profiling and celebrating the music of some of the most talented and underrated alternative rock artists. Particularly a focus on 90s alternative rock and british pop/ alternative rock
Showing posts with label Definitely Maybe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Definitely Maybe. Show all posts
Tonight we focus on Bring It On Down. This is hard rock!
Bring It On Down is the essence of Oasis' loud, intimate venue I referenced in the last part. That concert we wish we were at. However, this song, Oasis Bring It On Down is not just about the music, but the lyrics are also significant.
Oasis Bring It On Down has lyrical significance because a British punk revolution is referenced. Throughout Definitely Maybe, especially later on when I discuss Cigarettes and Alcohol, a rebellious attitude towards British royalty and about working in general is expressed. Check out the lyrics to Bring It On Down.
"you're the outcast-you're the underclass. But you don't care because you're living fast"
This is about doing drugs so you don't care about not being part of upper class or the in-crowd. As you can imagine this attitude was very punk to the British public that became engrossed with Definitely Maybe.
Noel Gallagher further alludes to an outcast forcing their way into an upper class or in-party crowd. Noel alludes to problems with drugs and alcohol.
"You're the uninvited guest who stays till the end. I know you got a problem that the devil sends."
Much more fun songs from Definitely Maybe to come.
Oasis are a triumphant band and story. Oasis's music is celebratory. Noel Gallagher, Oasis' pioneer knows rock history and incorporates this into his music making it exceptional. Pure rock n roll with great lyrics. I will feature all this in my Oasis series. I will focus primarily from 1994 to 1998 when Oasis stood on top of the musical world. This period featured four main albums: Definitely Maybe, What's the Story (Morning Glory), Be Here Now, and The Masterplan.
Oasis is comprised of Liam Gallagher -lead singer, Noel Gallagher -lead guitar and vocals, Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan Paul "Bonehad" Arthurs Tony McCaroll Alan White Gem Archer Andy Bell Zak Starkey And who could forget Oasis has a rockstar in Liam Gallagher. Here is one quote: On his emotions: “I suppose I do get sad, but not for too long. I just look in the mirror and go, ‘What a good-looking fuck you are.’” (NME, November 2006). Read more at http://www.nme.com/photos/liam-gallaghers-70-funniest-quotes/149335/1/1#0lDpPa8KFdw4016A.99
Today, I guide you further into Oasis' debut album Definitely Maybe. We feature Up in the Sky, Columbia, and Supersonic. While listening, focus on the often over-looked position of rhythm guitarist within Oasis, Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs. He is Oasis. His reliable and loud rhythm guitar make Oasis' sound unequaled. Enjoy the songs!
Up In the Sky
is blaring music in the background that makes you feel you gained an edge over your fellow man. Up In The Sky gives you confidence. You will get well needed energy that is fun to have.
You can do good while listening to solid clean rock music by a couple of blokes who don't care. This will give you a strong base to face life. Another solid live performance is from Live at the white room as part of the Live by the sea DVD. Live by the sea are lyrics from Oasis's song It's Good to be free.
This is a live performance I remember liking. If you watch the other videos from this same concert you understand the exciting atmosphere. The concert is just loud, awesome music. Oasis does not simply blanket perfectly polished noise in the background to emphasize the singer upfront. While the vocals and music are at the same level, British music like Oasis focuses on the raw guitar.
Columbia
Clean production and big time guitar-playing is what comes to mind with Columbia. My interest is in seeing them play this live. The video below is from Knebworth in 1996. Where they were at an historical peak of fame. Feel this energy; Oasis are putting on a tremendous show to a record size crowd of 250,000 people over two nights. They had 2.5 million ticket applications!! This whole concert with Oasis' huge sound is worth checking out! Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs, the remarkable Oasis rhythm guitarist said that Columbia was his favorite song to play because it only consisted of a few chords. He could get into a hypnotic groove playing Columbia.1
Supersonic
Some personal thoughts: This will give you the confidence to ambush the people in your life from a business stand point. Raid the ones that downplay your achievements. And therefore don't realize how truly great you have done with your life so far. Larrup the assholes who hold something over your head. You may be in debt to them. Maybe they invested in your college education and hold you to unrealistic expectations of livelihood. Well take this song, ride high, and get the type of success that shuts everyone, including yourself up. Then revel in the shocking quietness that always remains after your accomplishment.
