Oasis A to Z

The Hindu Times

Lead HC single, initially seen as the band's return to form after the gloomy SOTSOG era, this is very Oasis-by-numbers; Liam vocals, a catchy main guitar riff, fairly meaningless lyrics based around opposites (pop songwriting 101), it kinds of plods along to the end.

Often accused of being a rip-off of Stereophonics' "Same size feet", it's not really.

Cool enough video in black and white, packed with little meme-able bits and pieces (the Exist sign, the leather-clad gun-toting woman in cardboard cut-out form, the DARE t-shirt, Liam's milk guzzling, etc.), and the rare sight of Noel and Liam sharing a mic a la Mick and Keith. 7/10

A la Beatles surely? 9/10

Strikes me as more a Macca and George thing, rather than Macca and John, which isn't as iconic a pairing as Mick and Keith.

yeah it is.

The riff is basically identical but the songs still sound completely different.

Hindu Times demo is great (even though it still needed Liam on vocals) whereas the album version is dire. Same with Songbird, ish, though the album version is decent.

Any other megaly different demos out there? I never knew about the two above until my forum-friend Baz mentioned it.

Thanks for reminding me - Noel was always dismissive of accusations that Force of Nature was about his then-crumbling marriage, rightly stating that it was written specifically for a film, and prior to his time with Meg ending.

But no-one ever asked (that I saw or read anyway) about the demo of The Hindu Times featuring lyrics that quite clearly reference Meg - "there's no love in this shotgun town. What you believe is not fair - when you leave the world won't care". "The ghost that is your soul? It leaves me cold, babe."

Ouch.

I don't think you can say it's "quite clearly" about meg. just seem like generic lyrics to me, I think you look into ngs lyrics too much

C'mon son. That's clearly about Meg; no wonder the lyrics were completely ditched for the final version. "Shotgun town" - they got married quite shambolically. "Cos' you get so high you just don't feel it" - Noel famously ditched the drugs on doctor's orders and Meg wasn't having it. When asked why they split, Noel suggested "I became more Donovan, and she became more Ozzy Osbourne".

I understand that a lot of Noel's lyrics are just first drafts - whatever rhymes - but on occasion he does channel some real meaning (and I still stand proud at my Some might say interpretation) - this demo is one of those moments.

I'll have some of what you've had. the shotgun town bit is laughable tbh

The Importance of Being Idle

Taken by many as the DBTT highlight, this Noel-sung mid-tempo stomper won Q magazine's song of the year in 2006/07. It's probably more Kinks than Beatles, which is the direction Noel was headed based on the for High Flying Birds album.

Some clever lines (I recall someone here having the opening lines as their footer signature for a time), and a decent video for a change. 7/10

love it, possibly a little too long, but not so that it spoils it.

as for the video, its cool, tho they missed a trick in not doing the dancing bits themselves and also the bit were rhys ifans is in the coffin should have been the end, and on the last note he pulls it shut on himself.

9 for me

The Masterplan

Without a doubt, a 10 - fittingly loaned its title to the b-sides collection, we have a glorious, beautiful, epic ballad. Sharing some themes with Listen Up (life is automatic = we're all part of a master plan), Noel sings it well, the orchestration is perfect, and the lyrics make sense. 10/10

one of the few times I can't fault what you've said. Noel for all his modern day cuntyness was everything he ever said he was with this song. only slight smudge for me is rhyming door with corridor. 9.9/10

The Hindu Times - great single. I saw them perform it live at Manchester Apollo in 2001 on the noise and confusion tour. It was more powerful live and because of the piss biscuit production of Heathen Chemistry it lost some of its energy. Good single though.

The importance of being idle - Unlistenable now. It's just shit. The video makes me want to spew

The Masterplan - A brilliant 10/10 Oasis classic. Holds so many good memories. Although Noel is now a Tory. He'll always have this to turn his nose up at. ''I was so horribley working class back then''

Jimmy may have been on the sauce again, but at least he recognises The Importance of Being Idle for the turgid mess it is. Didn't Dwayne once describe it as his best song? Laughable.

The Meaning of Soul

The first sign of what would become a typical Liam rocker; it's short, simple, and full of attitude. This remains one of my favourite DBTT tracks and is the last of my 10s on this alphabetical list. "A different breed, yeah man - I'm outta your league"? Great. "Ten outta ten all night"? Classic. 10/10

7, the repeated lyrics is lazy but I love the cave man drumming in the bridge/chorus bit and the harmonica is class