"Wonderwall," Oasis

Oasis was one of the most divisive bands of the 1990s – but they were among the most popular.  Fueled by drugs, egos, and fighting, the group ushered in a new era of Cool Britannia, inspiring as many copycat bands as they did headlines in the British tabloids.

The group’s 1995 album, (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?, would become its international breakthrough, powered by the band’s most popular song, “Wonderwall.”

“Wonderwall” was cross-format powerhouse, turning a deceptively simple chord progression into one of the most memorable ballads of the era.  Liam Gallagher, the group’s lead singer, even managed to turn down his normal snarl and attitude to deliver one of his finest recorded vocal performances.   Though the band rarely cared about words, the lyrics of “Wonderwall” actually made sense – even if the title was nicked from a soundtrack George Harrison recorded in the late 1960s.  (Many of the band’s detractors claimed Oasis nicked melodies, lyrics, and riffs from other artists, but we’ll save that for another post.)     

Rewatching the video now, it’s surprising to see just how young they all were – especially the Gallagher brothers.  The black-and-white film lends itself well in capturing the group at its creative and commercial peak, giving it an instantly classic feel.  Indeed, it’s a gorgeously shot video, even if the plot line and general band shenanigans seem rather silly in hindsight. 

(What’s The Story) Morning Glory? would produce several more hits, including “Don’t Look Back in Anger” and “Champagne Supernova.”  For many, though, it was the group’s last great album.  The follow-up album, 1997’s Be Here Now, was initially a commercial success, but never matched the sales or acclaim of its predecessor.  Other groups would soon come in to take over Oasis’ claim on the title “biggest band in the world.”

The band would nonetheless continue on with numerous lineup changes and eventually split in 2009.  Liam Gallagher now records with the group Beady Eye, whose lineup includes former members of Oasis.  Noel Gallagher, who wrote “Wonderwall,” has announced plans to release a solo album this year.