Five times Oasis paid tribute to The Beatles
During their illustrious career, Oasis openly embraced their influences and never shied away from expressing their deep admiration for a particular band: The Beatles. The Gallagher brothers paid homage to the Fab Four numerous times throughout their reign, with each tribute proving sublime.
Determining which of the two Gallagher brothers loves The Beatles’ work more is challenging, but Liam’s dedication to the rockstar image reaches a profound level when he named his son Lennon in memory of the Fab Four founder. This act is a testament to John Lennon’s influence, shaping the Mancunian Britpop singer into who he is today.
One painful moment in Oasis’ career came when The Beatles didn’t give them the seal of approval they were desperate to receive. In 1996, Liam Gallagher couldn’t hide his dismay after Harrison took a nasty swipe at his band, saying their “music lacks depth, and the singer Liam is a pain, the rest of the band don’t need him”.
In response, Gallagher swiped back at his hero and characteristically told MTV Europe, “I still love the Beatles, and I still love George Harrison as a songwriter in the Beatles, but as a person, I think he’s a fucking nipple. And if I ever meet him, I’ll fucking tell him. And if you’re watching… nipple!”
Even Harrison’s remarks about Liam being a “pain” couldn’t deter his unwavering admiration for his work, highlighting the steadfastness of his love for The Beatles. Oasis wholeheartedly embraced their appreciation for the Fab Four, and their renditions of Beatles songs are certainly worth your attention.
Oasis’ five best covers of The Beatles:
‘You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away’
Just as The Beatles influenced Oasis, the Fab Four were inspired by others too. There’s no greater example of how they also tried to imitate the formula that others made famous than ‘You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away’. Lennon later commented: “That’s me in my Dylan period again. I am like a chameleon, influenced by whatever is going on. If Elvis can do it, I can do it. If the Everly Brothers can do it, me and Paul can. Same with Dylan.”
The track is a stripped-back folk effort from Lennon, and rather than trying to transform ‘You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away’ into something new, Noel Gallagher delivers a spine-tingling tribute to the original version.
‘Strawberry Fields Forever’
Written primarily by Lennon, ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ was inspired by the bespectacled Beatle’s childhood memories of playing in the garden of, you guessed it, Strawberry Field, a Salvation Army children’s home near his childhood home in Liverpool.
In a radio session held in Japan in 2006, Oasis opted to showcase their rendition of the classic track, resulting in a triumphant performance. Despite performing as a three-piece without Liam Gallagher, the show, led by Noel, was a divine treat worth savouring.
Rather than trying to imitate the psychedelic elements that litter the outstanding track, the three members strip it down to its very core to create an innovative and reflective take on ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’.
‘I Am The Walrus’
‘I Am The Walrus’ is Oasis’ most famous tribute to Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Starr, and the track became a staple in their live sets, which, across their esteemed career, never failed to tear the roof off. A live version of the track was later added as the B-side to ‘Cigarettes & Alcohol’ and holds a special place in the hearts of every Oasis diehard.
“The first line was written on one acid trip one weekend,” Lennon explained in 1990. “The second line was written on the next acid trip the next weekend, and it was filled in after I met Yoko. Part of it was putting down Hare Krishna. All these people were going on about Hare Krishna, Allen Ginsberg in particular. The reference to ‘Elementary penguin’ is the elementary, naive attitude of going around chanting, ‘Hare Krishna,’ or putting all your faith in any one idol. I was writing obscurely, a la Dylan, in those days.”
‘Helter Skelter’
In 2000, when Oasis needed another B-side, they decided to do some more crate digging in their collection of Beatles records and the ferocious ‘Helter Skelter’ was picked out of the hat. The track is infectious, and Oasis manages to capture that vibrant energy of the original on their version.
“‘Helter Skelter’ was a track we did in total madness and hysterics in the studio,” Ringo Starr once recalled. “Sometimes you just had to shake out the jams”—and they certainly did. “It sounded nothing like The Beatles,” Starr reflected.
Not only did Oasis record the track as a B-side, but it was also an immovable object in their setlist throughout their Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants world tour, getting a rapturous reception every single time.
‘Whatever/Octopus’s Garden’ Mash-Up
When Oasis took over Knebworth in 1995, their two-night residency quickly etched itself into the stuff of legend. The two shows captured the band at the absolute peak of their powers as they walked on water, and from that moment on, it was a slow, slippery slope leading towards their eventual split in 2009.
In 1995, Oasis could turn anything into gold, as this mash-up of ‘Whatever’ and ‘Octopus’s Garden’ is a testament to their unrivalled prowess at that period in time. Noel Gallagher masterfully integrates the lyrics from the Ringo track into ‘Whatever’, which the crowd at Knebworth lap up, and they unsurprisingly blend beautifully.
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