There was internal controversy regarding the real origin of the song, with members who would have taken years to believe in the authorship.
One of the names that sold the most records in the history of the United Kingdom, Oasis ushered in a new era in English rock during the 1990s. The music industry surrendered to the movement Cool Britanniawhich marked the period.
This all started from the moment Noel Gallagher composed “Live Forever”. The song is the biggest hit of Definitely Maybe (1994), the band’s first album, and its single reached triple platinum certification in the musicians’ homeland.
The genesis of the song was a topic in the documentary about the band called Supersonicwhich came out in 2016. In one scene, Noel tells us about the composition of the track (via Louder):
Oasis had been around for about six months or a year at that point, and I was making music more for fun. One night, I came up with a song and everything changed.”
To the documentary Live Forever (2003), Noel Gallagher went deeper into the process. The idea for the track was born while practicing a chord sequence to the sound of “Shine a Light”of the Rolling Stones. Upon reaching the chorus, the musician realized how the melody of the verse “May the good Lord shine a light on you” fit well with what he was playing.
How Oasis colleagues received “Live Forever”
From this melodic phrase, the guitarist thought of the beginning of the lyrics of “Live Forever” [“Maybe I don’t really wanna know”]with the rest coming shortly after. Noel presented the complete song to the other members during a rehearsal in 1993. The band’s reaction was incredulous.
The leader of Oasis told in Supersonic:
Bonehead [Paul Arthurs, guitarrista do Oasis] I said, ‘You didn’t write this, dammit, there’s no way this song is yours’.”
In the same documentary, Arthurs offered his side of the story. In addition to explaining the context, the musician expressed his initial distrust regarding the authorship:
I didn’t believe that someone would be able to walk into a room saying: ‘let me play you one of my songs’ and it be ‘Live Forever’. It’s like, ‘Fuck you, you didn’t write that.’ He said: ‘Why not?’ And I replied: ‘because listen to the music!’. I immediately thought: ‘wow, what a song’.”
Noel joke that Bonehead went searching for obscure songs from the 1960s and 1970s to find the real origin of “Live Forever”. In the end, he had to give up: it was really his creation.
Reaction to grunge
Many saw the lyrics “Live Forever” as a tribute to NoelGallagher to your mother, Peggyand the resilience of your family even in the face of difficulties. However, the inspiration was an attempt to respond to the pessimism of grunge, especially the Nirvana and the worldview of Kurt Cobain.
In a 2013 interview (via Far Out Magazine), Noel explained his reasoning. The composer mainly highlighted a song from Nirvana call “I Hate Myself and Want to Die” like something I didn’t understand.
At that time it was grunge and stuff like that. I remember Nirvana had this song called ‘I Hate Myself and Want to Die’, and I reacted with, ‘Well, I refuse to think like that.’ As much as I like him [Kurt Cobain] and everything, I refuse to think like that.”
Despite this reaction, Noel over the years he always regretted that he didn’t have the opportunity to meet Cobain before his death. The two had mutual friends in the United Kingdom and, according to Gallagherthey always told him how well they both would have gotten along.
Collaborated: Pedro Hollanda.
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
