THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

15-Oasis-Wonderwall.

1995-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 0.22. Noel Gallagher has been quoted as saying that the best song he has ever written is ‘Live Forever,’ he is wrong. He has also stated that his favourite version of ‘Wonderwall’ is the 2003 recording by the American singer Ryan Adams, he is wrong again, it is not a patch on Liam Gallagher’s mesmerising vocal.

‘Oasis’ (see also best songs 1006 and 758) were formed in 1991 by Paul Arthurs, (guitar) Paul McGuigan (bass) and Tony McCarroll, (drums) this trio along with singer Chris Hutton, who was replaced by Liam Gallagher (vocals) were first known as the ‘Rain.’ Liam’s brother Noel would join them later that year making them a quintet, and in total there have been nine different members come and go, until the band spit in 2009. It was Liam who suggested that the band change their name to Oasis, which was inspired by an ‘Inspiral Carpets’ (English Rock band formed in the 1980’s) tour poster in the childhood bedroom he had shared with his brother Noel, which listed the Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon as a venue.

The discography of Oasis includes seven studio Albums released between 1994-2008, and 28 singles issued between 1994-2009. In the UK all of those Albums have reached Number 1, and they have also achieved 27 top 40 singles, of which eight of those made the Number 1 spot.In America on Billboard their highest charting Album was their third release ‘Be Here Now,’ which reached Number 2 in 1997, while their only top 40 hit single on Billboard is ‘Wonderwall,’ which peaked at Number 8 in 1995. In total Oasis have sold in excess of 70 million records worldwide.

‘Wonderwall’ was the fourth of six singles released from (‘What’s the Story) Morning Glory?’ which was the second studio Album by Oasis from October 1995. At the time of writing the Album is the fifth best selling Album of all time, and third best selling studio Album ever in the UK, with sales in excess of 5 million copies. ‘Wonderwall’ which is also Oasis’ best selling single was written by Noel Gallagher, and produced by him along with Owen Morris. Morris who is now retired, had previously worked as an engineer on Oasis’ debut Album ‘Definitely Maybe’ in 1995, and he also went on to produce the next Oasis Album ‘Be Here Now’ in 1997. Other major Albums that Morris went onto produce include the ‘Verve’ Album ‘A Northern Soul,’ (1995) and the ‘Ash’ Album ‘1977,’ in 1996.

Noel Gallagher has never hidden the fact that he has always been heavily inspired by the music of the Beatles, (see also best songs see also best songs 599-319-238-218-157-141-51-10 and 5) and this songs title was also the title of George Harrison’s (1943-2001) (see also best songs 737 and 726) debut studio Album ‘Wonderwall Music,’ from 1968, which was also the first solo Album issued by any of the four Beatles. ‘Wonderwall Music’ is an instrumental Album, and was written as the soundtrack to the 1968 film ‘Wonderwall,’ starring the English actress Jane Birkin (see also best songs 467.)

Prior to deciding on ‘Wonderwall’ as the songs title, Noel Gallagher was going to call the song ‘Wishing Stone,’ after a girl he had once dated who had a stone in her pocket that she insisted he had. Gallagher has said,’I thought what a great title, and the song came out of that.’ When Gallagher first recorded ‘Wonderwall’ the press assumed that it was written about his future wife Meg Mathews, Gallagher has explained,’The meaning of that song was taken away from me by the media who jumped on it. And how do you tell your Mrs. it’s not about her once she’s read it is? It’s about an imaginary friend who’s going to come and save you from yourself.’ Gallagher had also given the press a different story when saying,’It’s about my girlfriend. She was out of work, and that, a bit down on her luck, so it’s just saying, ‘Cheer up and f—in’ get on with it.”

‘Today is gonna be the day that they’re gonna throw it back to you. By now you should’ve somehow realised what you gotta do. I don’t believe that anybody feels the way I do, about you now.’