NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Live Forever

"Live Forever" is a song by British rock group Oasis, written by the band's guitarist and chief songwriter Noel Gallagher. It was released as the third single from their debut album Definitely Maybe on 8 August 1994, just prior to that album's release. It is now considered, along with Wonderwall, perhaps Oasis's most popular and most well known song. Live Forever can mean: Live Forever, a 1994 single by British band Oasis from their album Definitely Maybe Live Forever: The Rise and Fall of Brit Pop, a 2003 documentary film about Britpop, directed by John Dower and named after the Oasis song Hylotelephium spectabile, a succulent plant species sometimes... [1] This image is the cover of an album or single. ... A collection of various CD singles In music, a single is a short recording of one or more separate tracks. ... Oasis are an English rock band, formed in Manchester in 1991, led by lead guitarist and primary songwriter Noel Gallagher and his younger brother, lead vocalist and songwriter Liam Gallagher. ... This article is about the album by Oasis. ... â€œB-Sidesâ€ redirects here. ... Up in the Sky is a song by rock and roll band Oasis. ... Supersonic is a song by British rock band Oasis written by Noel Gallagher. ... is the 220th day of the year (221st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... A CD single is a music single in the form of a compact disc. ... In music, a single is a short (usually ten minutes or less) record, usually featuring one or two tracks as A-sides, often accompanied by several B-sidesâ€”usually remixes or other songs. ... The 12-inch [30 cm] single gramophone record gained popularity with the advent of disco music in the 1970s. ... Insert from the Winter cassette single by Tori Amos The cassette single was a music recording format that debuted in the 80s. ... This article is about the City of Manchester in England. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Britpop was a mid-1990s British alternative rock genre and movement. ... For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ... In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... At least two different record labels called Creation Records have existed. ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... Noel Thomas David Gallagher (born May 29, 1967 in Longsight, Manchester, England) is an English songwriter, guitarist and occasional vocalist with the Manchester rock band Oasis. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... Mark Coyle is a friend of Noel Gallagher, who were both originally in a band called tailgunner, in which Coyle was the lead singer, and Noel was the drummer. ... For 1930s British Conservative MP, see Owen Temple-Morris. ... Oasis are an English rock band, formed in Manchester in 1991, led by lead guitarist and primary songwriter Noel Gallagher and his younger brother, lead vocalist and songwriter Liam Gallagher. ... Shakermaker is a song by British rock group Oasis, written by their lead guitarist Noel Gallagher. ... Cigarettes & Alcohol is a song by British rock band Oasis, written by Noel Gallagher. ... This article is about the album by Oasis. ... Shakermaker is a song by British rock group Oasis, written by their lead guitarist Noel Gallagher. ... Up in the Sky is a song by rock and roll band Oasis. ... For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ... Oasis are an English rock band, formed in Manchester in 1991, led by lead guitarist and primary songwriter Noel Gallagher and his younger brother, lead vocalist and songwriter Liam Gallagher. ... Noel Thomas David Gallagher (born May 29, 1967 in Longsight, Manchester, England) is an English songwriter, guitarist and occasional vocalist with the Manchester rock band Oasis. ... A collection of various CD singles In music, a single is a short recording of one or more separate tracks. ... This article is about the album by Oasis. ... is the 220th day of the year (221st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... (Whats the Story) Morning Glory? track listing Roll with It (2) Wonderwall (3) Dont Look Back in Anger (4) Stop the Clocks track listing The Importance of Being Idle (5) Wonderwall (6) Slide Away (7) Wonderwall is a song and subsequent single by British rock band Oasis taken...

Gallagher wrote the song in 1991, before he joined Oasis. Inspired by The Rolling Stones' "Shine a Light," "Live Forever" features a basic song structure and lyrics with an optimistic outlook that contrasted with the attitude of the grunge bands popular at the time. The song was the first Oasis single to enter the top ten in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number ten and spent over a year in the charts, as well as garnering critical acclaim from both critics and fans. Rolling Stones redirects here. ... Shine a Light is a song featured on British rock and roll band the Rolling Stones 1972 album Exile on Main St. ... Grunge redirects here. ...

