Much has been made of Oasis as a band. Are they the second coming of the Beatles? Are they the biggest band on earth? Well, the answer is no, and not anymore. But for a time, between 1994 and 1996, there was no bigger band than Oasis. But what started the whole international Britpop craze? The answer is simple, Definitely Maybe.
Tracks:
1) Rock 'N' Roll Star - The song not only sets the stage for the album, but it sets the stage for Oasis for the rest of their careers. When lead singer Liam Gallagher belts out the words, ''Tonight, I'm a rock 'n' roll star!'' it became true. The album has better songs, no question, but no song was as perfect to open Definitely maybe as this one. When asked about the songs meaning, Liam was quoted saying, ''You should live every day like a f*cking star.'' (9/10)
2) Shakermaker - The fact that this song is the literal rip-off of the Coca-Cola song, and that the band was never questioned about it, tells you something. Only one band in the world could get away with it, and in fact make it a top 10 single, and that band was Oasis. One of this albums many highlights. (9.5/10)
3) Live Forever - The song that said that the public would not ignore them any longer. The best song on the album, best song the band ever created, and one of the greatest songs of all time. Just as The Who infamously claimed, ''I hope I die before I get old,'' Oasis claimed, ''You and I are going to live forever.'' The song turned them from hyped up rock band to true stars. The most straightforward of all Noel lyrics, and the most powerful. The song is done with such authority and sincerity, that the band could never really equal its power. You can love Oasis, or hate them, but they will live forever. (10/10)
4) Up In The Sky - A song that borders on psychedelica. The song has a very upbeat feel, which hides the true meaning of the lyrics somewhat. The song is a shout out against the then powers that be in England. (8.5/10)
5) Columbia - While many songs created by Oasis seem to borrow a little something (at the minimum) from past bands, this is the first song cited as being ''100% pure Oasis original sound.'' The song, like every song on the album, is classic, but because even more critical for the band when it became a concert favorite. (8.5/10)
6) Supersonic - Noel wrote the song in about 30 minutes, and while there seems to be absolutely no meaning to the words, Noel claims it's in the same vein as Walrus. Noel went as far as to say, ''I've been wondering what the f*ck 'I Am The Walrus' means for years now, and that's exactly what people will be saying about 'Supersonic.' Personally, it's my favorite Oasis tune ever.'' (10/10)
7) Bring It On Down - Easily recognizable is The Sex Pistols influence on this song. The rhythm is pure punk and one of Noel's better riffs. Great on the album, and ever better live. (9/10)
8) Cigarettes & Alcohol - Taking the lead of ''Up In The Sky,'' this song also questions life in England. A very powerful line in the song which sums up the entire idea is, ''Is it worth the aggravation to find yourself a job when there's nothing here working for?'' The song also makes references to drugs in the chorus, ''You might as well do the white line,'' but snuck past Radio 1 almost magically. (9.5/10)
9) Digsy's Dinner - A short little song about Noel's friend Digsy. Digsy's said to have been a crazy and talented musician from Manchester. The song is really a joke at his expense. The song's an extremely catchy song famous for the line, ''These could be the best days of our lives, but I don't think we'd be living very wise.'' (8.5/10)
10) Slide Away - The song that was so good, it could have been as good of a single as ''Live Forever.'' It's been said (when referring to bands that are known for releasing singles) that the mark of a great album is when it has a non-single that became as big as every one that was a single. Slide Away is a powerful song, and a potent message of finally getting someone... or something. It's a classic Oasis song.(10/10)
11) Married With Children - Maybe not a great song in itself, and maybe not a song that would have fit on any other album, but definitely the perfect sign off for Definitely Maybe. As a song alone, it's just barely above average. However, as part of the album, it's a pure necessity, and adds at least two more points to its score. (8/10)
Conclusion:
If the album is just the sum of its parts, it's one of the best albums of the 90s, and one of the better ones of all time, but not a classic. But as easily noticeable upon its release and more noticeable with the passing of time is that it works so well together as an album. It's been said that Definitely Maybe is the unintentional concept album about becoming a rock star. Unlike some of the great concept albums such as ''Tommy,'' there is really no song that doesn't fit in with the concept. ''Rock 'N' Roll Star'' establishes the desire to be a rock star. ''Shakermaker'' talks of a person who desperately wants to be that somebody else (the rock star). Live Forever is an anthem of rock about the feeling of immortality. ''Up In The Sky,'' while on the surface is about those in charge in England at the time, can also be about the drugs that are often associated with being in rock and roll. Also possible is that the song is about being ''up in the sky'' like a budding star. ''Columbia'' is about coming to terms with finally becoming a rock star as stated in the line, ''I can't tell you the way I feel because the way I feel is oh so new to me.'' ''Supersonic'' is about the nonsense and confusion about becoming submerged in sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll, which explains why there is no directly understandable logic to the words. ''Bring It On Down'' is either about the band looking at its fans, or the fans looking at the band. Either way, the song is not a happy one, as stated in the line, ''You're the outcast, you're the underclass, but you don't care, because you're fading fast.'' ''Cigarettes & Alcohol'' is another song that likely has double meaning depending on if you're looking at it as a song alone or as part of an album. As a song alone, the meaning is about the problems in living in England, as part of the album, it's a self-proclamation about how the new ''rock star'' has become the missing ingredient in a lot of people's lives, which is stated in the first line, ''Is it my imagination or have we finally found something worth living for?'' ''Digsy's Dinner'' is the song that most closely borders on non-concept, but the line it's famous for (as stated before, ''These could be the best days of our lives, but I don't think we'd be living very wise.'') sends the message that the band or ''rock star'' are living fast, and burning our fast too. ''Slide Away'' is on the surface a song that's a semi-love song. However, as part of the album, it's about finally achieving the rock star dream in every way. However, once this dream was achieved, the side effects, good or bad set in with the next song, as the rock star slides away into a new chapter on his life. ''Married With Children'' talks about how the rock star life settled into a more normal life, and how the former rock star somewhat regrets how he fell from heights during the, ''best days of his life.''
If this really is the true meaning of Definitely Maybe, then maybe it's ever more than that. Since the actual career of Oasis (most notably, brothers Noel and Liam) seem to have followed the same exact storyline. In that sense, it's an autobiography about the band itself. Either way, Definitely Maybe was a classic album, and really, has there been any albums better since it's release in 1994? Maybe a few that come close, but definitely nothing that reaches the level of Oasis's ground-breaking first release.
