Oasis Songs Ranked
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Developed from an earlier group, the Rain, the band originally consisted of Liam Gallagher (lead vocals, tambourine), Paul Arthurs (guitar), Paul McGuigan (bass guitar), and Tony McCarroll (drums). Upon returning to Manchester, Liam’s older brother, Noel Gallagher (lead guitar, vocals) joined as a fifth member, which formed the band’s core and settled line-up. During the course of their existence, they had various line-up changes, though the Gallagher brothers remained as the staple members until the group’s dissolution.
Oasis signed to independent record label Creation Records in 1993 and released its record-setting debut album Definitely Maybe (1994). The following year the band recorded (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? (1995) with drummer Alan White, in the midst of a chart rivalry with Britpop peers Blur. (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? became one of the best-selling albums of all time, and the Gallagher brothers were featured regularly in tabloid newspapers for their sibling disputes and wild lifestyles. Oasis’ third album, Be Here Now (1997), went on to be the fastest-selling album of all time in Britain at the time upon release. As of 2009, Oasis has sold over 75 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling bands of all time. The band is among the most successful acts on the UK Singles Chart and Albums Chart having have had eight UK number-one singles and eight UK number-one albums. They have won 17 NME Awards, nine Q Awards, four MTV Europe Music Awards, and six Brit Awards, including one in 2007 for Outstanding Contribution to Music and one for the Best Album of the Last 30 Years (for (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?), and been nominated for two Grammy Awards. (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? is the UK’s fifth best-selling album, and was the UK’s biggest-selling album of the 1990s. Here are all of Oasis’s songs ranked.
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20. Listen Up (Definitely Maybe, 1994)
“Great lyrics and an incredible vocal from Liam. This song is rarely mentioned even by fans of the band. One of the best Oasis songs ever. Extremely underrated.”
19. She’s Electric ((What’s the Story) Morning Glory? 1995)
“Great vocals by Liam and great guitars. The lyrics are just great, and difficult to understand, and that what a great song is, right? Every second of it is a masterpiece of music history, love it. One of my favourites Oasis songs.
18. Cast No Shadow ((What’s the Story) Morning Glory? 1995)
“Rather predictably, Wonderwall sits at the top of the charts. Sadly, this unappreciated gem will never achieve those heights. A shame really, considering it is well written, meaningful and the highlight of Morning Glory”
17. Let There Be Love (Don’t Believe the Truth, 2005)
“It’s so beautiful and the voices of Noel and Liam blend in so well… And well I don’t need to tell you about the lyrics… BEAUTIFUL… Such an impactful and beautiful track “
See more: Oasis Albums Ranked
16. Cigarettes & Alcohol (Definitely Maybe, 1994)
“No song ever summed up being young and on the scene in Manchester in the late 80s/early 90s better than this. I listen to this and it makes me feel like I can still make it happen – and we all can you know. Inspiring and utterly Mancunian”
15. Rock ‘N’ Roll Star (Definitely Maybe, 1994)
“This is such an underrated song! If you just listen to it ONE TIME, and that’s all I’m asking, you’ll see why. Plus, the lyrics ‘In my mind those dreams are real/Now you’re concerned about the way I feel? ‘ are so clever and contagious.”
14. Don’t Go Away (Be Here Now, 1997)
“While this might not be Oasis’ most commercially successful production, it is arguably the most emotionally powerful. In particular, the clear vulnerability in Liam’s vocal line is astounding. The addition of the horns and the strings into the layering only adds to this. Although it would have been nice to hear more of a sense of the Mustique demo in the sound (perhaps to remove any remnants of slide away, and give it a more unique feel), this song demonstrates a side to the band that is rarely seen in Oasis, and it is truly moving!”
13. Stand by Me (Be Here Now, 1997)
“It is quite frankly a package deal: the most brilliant video I’ve ever seen with a great moral about the appearances. The guitar riff is just amazing, it transcends you to another universe! And the lyrics are amazing because they are not mainstream at all but spontaneous “Made a meal and threw it up on Sunday” Brilliant!”
12. Acquiesce (Some Might Say, 1995)
“The raw sound and combination of Liam and Noel’s vocals are incredible and incomparable. Probably the most underrated piece of work and should be recognized for its quality.”
11. Stop Crying Your Heart Out (Heathen Chemistry, 2002)
“First time I heard this I wanted to cry but hearing the lyrics made me realize there’s no use crying your heart out, so I stopped crying, I mean it was just really good and can show our real feelings. Love this song!”