Now onto the music itself. This song holds the test of time. Noel Gallagher still plays Supersonic after Oasis broke up in 2009. But Supersonic became Oasis' first hit back in 1994. While waiting to record Bring It On Down, band leader Noel Gallager hummed a melody over drummer Tony McCaroll and rhythm guitarist Paul Arthurs' impromptu jam. When they were told by the record company this should be a hit, Noel wrote lyrics in a corner. The famous Elsa in the song doesn't refer to teenage prostitution as commonly thought. Those lyrics are about sound engineer David Scott's nine-stone rottweiler who has a farting problem. The dog was present for the quick recording of Supersonic . Hence the lyrics "he's into Alka seltzer". In addition, Noel Gallager said that despite the similarities of Supersonic' solo to the riff from George Harrison's My Sweet Lord, Noel didn't set out to copy the riff.
Conclusion:
Be sure to check out Live at the Whiteroom concert (1995) as part of the Live By The Sea DVD.
And Live at Knebworth (1996) for these songs featured today. Oasis's songs Up In The Sky, Columbia, and Supersonic will give you the energy to get to the top in your life.
Crush your competition and have some adrenaline-fueled fun in the process. Oasis have a loud raw guitar sound yet the vocals are easily heard. Oasis' signature sound comes from Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs reliable rhythm guitar. Real good comes from their music, as far as I am concerned. And Noel's songwriting comes from a very interesting place.
Definitely Maybe
Oasis stormed the world with swagger, releasing Definitely Maybe on August 30th, 1994. The album begins with: Rock N' Roll Star
I originally thought the song's title was too direct a self-praising statement in comparison to the similar I Hope I Think I Know from Oasis's third album Be Here Now. But Oasis's arrogance is the attitude and hedonistic lifestyle Oasis is about. Oasis's celebration of life, music and good times draws people into the music.
Shakermaker
Noel believes the best songs are based on borrowing from the best lyrics and songs of the past. So Noel is a student of history and the world around us. Let me explain some of the song's references. Shakermaker is a 1970s toy. Mr. Soft is a character from a Trebor soft mints commercial. Mr. Clean is a song by the Jam. Mr. Bean is from a British cartoon. And Mr. Sifter is the owner of Noel Gallagher's favorite record store. The musical melody is a twelve-bar blues progression. And the melody for the verse was originally taken from "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)" by Roger Cook, Roger Greenaway, Bill Backer and Billy Davis. The result of "copying" is a more infectious guitar riff and vocal melody with fun lyrics. The loud distorted guitars give you a new kind of energy. It's belief in these loud songs that makes you feel you are slightly on edge, slightly messed up, slightly crazy in comparison to your fellows. You feel important listening to this music. Oasis Shakermaker rocks!1
Live Forever
Their first big hit. If you don't want a seizure I recommend the British version of the music video in lieu of the US version. The gag of burying drummer Tony McCaroll in the music video is done in good fun. The pick axes add comedy. But highlights the strained blood between band members and Tony and also points towards the Gallagher brothers ousting Tony from Oasis in the future. Another stunt in the music video is Liam Gallagher cooly floating on a chair against a wall. Noel stands above it all on a stair set as does the bassist Paul McGuigan affectionately known as "Guigsy". A roller bladder careens through the scene. 2
The loud music is exciting; backed by the hope, and the fun the brothers and band members are having. The guitar work is simple and rocks. Noel Gallagher has a stranglehold on the songwriting of early Oasis. He wrote Live Forever before Oasis formed while on a construction job site. Back when he decided between being a criminal or a musician. The people of the world are glad he dedicated himself to music. 3
Stay tuned for much more on Oasis. Including my take on more of the songs from their groundbreaking album Definitely Maybe. You will have an MP3 album that has these three songs after each other with knowledge the album is only beginning. Find out how good it gets in the next post.
Part 1 of Oasis article is coming soon this week. I will seek to do two posts a week. But I will still work on relatively big pieces. Delivering them in smaller pieces. So expect an article / intro / beginning of early Definitely Maybe Oasis this week. I want to consistently deliver content for active readers.