Background and recording

Noel Gallagher wrote "Live Forever" in 1991, while working for a building company in his hometown of Manchester. After his foot was crushed by a pipe in an accident, he was given a less-strenuous job working in the storeroom, allowing him more time to write songs. One night he was listening to The Rolling Stones' album Exile on Main Street. While playing one of his own chord progressions, Gallagher noted that it sounded good against one of the vocal melodies from the album: "It was the bit from 'Shine a Light' that goes [sings], 'May the good lord shine a light on you,'" Gallagher recalled. Gallagher incorporated the melody, changing the line to "Maybe I don’t really want to know". For a period afterwards, that was the only part of the song Gallagher had completed.^[1] Noel Thomas David Gallagher (born May 29, 1967 in Longsight, Manchester, England) is an English songwriter, guitarist and occasional vocalist with the Manchester rock band Oasis. ... This article is about the City of Manchester in England. ... Rolling Stones redirects here. ... Exile on Main Street is a 1972 (see 1972 in music) album by the rock and roll band The Rolling Stones. ...

Gallagher played the song to his younger brother Liam. Liam was impressed and asked his brother to join his band Oasis. The song was later instrumental in helping the band secure their record deal with Creation Records. Reflecting on when he first heard the song, Creation boss Alan McGee recalled "It was probably the single greatest moment I've ever experienced with them."^[1] Liam Gallagher (born William John Paul Gallagher on September 21, 1972, Burnage, Manchester, England) is an English singer and tambourine player of the band Oasis. ... At least two different record labels called Creation Records have existed. ... Alan McGee is a British music industry mogul and musician famed for founding the independent Creation Records label which ran from 1983 to 2000. ...

The demo version of "Live Forever" begins with an acoustic guitar intro. While recording the album version, the records's producer Owen Morris cut out this intro and replaced it with a drumbeat played by Tony McCarroll. Morris further cut a second section in Noel's guitar solo. Although Gallagher was upset, Morris felt the part had sounded "a bit like fucking Slash from Guns N' Roses".^[2] For 1930s British Conservative MP, see Owen Temple-Morris. ... Tony McCarroll was one of the founding members of English rock group Oasis, as their drummer from 1991 to May 1995. ... Saul Hudson (born July 23, 1965), more widely known as Slash, is an English/American guitarist best known as the former lead guitarist of Guns N Roses and as the current lead guitarist of Velvet Revolver. ... Guns N Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985. ...

Composition and lyrics

"Live Forever" is in the key of G major and is based on a G-D-Am7-C-D chord progression, with the G chord becoming an Em when the melody changes (Maybe I just want to fly...) until following the falsetto refrain. The song has no proper distinction between the verses or chorus section (with only a falsetto refrain of "You and I are gonna live forever" marking off sections), and the vocal melody only consists of a few notes. The simplistic arrangement of the song "meant the song never resolved."^[1] Guitarist Paul Arthurs said, "for me that song could keep going."^[2] Also see: G minor, or G-sharp minor. ... Paul Bonehead Arthurs, (b. ...

The song begins with a voice whistling briefly and saying "Oh yeah", followed by a drum beat that plays unaccompanied for a few measures. An intermingling of the main guitar line, piano notes, and Liam Gallgher's vocals then enter.^[3] Each verse begins with Liam singing the phrase "Maybe/I don't really wanna know/How your garden grows/'Cause I just wanna fly", and each verse ends with the falsetto refrain. A guitar solo appears after the second refrain of "You and I are gonna live forever". After the third verse and refrain section, Liam Gallagher repeats the line "Gonna live forever!" four times with "ache in his voice", followed by one final guitar solo.^[3]

The song is interpreted to be an ode to Noel and Liam Gallagher's mother Peggy.^[4] In general the lyrics of the song stress an optimistic outlook. Noel Gallagher explained that "At the time . . . it was written in the middle of grunge and all that, and I remember Nirvana had a tune called 'I Hate Myself and I Want to Die', and I was like . . . 'Well, I'm not fucking having that.' As much as I fucking like him [Kurt Cobain] and all that shit, I'm not having that. I can't have people like that coming over here, on smack, fucking saying that they hate themselves and they wanna die. That's fucking rubbish. Kids don't need to be hearing that non-sense." While Gallagher has stated he did not intend "Live Forever" as a direct retort to Nirvana or their music (being a professed fan of the band), he contrasted the lives of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain and his band at that point, saying, "Seems to me that here was a guy who had everything, and was miserable about it. And we had fuck-all, and I still thought that getting up in the morning was the greatest fuckin' thing ever, 'cause you didn't know where you'd end up at night. And we didn't have a pot to piss in, but it was fucking great, man."^[5] Gallagher considers the line "We see things they'll never see" the most important line of the song, explaining that old friends tend to laugh at jokes and stories that "no one else gets."^[2] Grunge redirects here. ... This article is about the American grunge band. ... I Hate Myself And Want To Die is a song by the American grunge band Nirvana. ... Kurt Donald Cobain (February 20, 1967 â€“ c. ... For other uses, see Heroin (disambiguation). ...

