Oasis Vs. The Beatles: Can you really compare the two?

News OasisJuly 26, 2013

Ever since Oasis led the charge for the 90s Britpop invasion, the first thing,
which turned into the most common thing people did was compare Oasis to
The Beatles. I dont know if it just became the cool thing to say, or the easy
way out of a drunken pub debate. Its probably safe to say that by now, the
cloth that Oasis has contributed into the rock n roll fabric of time is currently
and may forever be completely stitched. Which gives us the chance to finally
put this debate to rest. Take out your scorecards gents, Lets review the facts..
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THE MUSIC. Early on.

The Beatles first few albums were a mix of cover songs and originals. All the
songs were pretty much songs about girls which were written by Paul
McCartney and John Lennon. Some collaborative, some separate. No more than
3 min long usually. They were mostly fast. Had punchy beats, pumpy basslines,
and twangy George Harrison lead. The slow ones were epic gems.
Oasis first few albums were all written by Noel Gallagher. The tempo and
drumbeats seemed to always stay the same in its own brilliant way. The only
love song that is clearly a plain old fashion love song in the way the Beatles
used to write them where they are fawning over a girl is Digsys Dinner,
Slide Away, and possibly Wonderwall. But Im not sure if Wonderwall is
even about a girl. Then on their 3rd album, Be Here Now, theres only Dont
Go Away and The Girl In The Dirty Shirt.
Beatles4

THE LOOK.
The Beatles popularized the mop-top. They wore matching outfits. They had
suits, black ties and boyish smiles down to a science. But so did a lot of the
other rock n roll groups from that era. Then it gradually got casual into the 60s.
Bell bottoms, weird beards, creep daddy moustaches matched with shiny
marching band attire.
Only Noel and Liam had similar Beatlesque bowl cuts. Bonehead kept the non
comparison strong with a balding top. No creeper moustaches found here, but
they did glamorize the uni-brow for a while. Well only the two Gallaghers did
anyway. Oasis style was more casual and sophisticated. Checkered button

downs which graduated to sporty jean and sleek leather jackets. Never did they
wear matching outfits.
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THE ATTITUDE.
The Beatles were cheery, funny, and animated in their movies and interviews.
Their confidence was more cool and subdued with only certain bursts of
blimpish egos such as the time they famously claimed to be bigger than
Jesus. Besides that, the Liverpool lads always knew how to wave, smile, and
run like unathletic academic kids.
Oasis were the underdog bad boys from Manchester. Inflated egos. Stone faced
stares which hid behind shades indoors. Athletic looking with only a few soccer
kicks in the Morning Glory video to validate the claim. They were hilarious in
interviews mostly for talking smack about other rock stars.
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THE MUSIC. Later on.

The Beatles had father figure type producer George Martin who introduced
them to such innovative production tricks such as reverse recording, different
instrumentation, and overdubbing sound effects. George Harrison brought in
the Indian spices and began to write his own compositions against the
Lennon/McCartney government. Songs were all original after a few albums in.
All the songs werent only about girls now, but a theme of love still draped over
them. Now fictitious songs about 3rd person characters started to surface. As
well as drug inspired imagery spilled their way into songs such as Lucy In The
Sky With Diamonds, Penny Lane, etc..
On the other hand, its arguable that the first 15 seconds of any Oasis song
could possibly be tough to pick out until the words come in. (Try listening to
The Dreams We Have As Children acoustic concert and picking out the songs
as they begin without looking at the track listing). Then after a few albums in,
Noel Gallagher finally let go of all the writing reigns and allowed songs by Liam
and newer members Andy Bell, and Gem Archer to be featured. Still, love songs
were a rare find. If you were lucky you would get one on an album. Instead you
got songs about how to deal with what life throws at you. How to kick up a
storm from the day that you were born. Confidence songs. Solo flights to Vegas
and meet a strange woman songs. Mid-age affirmation songs born from waiting
in line at the grocery store. Escape songs. Sad songs.

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IN CLOSING.
Just because Oasis covered a lot of Beatles songs in their live set and rare bside compilations, Youve Got To Hide Your Love Away, Strawberry Fields
Forever, I Am The Walrus , etc.. doesnt make them copycats. Oasis have
also referenced the Beatles in their own songs lyrics like Love is a litany. A
magical mystery.. from the song The Shock Of The Lighting as well as other
songs with Beatles song references such as Morning Glory, Be Here Now,
and Roll With It to name a few. The fact that they have paid that homage to
them doesnt hold water to the argument that they sound just like them really.
Even if you compared the dynamic of The Beatles which was built around the
writing team of John and Paul to the dynamic Oasis had with Noels
totalitarianistic style then you would wonder why people thought they were
even similar. I mean Glenn Fry and Don Henley of The Eagles were more
Lennon/McCartney than the Gallaghers. Heck, even Panic! At The Disco before
they broke off after their 2nd album Pretty Odd, which oddly enough is the
closest homage to Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club band Ive ever heard.
Oasis never even went near that themed album route. Oasis in my opinion
were kind of like a lovechild of The Stone Roses and The Rolling Stones. But If
you really want to talk about a band who tried to emulate another band so hard
but failed to compare even down to the vocal delivery and snarl that its just
shameful to watch and call shenanigans on it, then look at Green Day and their
attempt to be The Clash. But Ill save that for a later debate.

Tags
Charles Gray, Oasis, The Beatles

Charles Gray

As a kid I used to listen to R&B and rap. Until Nirvana and Pearl Jam came out
and I was all into that. Then one day Britpop was born and Noel Gallagher told

me, "Don't look back" I also write songs and play bass in a gang called far*out.
www.werefarout.com