Noel Gallagher names the “greatest episode in British pop”
Since the dawn of pop music, Britain has always been at the forefront of the scene, pioneering the next big sound. From the early days of skiffle and rock ‘n’ roll to The Beatles, glam, punk rock, Britpop, and indie rock – the quality of cultural exports in the United Kingdom has rarely waned. Hence, the idea of selecting the greatest pop period of the nation is a fairly contentious issue, but that has not stopped Oasis songwriter Noel Gallagher from weighing in on the debate.
Although they were quick to distance themselves from the label, Oasis formed an essential aspect of the Britpop age. Bringing the focus back to guitar-led indie bands, as opposed to the acid-house dance music and American grunge, which dominated the early part of the decade, Britpop became virtually unavoidable during the mid-1990s. What had previously been seen as an underground scene suddenly found itself in the pop charts, and the musical history of the United Kingdom would never be quite the same again.
The songwriting of Noel Gallagher is synonymous with the Britpop era, but Oasis took a large portion of their inspiration from the pop age of the 1960s. The swinging sixties is viewed as something of a gold standard within UK culture, storied by a variety of revolutionary artists, musicians, and fashion trends, the impact of which can still be felt today.
Obviously, The Beatles were an essential influence on Gallagher and Oasis, so you would be forgiven for thinking that Noel Gallagher harbours an ultimate appreciation for the pop episode of the 1960s. In actuality, Gallagher’s favourite period for British pop comes from a lot closer to home.
Speaking about the manufactured rivalry between Oasis and Blur, which commanded the attention of headlines throughout the Britpop years, the songwriter once said, “Looking back on it now, I think it’s one of the greatest episodes in British pop music.” Telling Supersonic The Complete Authorised and Uncut Interviews, “I think it is amazing. The country came together for music and wouldn’t all of us, as music fans, give anything to be back in those days now?”
Admittedly, the 1990s were a particularly vibrant time for British pop music, when grassroots guitar bands could rise through the ranks to the top of the pop charts based almost entirely on talented songwriting. For the vast majority of Oasis’ ‘golden age’, the band was on the independent label Creation Records, showcasing the fact that virtually anybody could achieve pop stardom, even while facing a lack of financial support or music industry connections.
On the other hand, Gallagher’s yearning for the heady days of Britpop might have something to do with the intense level of fame and success the songwriter experienced during these years. From the release of Definitely Maybe in 1994 until the dissolution of the group in 2009, Gallagher was living a lavish lifestyle storied by success, acclaim, and a general life of rock excess.
Although Gallagher still leads a successful life today, performing across the world with his solo project, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, his solo work has never come close to matching the widespread success or quality of some early Oasis compositions. Therefore, it remains unclear whether Gallagher actually thinks the mid-1990s was the “greatest episode in British pop” or he simply misses the success and joy of his rock and roll youth.
