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Rating: I met Liam Gallagher inside a rather famous Florentine venue in the city, the Bebop. Shortly before, I had seen him speeding inside a minivan owned by the hotel where he was staying that February day, the eve of last year's concert at the Mandela Forum. He was heading towards Bebop because, in his own words to a friend of mine, "I was drawn in by the sign outside that said - TONIGHT OASIS COVER BAND 10.30 P.M. -". This friend of mine knew because his brother works at that hotel and was the one who pointed him in the right direction.
So, I descend the Bebop's stairs, expecting to witness an epic brawl, broken teeth, cameras in pieces... As soon as I arrive, there’s Liam among four or five people, a pint of ale in hand, chatting and spreading smiles with his terrible, unintelligible Mancunian accent (“see ya t’morrow at our show, ok?”), I approach him, shake his hand, and even have my girlfriend snap a photo of us together. Damn, but are English journalists just a bunch of boorish provocateurs (an assertion supported by many) or is he simply in a good mood? While he continues talking with my friend (earlier there was a memorable exchange - "The singer of Maximo Park says his band is better than Oasis" and Liam "Who the hell are they? Tell that idiot to go screw himself..."), I manage to be "disappointed", especially when the cover band starts and instead of telling them to piss off and storming out in pure "MonobrowGallagher" style, he starts dancing and singing along at the top of his lungs to "Columbia", “Roll With It”, "Lyla" etc., for about three-quarters of an hour. Shortly after, he leaves (considering the inevitable crowd that had gathered), bidding everyone a very cordial farewell. I was stunned!
How? He even managed to tolerate those incinerating him with their gaze, avoiding laying hands on them (as many users of this site would willingly do with him, haha…). Not even a scuffle. Nothing at all. And then you think that Oasis's music is hated/loved perhaps precisely for this reason. Because for many, it’s falsity, a stark contradiction (how, damn fool, do you talk about transgression, cigarettes, alcohol, wrecking hotels, and then smile at a filthy junkie looking at you as if he'd seen Bin Laden himself?). However, for others, it has entered their hearts because it talks about how you feel when life is crap ("I wanna leave this city/this old town don’t smell too pretty" - "Half The World Away"), about how it feels when someone is about to leave ("don’t go away/say what you want to say/but say that you’ll stay/forever and a day/for the time of my life" - "Don't Go Away", written for his mom who was thought to be dying at the time), and about many other things present in everyday life, narrated using very simple pop-rock (no point in arguing, they’re certainly not King Crimson) but at the same time direct.
Boastful as you like, but without the pretension of considering themselves artists ("Radiohead are artists, we’re not" Noel Gallagher). As for the musical aspect of this best of (a pretext for taking stock of 12 years in their career), a couple of lines suffice: a few classics ("Wonderwall", "Don’t Look Back in Anger", "Champagne Supernova"), a few good tracks ("The Importance Of Being Idle", "Talk Tonight", "Slide Away") and many beautiful and pleasant songs, alongside some major style slips ("Songbird"). All to clarify one fundamental thing, which in my opinion should be shared and accepted by everyone, detractors or not: they might not be fun guys, or amazing musicians, or talented mixers of genres and sounds, but they have reached the hearts of many, many people. And in a world where plastic music has more and more visibility, it is a skill many have lost.
Hate It or Love It.
Tracklist and Lyrics
02 Some Might Say (05:25)
Some might say, that sunshine follows thunder. Go and tell it to the man who cannot shine.
Some might say, that we should never ponder; on our thoughts today 'cause they hold sway over time.
Some might say we will find a brighter day. Some might say we will find a brighter day.
'Cause I've been standing at the station, in need of education in the rain.
You made no preparation, for my reputation once again.
The sink is full of fishes; she's got dirty dishes on the brain.
It was overflowing gently, but it's all elementary my friend.
Some might say, they don't believe in Heaven. Go and tell it to the man who lives in Hell.
Some might say, you get what you've been given. If you don't get yours I won't get mine as well.
