“I don’t think I’ve done a bad job”: Liam Gallagher on his best vocal performances
Even those unacquainted with 1990s music history would be able to sing every lyric of Oasis’ ‘Wonderwall’. The song merely scratches the surface of the sheer talent both Noel and Liam Gallagher have poured into Oasis’ discography.
Staples in the Britpop genre, Oasis released their debut album, Definitely Maybe, to widespread critical acclaim in 1993. Two years later, (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? arrived and introduced us to hits like ‘Champagne Supernova’, ’Don’t Look Back In Anger’ and famously, ‘Wonderwall’.
When asked what he deemed to be his very best vocals, Liam Gallagher didn’t shy away from his accomplishments. In a past interview with the Daily Telegraph, Gallagher listed off his best efforts, “‘Cast No Shadow’. ‘Wonderwall’. ‘Hello’. ‘Roll With It’. ‘Champagne Supernova’. I don’t think I’ve done a bad job on any of them. I think I’ve done alright on them all.”
In the very same interview, he praises The Seahorses, John Lennon and The Beatles, citing them as strong influences. He also bashes the vocal abilities of Tim Burgess and the singers of Ocean Colour Scene and Reef. Evidently, he might just have the grounds to do so, as all the songs he listed were great hits of the ’90s, still relevant today. Gallagher’s strengths clearly lie in his ability to make anthemic, iconic hits – and he knows it too.
Gallagher’s vocal performances have been pivotal in defining Oasis’ definitive sound. As the voice behind the Britpop legends, you hear the younger Gallagher brother on iconic tracks ‘Wonderwall’ and ‘Champagne Supernova’.
Diving into what Liam himself called his greatest vocal performances, ‘Cast No Shadow’ was first on his list. Released on the iconic (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, the track was written by Noel and serves as a tribute to Richard Ashcroft. It reflects on Ashcroft’s departure from The Verve due to tensions over creative control.
‘Cast No Shadow’ leads with Liam’s emotional delivery. He croons, “As they took his soul / they stole his pride / As he faced the sun / he cast no shadow”. His vocal arrangement peaks in a longing and contemplative sympathy. This is perhaps eerily more poignant, as this would somewhat mirror what the Gallagher brothers were set to go through themselves.
‘Wonderwall’, of course, needs no introduction. Featuring also on Morning Glory, music lovers and critics alike have long debated what exactly makes this song so iconic. Was it the lyrics? Liam’s distinctive vocal performance? Or just how catchy it is? It’s more interesting that Liam cited ‘Wonderwall’ as one of his best vocal performances, as he regularly criticises it now. Nonetheless, Liam’s vocals in ‘Wonderwall’ are instantly recognisable, with his signature tone that shifted the face of Britpop. Without over-embellishment or aggression, Liam retains a force that still blends yearning and vulnerability.
‘Hello’ serves as the opening track of Morning Glory. It not only sets the energetic and guitar-heavy tone for the iconic record but also sees Liam’s assertive vocals immediately draw listeners into the record’s dynamic atmosphere. ‘Roll With It’ stands out for its upbeat tempos and optimism. In many ways emblematic of the Oasis ethos, it encapsulates the band’s defiance in the face of traditional rock and roll.
Finally, last on Gallagher’s self-made list is ‘Champagne Supernova’, another fan-favourite. This track closes the Morning Glory record, leaving the listener contemplative and fulfilled. On top of layered instrumentation, Liam’s vocals capture a vulnerable sense of longing and abstract nostalgia. A defining piece of the Britpop era, it’s not hard to see why Liam pinned this as one of his best vocal performances.
