Noel Gallagher

Noel Thomas David Gallagher (born May 29, 1967 in Longsight, Manchester) is the lead songwriter and guitarist with the British rock band Oasis. He is the older brother of Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher and the two are often pigeon-holed as squabbling siblings.

Songwriting

Before Oasis' arrival in 1994, many debated whether British rock music had had its day. Radio stations were playing with American grunge, headed by characters such as Kurt Cobain, and dance music. However, in 1994 the release Definitely Maybe helped to kickstart Britpop, a movement of guitar based British rock music. Supersonic was a roaring battle cry; songs like Live Forever were the polar opposite of the "I hate myself and want to die" attitude championed by Cobain; Slide Away was dedicated to an ex-girlfriend and Married with Children a droll voice lamenting a current one.

Related Topics:
1994 - Grunge - Kurt Cobain - Definitely Maybe - Britpop - Supersonic

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He is sometimes criticised for his tendency to imitate the styles of other bands. Many of Oasis' songs bare more that a passing resemblance to the music he admires, or has at least caught his attention. The opening track on 1995's (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, Hello, contains elements of Gary Glitter's Hello Hello I'm Back Again. Roll With It B-side Rockin' Chair owes to Growing Old by Christopher Griffiths. Definitely Maybe second single "Shakermaker" comes complete with a melody adapted from I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (the Coca-Cola song). 1994's Christmas no. 3, Whatever, contains musical elements of How Sweet To Be An Idiot by Neil Innes. Then, of course, there is the influence derived from the Beatles. Aside from Don't Look Back In Angers blatant - and unashamed - steal from Imagine, there is also the melodic similarities between Up In The Sky and The Beatles Rain, and the keyboards in Go Let It Out being similar to that in McCartney's Fool On The Hill to name but a few. Paul McCartney light-heartedly commented "Their stuff sounds very Beatle-ish. I sometimes have to check to see if it isn't one of ours that's if it's a track I haven't heard very much or something.” When it was suggested that Oasis take legal action against pop band Hear'Say for their first single's uncanny similarity to All Around The World, Noel simply laughed at the hypocrisy of such an act.

Related Topics:
1995 - (What's the Story) Morning Glory? - Gary Glitter - Roll With It - Christopher Griffiths - Definitely Maybe - Shakermaker - I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing - Coca-Cola - 1994 - Whatever - Neil Innes - The Beatles - Go Let It Out - McCartney's - Beatle-ish - Hear'Say - All Around The World

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Though the albums Be Here Now (1997), Standing on the Shoulder of Giants (2000) and Heathen Chemistry (2002) have not been received with the same level of enthusiasm by critics, the public appeal has remained strong, with all of their albums to date reaching number one in the British albums. Standing On the Shoulder of Giants included Oasis' first ever album track written not by Noel, but by his brother Liam. Heathen Chemistry included a further 3 tracks by Liam (including Songbird, which was released as a single), and a couple by guitarist Gem Archer and bassist Andy Bell. As of late 2004 for their sessions for the next album, Noel proudly claims that Liam had developed even further as a songwriter and from 66 tunes, his brother made most of them and that he'd written only 14 of them.

Related Topics:
Be Here Now - 1997 - Standing on the Shoulder of Giants - 2000 - Heathen Chemistry - 2002 - Gem Archer - Andy Bell

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Gallagher occasionally provides lead vocals as can be seen on songs such as Don't Look Back In Anger, Sad Song, D'yer Wanna Be A Spaceman?, Half The World Away and The Masterplan. Though his voice has been criticised for being dull compared to Liam's, Noel is able to reach notes which Liam cannot, hence, on songs like Live Forever, Noel sings the higher line, in this case, You and I are gonna live forever. When Liam was struck down with a "sore throat" before the MTV Unplugged set, Noel was forced to provide both guitar and vocals. On recent Oasis albums, Noel has sung more songs, apparently to compensate for his diminished role as songwriter, causing some tension with Liam. He recounted a particular exchange to the British Big Issue in 2005 which illustrates the situation:

Related Topics:
MTV Unplugged - Big Issue - 2005

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Liam: "Well, I'm supposed to be the singer."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Noel: "Well, I'm supposed to be the songwriter."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Liam: "Well, I should be singing more."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Noel: "Well, I should be writing more songs"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Liam: "So are you saying that if we stop writing more

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

songs, I can start singing more songs?"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Noel: "Well, that's pretty much what it fucking boils

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

down to, yeah."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~