eats pizza whilst we wait to go in, it was £3! £3 for one slice! What a liberty. One other thing that makes me look back in anger, in the Metro Arena, is that they have to take the bottle caps off of bottles, what's the point?! I bought a bottle of Sprite because later when I kicked it over I didn't want all of my pop to drip out like it did!
Anyway. We're in, a young band of Geordie's called the Smokin' Barrels get on stage, introduce themselves and I cannot understand a word that lead singer, Chris Dawson, is saying. Now, these lads are an ok band - I was expecting a little more of a support act for Noel Gallagher but they were pretty average, if I'd have heard one song by them I'd have probably like them a lot more but every song they sang sounded exactly the same, it was like having constant deja vu's. And the drummer Craig Redpath - sort yourself out lad, learn some more drum patterns at least.
Ah and then it was time for our man to come on. Three lads behind us had introduced themselves to us, one was called Tom - the name's of the others have slipped me but they were canny enough, having us dance and sing with them most of the night. This years Godlike genius walks on, in my eyes he's not just this years Godlike genius - he is the Godlike genius of every year, our very own Avatar and I'm in the same room as him as he straps on his famous cherry red Gibson 355.
We are treated to a couple of little known Oasis songs to welcome us in, to let us know that that's where his heart really belongs but then comes one of the best performances of a song I have ever seen (or heard!). 'Everybody's on the run' just wow, I couldn't even describe to you how astounding it was, but it's not often you can say that a live version is better than the studio version. The choir! What a treat for us, I never expected Mr Gallagher to have a choir back him up and man did it do him good, it was ghostly to say the least. More Oasis classics he sang include 'Supersonic' - an acoustic version that just left you feeling like you had been punched in the gut. I teared up, it was the first time everyone in the crowd were up and singing - it was beautiful to see everyone unite and scream out that chorus, I could see a little smile approach on Noel's face as we all belted it out, he knew he was doing well.
In between songs there was great banter between Noel and the audience, one lad was giving him a bit of lip so he just replied 'I'm literally sweating champagne here', he also went on to dedicate a song to Man City fans (which I was a part of!), then after a sea of boo's he went on to take the piss out of the Sports direct arena. He introduced us to his band too, what a great group of lads - weren't the best line up in the world but I'm bound to say that after years of watching Noel play alongside Gem Archer and Zak Starkey, but they were good. Our band were made up of Russ Pritchard (Bass), Tim Smith (Guitar), Mikey Rowe (Keyboards), Jeremy Stacey (Drums), Trombone Trev, Trumpet Jack, Saxophone Andy and our Geordie choir conductor David Temple with his choir Crouch End Festival Chorus. I was most impressed with Tim Smith, what a great lad he was and he played so well, filling in Gem shoes well during the Oasis songs and making a name for himself during our High Flying Birds favourites.
The encore, I'm speechless. Little By Little, Whatever (first of all fooling the audience with playing the intro to Wonderwall, but I knew what was coming - I'd read up on the set list before going), The Importance of Being Idle and Don't Look Back In Anger. For a long time it's been a dream of mine to sing 'Don't look back in anger' with a crowd of people as Noel guided us through it, this song means an awful amount to me - I've loved it ever since I was in nappies and to hear it sung live by Noel Gallagher just took my breath away. I had my arms flung in the air, getting one of them held up by my friend, who wore a Who t shirt, singing with Tom and his friend, in a Pretty Green shirt, and Jade put her arms around me at one point, what a great few minutes. It'll never be forgotten, I'm crossing it off the bucket list as we speak.
If you're lucky enough to go and see Noel do it, it doesn't matter what price the tickets are because I assure you it's worth it. I've never been in a room with so much energy, as everyone clapped and cheered for one person who gave us as much as he had. What a night, what a legend!
Now, this week will be a week of underrated songs for you all to listen to and enjoy, maybe even get you listening to new music, though I know the majority of my readers are Oasis fans so you're probably all aware of 'Idler's Dream'.