Reception

"Live Forever" was released on 8 August 1994 as the band's third single, a month before the release of their debut album Definitely Maybe. The song had been part of the band's set for over a year at that point, and had amassed so many mentions in reviews of the group that "its release [as a single] had long seemed inevitable."^[4] In its review of the single, NME found "Live Forever" to be an improvement over Oasis' previous singles, concluding, "Basically, what thus far looked like obnoxious Manc arrogance suddenly looks like sheer effortlessness. A terrific record."^[6] is the 220th day of the year (221st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... For other uses, see NME (disambiguation). ...

While Oasis' first two singles, "Supersonic" and "Shakermaker", were modestly received, it was "Live Forever" that "got the world's attention."^[1] "Live Forever" became Oasis' first top ten hit, reaching number ten on the British singles charts in 1994.^[7] In 1995, the song became the band's first chart success in the United States, reaching number two and ten on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks and Mainstream Rock Tracks charts, respectively.^[8] Noel Gallagher commented on the praise given to the song: "People said to me after 'Live Forever', 'Where are you gonna go after that?' And I was like, I don't think it's that good. I think it's a fucking good song, but I think I can do better."^[9] Supersonic is a song by British rock band Oasis written by Noel Gallagher. ... Shakermaker is a song by British rock group Oasis, written by their lead guitarist Noel Gallagher. ... Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry. ... Modern Rock Tracks is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. ... The Mainstream Rock Tracks chart is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music but are not modern rock (that is, alternative) stations, which are counted in the Modern Rock Tracks chart. ...

"Live Forever" has garnered additional acclaim years after its release. In 2006, "Live Forever" was named the greatest song of all time, in a poll released by Q Magazine; the song had ranked ninth in a similar Q poll three years before.^[9] In 2007, "Live Forever" placed number one in the NME and XFM poll of the 50 "Greatest Indie Anthems Ever".^[10] The song was selected by Noel Gallagher for inclusion on Oasis' compilation album Stop the Clocks in 2006. Xfm logo Xfm is a brand of commercial radio stations focused on current and unsigned alternative music and owned by GCap Media in the United Kingdom. ... A greatest hits album (sometimes referred to as a best of album) is a compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular music artist or band. ... Stop the Clocks is a best-of album by British rock band Oasis, released in November 2006. ...

Music videos

Two music videos were made for "Live Forever" for British and American airplay. The British video features unusual imagery such as Liam Gallagher sitting on a chair affixed to a wall, and a number of scenes are devoted to the band burying drummer Tony McCarroll alive. Less than a year later McCarroll and the band parted company. Some of the UK version of the promo video was filmed at the Strawberry Fields memorial — the area of New York's central park dedicated to John Lennon. The house on the cover of the single is 251 Menlove Avenue, the childhood home of Lennon. The US version features the band playing in an office with pictures of Sid Vicious, Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison, John Lennon, Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Marc Bolan, and Bobby Moore on the wall. Both videos are included on the 2004 Definitely Maybe DVD. Liam Gallagher (born William John Paul Gallagher on September 21, 1972, Burnage, Manchester, England) is an English singer and tambourine player of the band Oasis. ... Tony McCarroll was one of the founding members of English rock group Oasis, as their drummer from 1991 to May 1995. ... Flowers and a card left at the Strawberry Fields Memorial in Central Park, NYC The Strawberry Fields memorial is the name given to a garden in New Yorks Central Park, dedicated to the memory of musician John Lennon, and named after one of his songs, Strawberry Fields Forever. ... This article is about the state. ... John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (October 9, 1940 â€“ December 8, 1980), (born John Winston Lennon, known as John Ono Lennon) was an iconic English 20th century rock and roll songwriter and singer, best known as the founding member of The Beatles. ... 251 Menlove Avenue, named Mendips, is a National Trust property in south Liverpool, England, and was the childhood home of John Lennon. ... For the professional wrestler, see Sid Eudy. ... Kurt Donald Cobain (February 20, 1967 â€“ c. ... For other persons named James or Jim Morrison, see James Morrison. ... John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (October 9, 1940 â€“ December 8, 1980), (born John Winston Lennon, known as John Ono Lennon) was an iconic English 20th century rock and roll songwriter and singer, best known as the founding member of The Beatles. ... For other persons named Brian Jones, see Brian Jones (disambiguation). ... Jimi Hendrix (November 27, 1942 â€“ September 18, 1970) was an American guitar virtuoso, singer and songwriter. ... Marc Bolan (born Mark Feld; 30 September 1947 - 16 September 1977), was an English singer, songwriter and guitarist whose hit singles, fashion sensibilities and stage presence with T Rex in the early 1970s helped cultivate the glam rock era and made him one of the most recognisable stars in British... Robert Frederick Chelsea Bobby Moore, OBE (born Barking, England, 12 April 1941 - died London, 24 February 1993) was an English footballer. ...

