‘Some Might Say’: The song that defines Oasis
No band captured the rebellious spirit of the 1990s quite like Oasis. From humble beginnings in Manchester’s Boardwalk, the pioneering rock and roll outfit rose to become one of the biggest bands on Earth, typifying the Britpop age and crafting an extensive repertoire of universally beloved hits in the process. The songwriting genius of Noel Gallagher was at its peak during the band’s early period, during the mid-1990s, inspiring some of the most iconic songs of the past three decades, which still resonate with vast audiences today.
During the very beginning of Oasis, when the band were operating under the name The Rain and without the inclusion of Noel Gallagher, their sound was heavily influenced by Manchester’s extensive indie scene. The Stone Roses, in particular, were a notable influence on early demos like ‘Take Me’, but Noel Gallagher managed to imbue the band with his own unique songwriting sound when he joined the ranks of Oasis in late 1991.
From there, Gallagher established his songwriting voice which, at least in the run-up to Definitely Maybe in 1994, was illustrated by a deep appreciation for the British invasion rock of the 1960s, in addition to a punk attitude. Anthems like ‘Bring It On Down’ captured Oasis’ rebellious persona during those early years, but that abrasion didn’t seem to resonate with widespread audiences in quite the same way as the more expansive follow-up, (What’s The Story) Morning Glory.
Featuring some of Gallagher’s all-time greatest songwriting, the band’s sophomore album was the one which established them as titans of rock in a global sense. What’s more, the album firmly defined the inherent sound and attitude of the band better than any other album. It could certainly be argued that ‘Some Might Say’ is the stand-out track from that release, at least in terms of summarising the spirit of Oasis.
Gallagher himself admitted as much. During an interview in 2000, he spoke about his frustration with cutting the track from the band’s live show. “I would like to be doing ‘Some Might Say’, but Liam just can’t sing it anymore,” he claimed. “It’s a shame, because that’s probably the best Oasis song that we’ve got that, sort of, in that four-and-a-half minutes, that’s what it is, you know.” Adding, “That probably says more about Oasis than any other song, you know.”
‘Some Might Say’ perfectly encapsulates the self-affirming optimism that Oasis were so good at getting across, rejecting the banality of everyday life and finding the determination to march to the beat of your own drum. It is no surprise, then, that the song is often hailed among Oasis’ defining works, or that it earned the band their first number-one single upon its initial release back in April 1995.
In fact, the song has enjoyed such an enduring popularity that it has recently reached the top of the charts once again. A reissue of the original single now tops the vinyl singles chart in the UK, speaking both to the lasting legacy of that incredible anthem and the ever-increasing excitement over the band’s upcoming reunion.
Despite Gallagher’s claims in 2000 that his brother, Liam, could no longer sing the chorus of the track, Liam Gallagher has been performing the track for years in a solo capacity. As such, it only seems natural that the song will be included on the setlist for the band’s extensive world tour, particularly given the fact that it still defines Oasis better than any other track.
