Oasis were far from original. They kept it simple and wore their influences (which werent exactly the most varied or eclectic) on their sleeve. They didn't really do anything that hadn't been done before. I can see why some people wouldn't like them at all.
For me I was 10/11 years old and not a music fan. I relied on the radio, as I didn't have the internet and didn't have enough of an interest to read the press or anything, and nothing grabbed my attention. I wasn't hearing anything that excited or interested me one bit.
Oasis were a shot in the arm to what I perceived to be a very bland British music scene. I know there was plenty of good stuff kickin' around, but I didn't then. And most of it wasn't anywhere near the phenomental commercial success that Oasis became. For a kid my age, Oasis opened the door to guitar bands and music in general and kick-started what would become a passion.
Definitely Maybe wasn't original, but it was energetic, it was cocky, it was anthemic, and it was hopeful. It was an album that brought colour to what was previously black and white, and not of interest to me.
When I grew up a bit and got the chance to go and see them, Oasis then became the ultimate lads band. Great live shows, and the perfect band to go to see with the lads and drink alot of beer. They were a great band to put on in the pub, and became a bit of a party band through my mid to late teens.
Now I can see the weaknesses, understand the criticisms, and see the holes in the discography. I can also appreciate the great moments, the raw positivity of Definitely Maybe, written by a bunch of young 20 something commoners with limited musicianmanship skills, no prospects, nothing on the horizon, unemployed, and feeling let down by modern society in this country and the lack of opportunities. A state of mind I have been able to relate to over the last 2 or 3 years, and with good reason. Why wouldn't it be positive and full of hope when music became their way out, an escape route, sent them around the world, put a little cash in their pocket, and allowed them to indulge in everything a million rock bands have indulged in before them?
Oasis were the most recognisable, commercially successful British "Britpop" band of their time. I'm not claiming they were the first but they were the poster boys. If you watched the TV, turned on the radio, or picked up a paper you were guaranteed to subjected to Oasis. They were everything alot of impressionable kids with nothing else to fall in love with had been waiting for and became obsessed with and so I do think that being there at the time and being the right age at the time has a lot to do with their success and understanding their success.
I don't think the rest of their discography is awful, it has it's good moments, but theres alot of poor stuff and it was never the same. Noel Gallagher himself has said many times that he can't write another Definitely Maybe because he isn't 21, he isn't unemployed, he isn't poor, he isn't partying every night, and nobody would believe it. They benefited from circumstance a great deal.
But anyway, thats why I love Oasis. If Oasis had happened 15 years later then who knows, it may be different.
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