Track listings

UK tracklisting

Supersonic is a song by British rock band Oasis written by Noel Gallagher. ... Gleneagles Hotel and grounds. ... This article is about the country. ...

European tracklisting

A radio edit is a remix of a musical performance to make it more suitable for broadcast to the general public via radio. ...

Chart positions

The Mainstream Rock Tracks chart is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music but are not modern rock (that is, alternative) stations, which are counted in the Modern Rock Tracks chart. ... Modern Rock Tracks is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. ...

References

Categories: Single articles with infobox field chart position | 1994 singles | Oasis songs | Creation Records singles Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 158th day of the year (159th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 164th day of the year (165th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 218th day of the year (219th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 142nd day of the year (143rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 163rd day of the year (164th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 239th day of the year (240th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 165th day of the year (166th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 123rd day of the year (124th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 165th day of the year (166th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Oasis are an English rock band, formed in Manchester in 1991, led by lead guitarist and primary songwriter Noel Gallagher and his younger brother, lead vocalist and songwriter Liam Gallagher. ... Liam Gallagher (born William John Paul Gallagher on September 21, 1972, Burnage, Manchester, England) is an English singer and tambourine player of the band Oasis. ... Noel Thomas David Gallagher (born May 29, 1967 in Longsight, Manchester, England) is an English songwriter, guitarist and occasional vocalist with the Manchester rock band Oasis. ... Colin Murray Archer (born December 7, 1966 County Durham), better known as Gem (pronounced with a hard G - like guitar, after the Scottish footballer Archie Gemmill), is an English musician best known for his work with Heavy Stereo and Oasis. ... Andrew Piran Bell (Born 11 August 1970, in Cardiff, Wales) is a British musician formerly of Ride, a 1980s and 90s British shoegazing band, and Hurricane #1. ... Zak Starkey (born 13 September 1965 at Queen Charlottes Maternity Hospital in London) is an British drummer, is well-known as the first-born child of The Beatles drummer Ringo Starr (whose real name is Richard Starkey) and his first wife, Maureen Cox. ... Tony McCarroll was one of the founding members of English rock group Oasis, as their drummer from 1991 to May 1995. ... Paul Bonehead Arthurs, (b. ... Paul McGuigan (born 9 May 1971 in Manchester), better known by his nickname, Guigsy (pronounced Gwigzee), was one of the four founding members of British rock band Oasis. ... Alan White (born 26 May 1972, in Eltham, South London) is an English drummer, longtime drummer of British rock group Oasis between 1995 and 2004. ... This article is about the album by Oasis. ... (Whats the Story) Morning Glory? is the second album by the English rock band Oasis, released in October 1995. ... For other uses, see Be Here Now (disambiguation). ... Standing on the Shoulder of Giants is the fourth studio album by the English rock band Oasis, released on February 28, 2000. ... Heathen Chemistry is the fifth studio album by English rock band Oasis, first released in summer 2002. ... Dont Believe the Truth is the critically acclaimed sixth studio album by Oasis, released on May 30, 2005 internationally and a day later in the United States. ... The seventh studio album by Oasis is currently in development with a targeted release in 2008. ... Live Demonstration was a demo tape made by British rock band Oasis in 1993, prior to their rise to fame. ... Supersonic is a song by British rock band Oasis written by Noel Gallagher. ... Shakermaker is a song by British rock group Oasis, written by their lead guitarist Noel Gallagher. ... Cigarettes & Alcohol is a song by British rock band Oasis, written by Noel Gallagher. ... Whatever is a song by British rock band Oasis, written by the bands lead guitarist Noel Gallagher. ... Some Might Say is a song by British rock band