'Cause some might say we will find a brighter day.
Some might say we will find a brighter day.
'Cause I've been standing at the station, in need of education in the rain.
You made no preparation, for my reputation once again.
The sink is full of fishes; she's got dirty dishes on the brain.
And my dog's been itchin', itchin' in the kitchen once again.
Some might say. (some might say)
Some might say. (some might say)
You know what some might say. (you know what some might say) [x8]
Woo!
03 Talk Tonight (04:20)
Sittin' on my own
Chewin' on a bone
A thousand million
Miles from home
When Something hit me
Somewhere right between the eyes
Sleepin' on a plane
You know you can't complain
You took your last chance
Once again
I landed, stranded
Hardly even knew your name
I wanna talk tonight
Until the mornin' light
'Bout how you saved my life
You and me see how we are
You and me see how we are
All your dreams are made
Of Strawberry lemonade
And you make sure
I eat today
You take me walking
To where you played
When you were young
I'll never say that I
Won't ever make you cry
And this I'll say
I don't know why
I know I'm leavin'
But I'll be back another day
I wanna talk tonight
Until the mornin' light
'Bout how you saved my life
(You saved my life)
I wanna talk tonight
(I wanna talk tonight)
'Bout how you saved my life
(I wanna talk tonight)
'Bout how you saved my life
(I wanna talk tonight)
'Bout how you saved my life
(I wanna talk tonight)
'Bout how you saved my life
I wanna talk tonight
04 Lyla (05:10)
Callin' All The Stars To Fall
And Catch The Silver Sunlight In Your Hands
Come For Me And Set Me Free
Lift Me Up And Take Me Where I Stand
She Believes In Everything
And Everyone, And You And Yours And Mine
I Waited For A Thousand Years
For You To Come And Blow Me Out My Mind
Hey Lyla, A Star's About To Fall
So What D'you Say Lyla?
The World Around Us Makes Me Feel So Small Lyla
If You Can't Hear Me Call Then I Can't Say Lyla
Heaven Help You Catch Me If I Fall
She's The Queen Of All I've Seen
And Every Song And City Far And Near
Heaven-Hell My Mademoiselle
She Ring The Bell For All The World To Hear
Hey Lyla, A Star's About To Fall
So What D'you Say Lyla?
The World Around Us Makes Me Feel So Small Lyla
If You Can't Hear Me Call Then I Can Say Lyla
Heaven'll Help You Catch Me If I Fall
Hey Lyla, A Star's About To Fall
So What D'you Say Lyla?
The World Around Us Makes Me Feel So Small Lyla
If You Can't Hear Me Call Then I Can Say Lyla
Heaven'll Help You Catch Me When I Fall
Hey Lyla
Hey Lyla
05 The Importance of Being Idle (03:39)
I sold my soul for the second time
'Cos the man, he don't pay me
I begged my landlord for some more time
He said "Son, the bills' waiting"
My best friend called me the other night
He said "Man - are you crazy"
My girlfriend told me to get a life
She said "Boy - are you lazy"
But I don't mind
As long as there's a bed beneath the stars that shine
I'll be fine
If you give me a minute, a man's got a limit
I can't get a life if my heart's not in it
Hey hey
I don't mind
As long as there's a bed beneath the stars that shine
I'll be fine
If you give me a minute, a man's got a limit
I can't get a life if my heart's not in it
Hey hey
I lost my faith in the summer time
'Cos it don't stop raining
The sky all day is as black as night
But I'm not complaining
I begged my doctor for one more line
He said "Son - oh, words fail me"
It ain't no place to be killing time
I guess I'm just lazy
I don't mind
As long as there's a bed beneath the stars that shine
I'll be fine, if you give me a minute, a man's got a limit
I can't get a life if my heart's not in it
Hey hey
06 Wonderwall (04:17)
Today is gonna be the day that they're gonna throw it back to you.
By now you should've somehow realized what you gotta do.
I don't believe that anybody, feels the way I do, about you now.
Backbeat, the word is on the street that the fire in your heart is out.
