I grew up with Oasis, Suede, Pulp and other well known bands of that era. Loved Oasis music but not their childish postings. I do like Noel's music. But I am cynical about this comeback type of your and what their motivations are. Probably da money 💰🤑
I've been watching a documentary on Britpop recently and I was impressed by how many amazing bands there were in the UK in a span of 5/6 years. That’s how I discovered Pulp as I don't think they were popular in Spain, where I grew up. I remember Suede vaguely but Blur and Oasis were the main ones on the radio.
Like you I was a bit put off by Oasis antics and largely ignored them for that reason but now that I've gone back to their music I'm enjoying it, also their solo work.
No worries, the main idea was clear. I had the same reservations but after having experienced it, I'm still pinching myself and really hope the two of them make more music together after the reunion. But just to see them happy was so touching.
Here's a story you'll get a kick out of - I taught English at my first summer school in the UK in 2005 and most of my students were either Spanish or Italian teenagers (there were a handful of other nationalities). I would play a few songs and force them to do gap fills (to make them think they were learning, haha). My Spanish students LOVED 'Common People' and after class, some of them went and bought 'Different Class' and couldn't stop raving about how cool Pulp were. The Italians? Not fans.
I repeated the 'experiment' at my next summer school, in 2008. Similar results, but less enthusiastic - the Spanish kids enjoyed 'Common People' but none of them rushed out to buy the album.
In 2010, one more time, and the results were similar to 2008.
I found it fascinating that the Italians were not fans at all.
My conclusion: Spanish teenagers obviously have MUCH BETTER taste in music than Italians 😂
(I taught summer school this past July for the first time since 2010 but didn't play any music this time, but 75% of my students were Italian and wouldn't have appreciated it anyway!)
Thanks so much for reading and for sharing that Blur video, I had completely missed this performance the first time. It's funny that the Oasis reunion has made me regret not having seen Blur at Wembley back in 2023. I guess while I enjoy their music and find it more playful and wide-ranging, I had underestimated the emotional connection I have with Oasis, which has surprised even me!
And I can totally relate to learning English through songs as my teachers used that technique but they went for Spice Girls and Back Street Boys tunes, which probably explains why Britpop passed us by at the time 😂
Oh I loved them... for about four years. I saw them twice: 1995 and 2002. They were very, very different experiences. If you're interested, I wrote a piece about it fairly recently.
Oh lucky you! From the interviews I've been watching you can tell they were starting to drift apart a bit post 2000 until they eventually split. Also Liam's voice wasn't on top form towards their final years together so I imagine that after seeing them at their peak it was difficult to top that. Will check your piece too, thanks for sharing.
Love this. What a great post. I saw Oasis the first time around and I’ve always loved them. When I was at uni What’s the Story played out of every other student window! Weirdly, Stand by me wasn’t rated that highly back in the day, no idea why. The video was amazing. I still listen to them and Pulp, Suede etc from that era. Thanks for a great bit of writing.
Oh that must have been amazing, Kate! I'm sure you have great memories of that time. I think the reason why Stand by me made such an impression is because I was slightly older compared to when the previous albums came out (which completely passed me by) and everyone made a big deal of Be Here Now so it was inescapable even in Spain.
Honestly, one of the most moving and relatable things I've ever read on this platform. Thank you.
I was never an Oasis fan. For years I thought I hated them, and I'm embarrassed when I think about how angry I used to get when I talked about them (teenagers, hey!). But I really wish I'd been able to go to these reunion shows. At first I wanted to go just because of the support lineup - Cast were the very first band I ever saw, and we were very lucky to have The Verve. But as the shows got nearer and the hype started building, I realised that this could be something wonderful, something wholly joyous and uncynical, with real potential to bring people together.
Then the videos from the first shows came out, and I realised that I'd made a huge mistake in not trying for a ticket. Will they continue to play, or will they leave it at this? And if they carry on, can they maintain the momentum? Who knows? But I do know that, for the very first time in my life, I now consider myself an Oasis fan. Just like you found yourself to be intimately familiar with the likes of Columbia, so I found myself familiar with every Oasis lyric referenced in your post despite having never owned an Oasis album. They got under everyone's skin.
I completely understand the rollercoaster of emotions that you have experienced as the reunion got closer and we got a first glimpse of what it was like. You've summed it up perfectly in this sentence: "I realised that this could be something wonderful, something wholly joyous and uncynical, with real potential to bring people together."