Oasis, written by the bands lead guitarist Noel Gallagher. ... Roll With It is a song by British rock band Oasis written by their lead guitarist Noel Gallagher. ... Morning Glory is a song by British rock band Oasis, written by Noel Gallagher, and which was released on the bands second album (Whats the Story) Morning Glory? in October 1995. ... (Whats the Story) Morning Glory? track listing Roll with It (2) Wonderwall (3) Dont Look Back in Anger (4) Stop the Clocks track listing The Importance of Being Idle (5) Wonderwall (6) Slide Away (7) Wonderwall is a song and subsequent single by British rock band Oasis taken... Dont Look Back in Anger is a song by British rock band Oasis, written by the bands guitarist, Noel Gallagher. ... Champagne Supernova is a song by the band Oasis. ... DYou Know What I Mean? is a song by British rock band Oasis. ... Stand By Me is a song by British rock group Oasis, written by lead guitarist Noel Gallagher. ... All Around the World is a song by British rock band Oasis. ... Dont Go Away is a song by British rock group Oasis, written by the bands lead guitarist Noel Gallagher. ... Go Let It Out is a song by Rock group Oasis, written by the bands lead guitarist Noel Gallagher. ... Who Feels Love? is a song by British rock band Oasis, written by the bands lead guitarist Noel Gallagher. ... Sunday Morning Call is a song by British rock band Oasis taken from their fourth studio album Standing on the Shoulder of Giants and was released as the third and final single from that album on 3 July 2000, peaking at #4 in the UK charts. ... The Hindu Times is a song by British rock group Oasis, and was the first single to be released from their fifth album Heathen Chemistry on 15 April 2002, reaching number 1 in the UK charts. ... Stop Crying Your Heart Out is a song by British rock group Oasis, written by guitarist Noel Gallagher. ... For The Rolling Stones song, see Little by Little. ... She is Love is a Noel Gallagher-penned track on Oasis Heathen Chemistry album. ... Songbird is a song by British rock band Oasis, from their fifth studio album Heathen Chemistry. ... Lyla was the first single from British band Oasis sixth album Dont Believe the Truth, released in May 2005. ... The Importance of Being Idle is a song on the British rock band Oasis sixth album, Dont Believe the Truth, written and sung by lead guitarist Noel Gallagher. ... Let There Be Love is a song on the British rock band Oasis sixth album, Dont Believe the Truth. ... Lord Dont Slow Me Down is a shitty song by English rock band Oasis. ... Stop the Clocks is an EP by British rock band Oasis. ... Live By The Sea is a live recording by Oasis, released on DVD and VHS. It features Oasis gig at the Southend Cliffs Pavillion on April 17, 1995, as well as the videos for Rock N Roll Star and Cigarettes & Alcohol. ... . ... Familiar to Millions is a live album by Oasis from their July 21, 2000 concert at Wembley Stadium. ... This article is about the album by Oasis. ... Lord Dont Slow Me Down is a rockumentary film, looking back on British band Oasis Dont Believe the Truth world tour which took place from May 2005 to March 2006. ... The Masterplan is a compilation album by English rock band Oasis, comprising B-sides which never made it onto an album. ... Stop the Clocks is a best-of album by British rock band Oasis, released in November 2006. ... Lord Dont Slow Me Down is a rockumentary film, looking back on British band Oasis Dont Believe the Truth world tour which took place from May 2005 to March 2006. ... This is a comprehensive discography of the British rock group Oasis. ... The Rain was the original name of the rock band, which would go on to become Oasis. ... Britpop was a mid-1990s British alternative rock genre and movement. ... The Battle of Britpop is the unofficial title given to the chart battle of 1995 which took place between leading Britpop groups, Blur and Oasis. ... For 1930s British Conservative MP, see Owen Temple-Morris. ... At least two different record labels called Creation Records have existed. ... Big Brother Recordings is a record label which was set-up in 2000 to release records, singles and DVDs by the band Oasis in the UK and Ireland. ... Musical awards of the Britpop band Oasis. ... Wibbling Rivalry is the title of a bootleg single that is purely an arguement between Noel Gallagher and Liam Gallagher, the guitarist and vocalist for Oasis, respecitively. ...

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