I'm sure you've heard it all before but you never really had a doubt.
I don't believe that anybody, feels the way I do, about you now.
And all the roads we have to walk are winding.
And all the lights that lead us there are blinding.
There are many things that I, would like to say to you but I don't know how.
Because maybe, you're gonna be the one that saves me?
And after all, you're my wonderwall.
Today was gonna be the day but they'll never throw it back to you.
By now you should've somehow realized what you're not to do.
I don't believe that anybody, feels the way I do, about you now.
And all the roads that lead you there were winding.
And all the lights that light the way are blinding.
There are many things that I, would like to say to you but I don't know how.
I said maybe, you're gonna be the one that saves me?
And after all, you're my wonderwall.
I said maybe, (I said maybe)
You're gonna be the one that saves me?
And after all, you're my wonderwall.
I said maybe, (I said maybe)
You're gonna be the one that saves me? (that saves me)
You're gonna be the one that saves me? (that saves me)
You're gonna be the one that saves me? (that saves me)
07 Slide Away (06:25)
Slide away and give it all you've got
My today fell in from the top
I dream of you and of all the things you say
I wonder where you are now
Hold me down, all the world's asleep
I need you now, you knock me off my feet
I dream of you and we talk of growing old
But you said please don't
Slide in baby, together we'll fly
I've tried praying but I don't know what you're saying to me
And now that you're mine
We'll find a way
Of chasing the sun
Let me be the one that shines with you
In the morning we don't know what to do
Two of a kind
We'll find a way
To do what we've done
Let me be the one that shines with you
And we can slide away, slide away, slide away, away
Slide away, give it all you've got
My today fell in from the top
I dream of you and all the things you say
I wonder where you are now
Slide in baby, together we'll fly
I've tried praying and I know just what you're saying to me
Now that you're mine
We'll find a way
Of chasing the sun
Let me be the one that shines with you
In the morning we don't know what to do
We're two of a kind
We'll find a way
To do what we've done
Oh, let me be the one that shines with you
And we can slide away
Slide away
Slide away
Slide away
Slide away
Slide away
Slide away
Slide away
( I don't know, I don't care)
(All I know is you can take me there)
Slide away
Slide away
Slide away
Slide away
Slide away
Slide away
Slide away
Slide away
Slide away
Slide away
08 Cigarettes & Alcohol (04:49)
Is it my imagination
Or have I finally found something worth living for?
I was looking for some action
But all I found was cigarettes and alcohol
You could wait for a lifetime
To spend your days in the sunshine
You might as well do the white line
'Cause when it comes on top
You've gotta make it happen
You've gotta make it happen
You've gotta make it happen
You've gotta make it happen
Is it worth the aggravation
To find yourself a job when there's nothing worth working for?
It's a crazy situation
But all I need are cigarettes and alcohol
You could wait for a lifetime
To spend your days in the sunshine
You might as well do the white line
'Cause when it comes on top
You've gotta make it happen
You've gotta make it happen
You've gotta make it happen
You've gotta make it happen
09 The Masterplan (05:21)
Take the time to make some sense
of what you want to say
and cast your words away upon the waves
and sail them home with acquiesce
on a ship of hope today
and as they land upon the shore
tell them not to fear no more
say it loud, and sing it proud today
and then dance if you wanna dance
please brother take a chance
you know they're gonna go
which way they wanna go
all we know is that we don't
know how it's gonna be
please brother let it be
life on the other hand
won't make us understand
we're all part of the masterplan
say it loud and sing it proud today
i'm not saying right is wrong
it's up to us to make
the best of all the things
that come our way
'cos everything that's been has passed
the answer's in the looking glass
there's four and twenty million doors
On life's endless corridor
say it loud and sing it proud today
we'll dance if they wanna dance
please brother take a chance
you know they're gonna go
which way they wanna go
all we know is that we don't
know how it's gonna be
please brother let it be
life on the other hand
won't make you understand
we're all part of the masterplan
ooooooohhhhh
ooooooohhhhh
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