10. Some Might Say ((What’s the Story) Morning Glory? 1995)
“The heaviness of the guitars in the intro get your attention right away. The lyrics aren’t Noel at his strongest alone, but Liam’s singing make them sound much better. Besides the breakdown around 2:03 sound like spaceships! Harmonizing from Liam and Noel sounds incredible, their singing goes together like peanut butter and jelly.”
9. Whatever (Definitely Maybe, 1994)
“It is the most uplifting song I have ever heard. Whenever I listen to it, I can’t stop but move with the music. It is that good. No matter how down I am feeling, this song never fails to bring me back!”
8. Morning Glory ((What’s the Story) Morning Glory? 1995)
“The loud massive power of Morning Glory makes it the number one oasis song for me. The influences are numerous including REM the one I love guitar riff. And the Beatles Tomorrow Never Knows song title in their lyrics. They also seem to be influenced by themselves. “All your dreams are made with strawberry lemonade” in Talk Tonight.”
7. The Masterplan (The Masterplan, 1998)
“A carefully crafted masterpiece from Noel. The way the chromatically descending intro sucks you in is incomparable to anything else on their catalog. The rest of the song sounds so grand, and with an epic flair that is unmistakably Noel’s. Such an underrated hidden gem; you all should listen to it sometime.”
See more: The Struts Albums Ranked
6. Slide Away (Definitely Maybe, 1994)
“Noel’s songwriting hits you right to the heart coupled with Liam’s unique singing style. Despite all odds, he wants to be with this person and just slide away. It is a beautiful song that builds until it becomes unbearable to not be with this person. Not a love song that is slow and simple, but it demands the listeners attention with everything climaxing at the end. And the guitars are fantastic, not overdone, but adding to the flavor of the song.”
5. Supersonic (Definitely Maybe, 1994)
“Everything about this song, from Noel’s brilliant optimistic opening to the sudden contrast and beautiful pessimism of Liam’s voice in ‘I need to be myself’, the unorthodox rhymes and illusions in this make it the best. They don’t care how it sounds, if people brand it madness or genius – it is what it is just as they are who they are. Cynism bleeds through the reference to cars, trains, autographs, and journalism (through the form of the big issue! ). This song is literally a supersonic force of Oasis at their best, given the competition that is no mean feat.”
4. Champagne Supernova ((What’s The Story) Morning Glory, 1995)
“For me at least, Champagne Supernova represents all Oasis COULD’VE been. Even being the Legend they are, their career was forever relegated to just being considered “Beatles imitators” and thereafter trying to live up to the enormous shadow their first two records set. Through all my years of listening, the fact remains that Oasis has a definite “sound” to it. Being chained down to the “brit pop” genre has kept Oasis from being considered not only one of the greatest and most successful rock bands ever, to being THE greatest.”
3. Wonderwall ((What’s The Story) Morning Glory, 1995)
“Beautiful. It’s a song about two individuals going through lots of problems in life. “The word is on the street that the fire in you’re heart is out. ” This singer (Liam) loves the girl, and knows that their love will make everything better, but “there are many things that I would like to say to you but I don’t know how. ” Maybe, just maybe “you’re going to be one that saves me. ” It’s a song about two people who need love the most. Amazing, and the best song of all time. No exaggeration.”
2. Live Forever (Definitely Maybe, 1994)
“Live Forever” is a universal anthem. It soars with positive energy and an optimism that was rare in music in the era in which it was released. They lyrics were simple enough to be repeated, and did not muss up the message of the song. The guitar work, especially that solo, is just flawless in setting the tone. “Live Forever” is a true, undeniable classic, and is Oasis’s finest song, the Jewel in their crown.”
1. Don’t Look Back in Anger ((What’s The Story) Morning Glory, 1995)
“I’ve loved this song since the first time I heard it in high school. I mean, I’ve been a fan of Oasis since the very beginning. There are so many of their songs that I cherish. But again and again, I gravitate most often to this one. The Beatle-esque feel of the song’s arrangement (including those opening chords in from John Lennon’s Imagine) – yet it still manages to keep a raw Oasis feel at the same time. Then of course the lyrics and that chorus. I dare you not to sing along when that chorus kicks in. Your entire existence builds up to that chorus in a way that not many bands have been able to master or even mimic.”