I wanted to talk about it because it's one of my favourite songs of all time, it's so different from any other Oasis song which is a great thing for the band seen as though they are usually accused of being a bit 'same-y'. I love it because of how powerful it is, it shows that one man and his piano can create immense beauty by just creating a sweet sounding piano riff and with just a little help from reverb we get a subtle echo that is almost ghostly. It's one of those songs that really hits the pit of your stomach, you know the ones where you have to take in a deep breath halfway through and you get that warm feeling in your stomach? One of those songs.
Noel Gallagher talks to his soul mate through the song, asking her not to 'break his heart of stone' and to never leave him alone. He tells her how much she means to him, that she makes his heart skip a beat and I think, lyrically, it's the most beautiful of the Oasis collection. Whoever this girl is, she’s special.
With all the excitement of the new album that will be released on the 17th of October I have made Mr. Gallagher my musician of the week. I can safely say he is my favourite musician, alongside Keith Moon, and I know he is a music stealing troll but we all love him, and he pulls it off well. But what I'd like to focus on is his lyrics, now I study English at A level and the poems we read in class are nothing compared to his songs, as I've said to my teacher many times "We should be reading Oasis songs, not this Seamus Heaney crap." He has spoke about subjects/emotions in songs that I have never been able to describe, sometimes I feel like he has been living inside of my head because of how much I connect with the songs he writes. Songs like 'Where did it all go wrong?' and 'If I had a gun' are the reasons why I get out of bed on a morning instead of wallowing in self pity because no one knows how I feel, well I know someone does and his name is Noel Gallagher.
I'm seventeen and Noel Gallagher has been a prominant figure throughout my life, since the age of two.
It all started way back in 1996, ‘Don’t look back in anger’ was just huge, so I hear, and my mam always had the radio on because she liked that Take That song that was out at the time. And for a week whilst Oasis were on top spot they played the song a lot, my mam informs me that everytime it was on I’d put down my toys and just either listen or stand up and bop a bit. So when the song was kind of not played as much anymore I’d keep on saying to my mam “Where Noel?” in my baby voice, I wasn’t as grammatically correct in those days. And because she felt sorry for me she went out and bought ‘(What’s the story?) Morning Glory) and she’d play it to me as I slept most nights.
So I became completely obssessed with Noel G, even crying when I was told, by my mam, that he had gotten married. I was four! And I’d tell people I was his wife, so on in my life I did go only thinking Oasis released one album then for my tenth birthday (Yes, I know, I had been into Oasis for 8 years and I lived off that one album!) I got ‘Definitely Maybe’ and I over played that album too, but there was no Noel so I was a bit upset but I still liked Liam’s voice. When I was 12 (and a bit) and started getting pocket money I went and bought my first ever CD, ‘Stop the clocks’ at HMV - £7 on sale. I also over-played that, I fell in love with ‘half the world away’ too and then my parents got divorced the next April, I just didn’t know what to do but there was my four (I had gotten ‘Don’t Believe the truth’ for my birthday) Oasis CD’s waiting for me there, I’d go to my room everyday after school and close myself off from the world and listen to them, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard Liam sing ‘Shheeeeiiinnnnneeeee’ or heard that drum beat in the begining of ‘Live Forever’, but I felt so connected to the songs, it was as if Noel had written them for me, like he knew I was out there somewhere and really needed some guidance and he’d sit down and write me a song to make me feel better, even before any of these things happened. I was into other music at the time, I had gotten into The Who, Beatles etc… but even though I love Keith Moon a hell of a lot, and I feel we basically have the same personality, I can never even turn my back on the fact that songs like ‘Half the world away’,’Little by little’,’Who put the weight of the world on my shoulders?’ etc… have helped me get by in life. I remember having to go see a psycologist and she said asked me what I did in my spare time, I told her I listened to Oasis, she pulled a face and joked “They aren’t a very good band” and I replied “They might not be to you, but Noel Gallagher is going to help me through this more than you”. And that fact has stayed true to this day.
