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Oasis disbanded during
summer 2009. |
Oasis shot from obscurity to stardom in 1994, becoming one of Britain's most popular and critically acclaimed bands of the decade; they
were responsible for returning British guitar-pop to the top of the charts.
The Manchester group adopted the rough, thuggish image of the Stones and The Who, crossed it with Beatlesque melodies and hooks, distinctly British lyrical themes and song structures and tied it all together with a massive, loud guitar roar.
The group released their first single, "Supersonic," in the spring of 1994; it edged its way into the charts on the back of positive reviews. With a melody adapted from "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing," "Shakermaker" became a bigger hit in the early
summer.
The group's first record, "Definitely Maybe," became the fastest-selling debut in British history, entering the charts at number one. At the beginning of 1995, the group concentrated on America, promoting the single "Live Forever." The song became a major hit on MTV, album rock, and modern rock radio stations, peaking at number two and "Definitely
Maybe" went gold in the U.S. Oasis spent the rest of the summer completing their second album, "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?," which was released in October of 1995. Upon its release, the album shot to number one in England, becoming the fastest-selling in the U.K. since Michael Jackson's "Bad."
Over the course of 1996, "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?" became the second-biggest British album in history, as Oasis became international phenomenons. On the strength of the single "Wonderwall," "Morning Glory" became a Top 10 success in America, eventually being certified quintuple platinum.
They can't take it much higher, can they? Being on a stage in front of 125,000 people two nights running. Blasting out their brilliant noise and hearing an eighth of a million people roar back at them in appreciation. Hearing and seeing it, making it happen. It doesn't get any higher, does it?
Liam Gallagher, Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs, Paul "Guigs" McGuigan and Alan White, collectively Oasis, pondered over that question, listened to the sound of Knebworth
echoing around their heads.
Every time they've gobbed on the floor, got engaged, looked at a house, had a haircut, flicked a V-sign, drawn the curtains, caught the plane, got married, gone down the pub every time they've done anything that's had nothing to do with making music,
they made the front page of the daily papers.
In 1994, when Oasis first arrived, the scene they blew apart was parochial, piddling, introverted and meaningless. Where everyone else seemed to be making withdrawn, apologetic music, dicking around on the edge of getting it on, Oasis were so direct that it took them barely a couple of months to electrify British music.
They drew together not only threads of other songs, but also a whole patchwork of existing musical ideals. They were obviously striving for what people in this country have always believed pop music can achieve. From The Small Faces and John Lennon, via Punk Rock, through to The Stone Roses and Acid House, Britain's youth have always looked for a vision behind their heroes' tunes, a higher sense of common purpose in which to believe and find strength when the chips are down (which they usually are).
Unlike any other band for some years, Oasis were after just that. What they had to say was uncomplicated (urban life sucks, love conquers all, drink beer, smoke tabs, er, what else?), but then if you look at rock's greatest ideologues they never stay the course. Oasis were just interested in that mega cultural impact which had rarely been achieved since the '60s for its own sake, for the excitement, for the sense of mass communion, for the pure buzz of music.
Hit songs include --
- Let There Be Love
- Lyla
- The Importance of Being Idle
- Champagne Supernova
- Go Let It Out
- Wonderwall
- The Hindu Times
- Little By Little
- Live Forever
- Songbird
- D'You Know What I Mean?
- Don't Go Away
- Stop Crying Your Heart Out
- Who Feels Love?
- Sunday Morning Call
- Don't Look Back in Anger
- Supersonic
- All Around The World
- Acquiesce
- Morning Glory
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HERE!
Genre: Rock 1
Styles:
Hard Rock
Alternative Pop/Rock
Pop/Rock
Contemporary Pop/Rock
Britpop
British Trad Rock
Alternative/Indie RockYears active:
90s, 00s
Formed: in England
in Manchester
in 1993
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