Noel And Liam - Tumblr Posts

Bracelets & Rings

And from Patsy's book:

So if this is true, it would mean Noel possibly bought his own green and silver ring after Liam. Or that Liam bought it for him at that shop (?)

That time Noel car chased Liam to stress that Wonderwall’s indeed about a girl

So... this was supposed to be Wonderwall's single cover:

The photographer (Michael Spencer Jones) had brought Liam to Primrose Hill in London to take that shot but both were interrupted by what he described as a "black cab that came to a screeching halt". From that said running cab, came out Noel, allegedly shouting that Liam - "our kid" - was not to be on that cover as Wonderwall is a love song, about a girl. According to Michael, Noel downward hated the thought of Liam being on the cover.

The girl on the actual cover was a Creation Records employee in the exact same pose:

So, being incredibly grateful for the mental image this article gifted me with, I decided to make a post summing up the many Wonderwall meanings according to Noel.

Disclaimer : I think Wonderwall's about Liam, just putting it out there.

My own thought is that Noel can't say this because, and to quote him "it would look bad" see this interview excerpt about the song dirty shirt in 1997:

"Meg is the girl in the dirty shirt. (...) Liam will read this and say, You fucking wanker! Because he thinks all the songs are about him. He even thinks Wonderwall is about him. So he'll be telling me it's a geezer in a dirty shirt really, except I couldn't say that because it would look bad."

Apart from the absolute chaotic reaction of having the lead singer star on the cover of the lead single, Noel, I think, obviously wanted Liam to sing it, initially.

Liam had been given a choice between this and Don't look back in anger by Noel, who stressed many, many, times throughout the years that Liam didn't like the song when he first heard it (I'd say covertly disappointed). Also he gave different versions of whatever Liam said about it : 

But Liam, first time he heard "Wonderwall" he said, "That's puff's music, I'm not sing that." For weeks and weeks and weeks he wouldn't sing it, and then he heard me singing it and then he knew. in 1996  "(pissy voice) Wonderwall, it's fucking dance record, innit? All that hip hop drum beat - we're not a fucking dance group. Of course, once he's sung on it it was the best record ever made." "I said, ‘You’re singing one or the other, but not both.’ He hated Wonderwall. He said it was trip-hop. There speaks a man who’s never heard trip-hop." In a recent interview "Everyone in the band went, 'I'm sorry but I don't f*****g think so," "I remember Our Kid saying, and I'll never forget this, 'Why are you writing reggae songs?' And I was like, there speaks a man that has never heard reggae."

In 2023, Liam confirmed that as he first heard Wonderwall being played “I didn’t like it at first, I thought it was a little funky.” And Bonehead, added, “It sounded like a reggae song to me. The first time [Noel] came in, I was like, ‘What the hell’s that?”. (Far Out Magazine).

Which I get as Noel's acoustic version is very different from Oasis version with Liam on vocal. But anyway, Noel often mentioned that when Liam's reluctant to sing one of the songs he pretends he will sing it himself and this way Liam like clockwork jumps on it, and that's exactly what he said for Wonderwall + told Liam it will be a hit, and immediately, Liam wouldn't let go of it.

So my guess is that the 'choice' was just a snare to make Liam do what he wants, as Noel likes to do.  And also a bit of power play at hand there in an attempt to ground 1995 firework Liam and as Noel said again in 2023 "to have a song on his own" as he was getting annoyed by Liam walking out on him.

"The only time I laid down the law was Wonderwall and Don’t Look Back In Anger. "I was so fucked off with him walking off stage and me having to take over and do the gig. I remember thinking, if I’m going to do this, I want a big fucking song to sing." + "I said, ‘You’re singing one or the other, but not both.’

Liam said between 1995-96 “When Our Kid went, ‘Right, you’ve got a choice, “Wonderwall” or “Don’t Look Back In Anger,” ’ it done me head in,” the singer told NME. “I said, ‘I wanna sing both, you dick.’ But I chose ‘Wonderwall’ ’cos it was right and it happened. But I don’t think I could have sung ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’ the way he sung it. And when I hear it I think it’s great.”

Additionally in 2023, Noel kinda slipped and said "I'm glad I chose that one" after saying Liam chose it when a record label person said it would be their big hit.

But what is interesting is as their relation deteriorated Noel changed the Wonderwall story:

Around 1996-1997 "I wanted to sing Wonderwall because the guitars are accoustic but our kid insisted that he wanted to sing it. So I said Alright im going to do DLBIA"

In 1997, in the book Getting High: The Adventures of Oasis by Paolo Hewitt, he wrote "according to Owen Noel wanted to sing wonderwall which makes perfect sense, he had written the song with Meg in mind, it was the only way he knew how to properly express his love for her with the song detailing her struggle to find work but celebrating her ability to bounce back against the odds. So we finished Wonderwall, and Liam's Right I'm singing this one. And he did a blinding vocal a brilliant vocal."

in 1998  Noel went "I always wanted to sing "Wonderwall", but I'm glad he sang it 'cos he sings it better than I do."

or when asked on a TV show in 2000 'If I wrote wonderwall I wouldn't want to give that to my brother to sing', Noel said that he did not but they had a long heated debate on who will sing it and in the end, he didn't have a choice because Liam's 'bottom lip went too far down towards his kneecaps' 'he looked very very sad' and he said alright he will sing the other one don't look back in anger.

