THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

758-Oasis-Champagne Supanova.

1996-It has never been released as a single in the UK.

Best Bit-At 5.46. Noel Gallagher would be the first to admit that some of his songs can be a little on the long side, but I wish this one could go on even longer.

Noel Thomas David Gallagher was born on May 29th, 1967, in Manchester, England, he is widely considered to be one of the most influential songwriters in British Rock music history, and has written 10 UK Number 1 studio Albums, and nine UK Number 1 singles. George Martin (1926-2016) who produced many of the Beatles Albums, called Noel Gallagher ‘the finest songwriter of his generation.’ Noel Gallagher has two brothers, an elder brother called Paul, and a younger brother Liam, the brothers had a very difficult childhood, mainly due to their alcoholic father Tommy, who abused them physically and mentally. In 1976 their mother Peggy acquired legal separation from Thomas, and raised her three sons as a single mother. In the 2016 documentary ‘Supersonic,’ Noel quipped that his father ‘beat the talent into him.’

Noel Gallagher’s first venture into music as a profession was in 1988 when unsuccessfully auditioning for the lead singer of the Manchester based band the ‘Inspiral Carpets,’ but he stayed on with that band, working with their road crew for the next two years, it was during this time that Gallagher recorded his first demos. In 1991 Noel returned from an American tour with the Inspiral Carpets to find that his brother Liam had become a singer with a local band called the ‘Rain.’ After rejecting an offer from Liam to be the band’s manager, Noel agreed to join the band, on the condition that he would take creative control of the group and become its sole songwriter, the ‘Rain’ would later be renamed ‘Oasis’ (see also best songs 1006 and 15.)

Following the split of Oasis in 2009, Noel Gallagher performed his first concerts in February 2010 as a solo artist, and then later that year he formed ‘Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds,’ who at the time of writing remain active, with 10 different group members having come and gone to date. As ‘Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds,’ he has released four studio Albums between 2011-2023, and 21 singles in the same time period, there is also one official compilation Album, and one box set available. The first three studio Albums, and the compilation Album have all reached Number 1 in the UK, with the 2023 release ‘Council Skies’ peaking at Number 2. Four of the ‘Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds’ singles have reached the UK top 40, with the bands debut single ‘The Death of You and Me,’ charting the highest in 2011 at Number 15.

‘Champagne Supanova’ was the sixth and final single released from ‘(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?’ which was the second studio Album released by Oasis from October 1995, the song was not issued as a single in the UK, being only issued in Australia, France, and New Zealand. ‘Champagne Supanova’ was written by Noel Gallagher, and produced by Noel, and Owen Morris, who in total has worked with Oasis on three of their studio Albums. The song is the final track on ‘(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?’ which is the best selling Album of the 1990’s, and the third best selling studio Album of all time in the UK. Joining Oasis on ‘Champagne Supanova’ was Paul Weller, (see also best songs 670-94 and 59) who played lead guitar, and also sang backing vocals.

Noel Gallagher has spoken about ‘Champagne Supanova,’ saying,’This writer was going on about the lyrics to ‘Champagne Supernova,’ and he said, ’You know, the one thing that’s stopping it being a classic is the ridiculous lyrics,’ quoting,’ Slowly walking down the hall, faster than a cannonball,’ what’s that mean?” And I went,’ I don’t know, but are you telling me when you’ve got 60,000 people singing it, they don’t know what it means? It means something different to every one of them.’

As for the songs actual meaning Gallagher has also said, ’I have still not made my mind up as to what the song is actually about. It means different things when I’m in different moods.’The line ‘Where were you when we were getting high,’ is something that the band used to say to each other, as a joke.’

How many special people change? How many lives are livin’ strange? Where were you while we were getting high? Slowly walkin’ down the hall, faster than a cannonball, where were you while we were getting high?’