In 16 years living in London, the week in between the Wembley shows has been the most surreal experience in my life in a positive way thanks to the atmosphere fans created, with the city embracing this return to the height of Britpop. It's been the first time I've felt as part of something bigger than myself and I am grateful to have experienced it.
It's so funny how many of us have needed this reunion to materialise to realise the impact Oasis music had on us as teenagers (and later on) even if we did our best to resist it 😂 What I've also realised is that listening to their songs now I am able to get more joy and meaning from them as the lyrics resonate in ways that would have escaped me when I was 14/15.
I've been reading that there might be a European tour in 2026 although at the time is mostly rumours but if that is the case you may get another chance to see them live - fingers crossed!
Love this! I’ve just been listening to the Elis and Jon podcast from last Friday where Elis talks about his experience at the gig. Between that and this I’m getting the sense of just how incredible it was!
I saw them in Cardiff not long before they split. It was a day festival in the Principality stadium and they were supported by The Foo Fighters! I think I’m happy to leave my Oasis memories there as I don’t think I’d top that gig 😅
It's a perfectly understandable choice. You don't want to ruin any good memories you have of them. As you've seen them live I'm sure you'll be getting the excitement people are feeling. I never thought I've experienced anything like it. By the way, not sure if you've listened to any of Liam's solo music but he has a great song called Everything's Electric where Dave Grohl plays drums.
I grew up with Oasis, Suede, Pulp and other well known bands of that era. Loved Oasis music but not their childish postings. I do like Noel's music. But I am cynical about this comeback type of your and what their motivations are. Probably da money 💰🤑
I've been watching a documentary on Britpop recently and I was impressed by how many amazing bands there were in the UK in a span of 5/6 years. That’s how I discovered Pulp as I don't think they were popular in Spain, where I grew up. I remember Suede vaguely but Blur and Oasis were the main ones on the radio.
Like you I was a bit put off by Oasis antics and largely ignored them for that reason but now that I've gone back to their music I'm enjoying it, also their solo work.
I hadn't forgotten about Suede. There was always rivalry between Oasis and Suede.
Who didn't Oasis have rivalry with?😂
I mean their 'posturings' 🙄
I mean comeback tour. My writing is full of typos 🙄
No worries, the main idea was clear. I had the same reservations but after having experienced it, I'm still pinching myself and really hope the two of them make more music together after the reunion. But just to see them happy was so touching.
This was one helluva post! Incredible story telling and it's so rich and evocative.
If you haven't seen it yet, check out Blur's video for 'Under the Westway' as part of the London Olympics closing ceremony in Hyde Park.
(it's here if you haven't seen it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDmnn-aQhFE)
Here's a story you'll get a kick out of - I taught English at my first summer school in the UK in 2005 and most of my students were either Spanish or Italian teenagers (there were a handful of other nationalities). I would play a few songs and force them to do gap fills (to make them think they were learning, haha). My Spanish students LOVED 'Common People' and after class, some of them went and bought 'Different Class' and couldn't stop raving about how cool Pulp were. The Italians? Not fans.
I repeated the 'experiment' at my next summer school, in 2008. Similar results, but less enthusiastic - the Spanish kids enjoyed 'Common People' but none of them rushed out to buy the album.
In 2010, one more time, and the results were similar to 2008.
I found it fascinating that the Italians were not fans at all.
My conclusion: Spanish teenagers obviously have MUCH BETTER taste in music than Italians 😂
(I taught summer school this past July for the first time since 2010 but didn't play any music this time, but 75% of my students were Italian and wouldn't have appreciated it anyway!)
Thanks so much for reading and for sharing that Blur video, I had completely missed this performance the first time. It's funny that the Oasis reunion has made me regret not having seen Blur at Wembley back in 2023. I guess while I enjoy their music and find it more playful and wide-ranging, I had underestimated the emotional connection I have with Oasis, which has surprised even me!
And I can totally relate to learning English through songs as my teachers used that technique but they went for Spice Girls and Back Street Boys tunes, which probably explains why Britpop passed us by at the time 😂
As someone who was right down the front when Oasis peaked the first time, this is absolutely beautiful. Instant subscribe.
That means either you loved them or hated them 😂 Thanks for reading and subscribing, much appreciate it!
Oh I loved them... for about four years. I saw them twice: 1995 and 2002. They were very, very different experiences. If you're interested, I wrote a piece about it fairly recently.
Oh lucky you! From the interviews I've been watching you can tell they were starting to drift apart a bit post 2000 until they eventually split. Also Liam's voice wasn't on top form towards their final years together so I imagine that after seeing them at their peak it was difficult to top that. Will check your piece too, thanks for sharing.
Love this. What a great post. I saw Oasis the first time around and I’ve always loved them. When I was at uni What’s the Story played out of every other student window! Weirdly, Stand by me wasn’t rated that highly back in the day, no idea why. The video was amazing. I still listen to them and Pulp, Suede etc from that era. Thanks for a great bit of writing.
Oh that must have been amazing, Kate! I'm sure you have great memories of that time. I think the reason why Stand by me made such an impression is because I was slightly older compared to when the previous albums came out (which completely passed me by) and everyone made a big deal of Be Here Now so it was inescapable even in Spain.
I am very happy for you. And a great article.
Thanks so much for reading ☺️
Brilliant article
Thanks for reading!
Honestly, one of the most moving and relatable things I've ever read on this platform. Thank you.
I was never an Oasis fan. For years I thought I hated them, and I'm embarrassed when I think about how angry I used to get when I talked about them (teenagers, hey!). But I really wish I'd been able to go to these reunion shows. At first I wanted to go just because of the support lineup - Cast were the very first band I ever saw, and we were very lucky to have The Verve. But as the shows got nearer and the hype started building, I realised that this could be something wonderful, something wholly joyous and uncynical, with real potential to bring people together.
Then the videos from the first shows came out, and I realised that I'd made a huge mistake in not trying for a ticket. Will they continue to play, or will they leave it at this? And if they carry on, can they maintain the momentum? Who knows? But I do know that, for the very first time in my life, I now consider myself an Oasis fan. Just like you found yourself to be intimately familiar with the likes of Columbia, so I found myself familiar with every Oasis lyric referenced in your post despite having never owned an Oasis album. They got under everyone's skin.
Thanks for the Muse shoutouts, too!
I completely understand the rollercoaster of emotions that you have experienced as the reunion got closer and we got a first glimpse of what it was like. You've summed it up perfectly in this sentence: "I realised that this could be something wonderful, something wholly joyous and uncynical, with real potential to bring people together."
In 16 years living in London, the week in between the Wembley shows has been the most surreal experience in my life in a positive way thanks to the atmosphere fans created, with the city embracing this return to the height of Britpop. It's been the first time I've felt as part of something bigger than myself and I am grateful to have experienced it.
It's so funny how many of us have needed this reunion to materialise to realise the impact Oasis music had on us as teenagers (and later on) even if we did our best to resist it 😂 What I've also realised is that listening to their songs now I am able to get more joy and meaning from them as the lyrics resonate in ways that would have escaped me when I was 14/15.
I've been reading that there might be a European tour in 2026 although at the time is mostly rumours but if that is the case you may get another chance to see them live - fingers crossed!
And yes, Muse absolutely rock ☺️
I suspect that they'll at least do a festival date or two in the coming years. You never know.
Makes perfect sense given the momentum.
Fabulous stuff, Cristina. Simply fabulous!
Thanks so much, Mark! Glad you enjoyed reading it.
I’m presuming English is a second language for you, Cristina?
Yes it is : )
Well, I’m very impressed, Cristina!
😂 Thanks! The odd typo, awkward sentence and misspelling always find a way in, though but I'm glad I make sense : )
You are eminently, and enjoyably, readable, Cristina, so I wouldn’t worry on that front!
😊
This is a stunning piece of writing about the impact of music, really powerful
I'm still pinching myself, honestly.
Love this! I’ve just been listening to the Elis and Jon podcast from last Friday where Elis talks about his experience at the gig. Between that and this I’m getting the sense of just how incredible it was!
I saw them in Cardiff not long before they split. It was a day festival in the Principality stadium and they were supported by The Foo Fighters! I think I’m happy to leave my Oasis memories there as I don’t think I’d top that gig 😅
It's a perfectly understandable choice. You don't want to ruin any good memories you have of them. As you've seen them live I'm sure you'll be getting the excitement people are feeling. I never thought I've experienced anything like it. By the way, not sure if you've listened to any of Liam's solo music but he has a great song called Everything's Electric where Dave Grohl plays drums.
https://substack.com/@collapseofthewavefunction/note/p-170698440?r=5tpv59&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action