And only recently in 2021, he went back to the original story:

“He wanted to sing ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’, but it became apparent during the recording that ‘Wonderwall’ was going to be the tune. If I’m being honest, I shouldn’t have sung either of them because I wasn’t really a singer then.”

I mean every critic agrees that Liam gave one of his most impressive vocals singing that song "both cuttingly sharp and heartbreakingly warm at the same time" Noel said he '"had no idea, even after the first album, that Liam could sing like he did on 'Wonderwall,'" and that he did " a sterling job (...) ‘Wonderwall, ‘Hey Now’ and ‘Cast No Shadow’ were literally one take. He delivers my songs spot-on. He knows." So it's a bit strange that he didn't just go on saying that like other songs such as Slide Away Liam's delivery gave it a special edge.

Personally I think it has to do with the meaning of the song for their relationship. There is a lot of hope and commitment in that song all while acknowledging the anger and difficulties of a relationship.

An other thing that struck me as important was, in an oasis book it was reported that while watching Wonderwall win some chart thing on TV Noel turned to the person writing and started going on about how high the wibbling rivalry was on the charts in comparison to the oasis tracks. So what came up to his mind was the 'Liam fight track' while listening to the song, weirdly enough.

And about the meaning --->

Originally, Noel attributed this song to his then girlfriend Meg Matthews as we know. She was compared to a schoolboy's wall to which posters of footballers and pop stars are attached, Noel told Select magazine

"It's about my girlfriend. She was out of work, and that, a bit down on her luck, so it's just saying, 'Cheer up and f---in get on with it.'" After Liam's and Noel's infamous interaction with their Father, he even told her directly as much albeit gave it a a more romantic meaning "Fucking hell Meg, you're meant to be my wonderwall and you were fast asleep when it all went off. What kind of Wonderwall are you?" or when a cover of the song came out and she thought Noel had plagiarized the song he wrote for her he told her " 'No, honestly, I did write about you...!"

Now, idk how reliable he is but their father said that the wall actually existed and it was Noel's and Liam's :

"both Noel and Liam's original ‘wonderwall’ was actually the wall of the bedroom they used to _ share as children in their — ex-council house. ‘They called it their wonderwall" "in 1983 they both started writing on the wall, bits of songs, poems, favourite bands, football teams. In one corder Noel wrote 'I love Diane Jones’ and underneath in the same writing, “Liam _ is a puff”. They'd fight terribly about who had the most writing space. | didn't touch it for years but | wallpapered - it before Christmas."

Meg has been written at the time as "The only girl he had met who came close to being as important as his music and the one who understood him better than almost everyone else."

But Noel then stuck to the following version about the song's name, that it came from Wonderwall Music the debut solo album by George Harrison and the soundtrack to the 1968 film Wonderwall, (She lives next door to a man who becomes fascinated with her, so he slowly makes holes in his wall so he can watch her through it. This is the "Wonderwall.").

Meg said that "George Harrison wrote the music to the film Wonderwall, so that's the reference, but to me it's about being his wall of strength. His solidity." She never asked him directly and found out the meaning in the papers months later. So idk if this is her interpretation or if Noel said something about the actual meaning.

Then in 2003, in Q magazine's 1001 Best Songs Ever, Noel backtracked, "The meaning of that song was taken away from me by the media who jumped on it. And how do you tell your Mrs. it's not about her once she's read it is? It's about an imaginary friend who's going to come and save you from yourself."

and In 2023 Noel pinned him saying the song was about Meg on this specific cover "We did the cover and there's a girl on the front, She had long blonde hair, she looked like my then-wife, Meg Matthews. Doing the interviews for the thing [later], and they say, 'Is this about your wife?', and what do you say? No? So you say yes but it's not about anyone in particular"

Yet Noel admitted it was a romantic song in 1998 : You don't write a song like Wonderwall if you're not romantic. I am. I'm a dreamer and a romantic. Liam is too.

and later

First of all, “Outside of England, it’s the one we’re famous for all over the world, and it annoys the fuck out of me,” Noel Gallagher once said. “It’s not a fucking rock and roll tune. There’s quite a vulnerable statement to it.”

So while I don't think this song is about Meg, it is definitely an emotional song that strips him bear.

More importantly, years later after hell broke loose in Oasis, Noel praised Ryan Adams's version and declared he is the only person who ever got the song “Wonderwall” right. Ryan Adams played it as part of his album "love is hell" and said that "It occurred to me that I was singing it from the perspective of someone in danger of committing suicide. (...) It's someone saying, you're my last hope. But in the second verse, that hope it's not happening, and I'm singing like that".

I don't think it's coincidence that after all the issues they had Noel was the one who mainly sung that song himself live in the late 90s and then gave it a tone of devastation and sorrow as he switched to playing it Ryan Adams way for a long time. The collapsing of their relationships brought out the frustration rather than the hope in the song.

As to Liam and Noel's thoughts on the songs, while around 95 they weren't critical of it, seemed quite proud of it, and Noel even said it was part of his favorite/best songs with Live forever, they changed their tunes years later, that said it could only be due to the reluctance and irritation of being seldom seen as 'that band that did Wonderwall'.

For example Noel claimed in 2006 "I don't much like 'Wonderwall,' but the effect that song has on people, I can't deny it," he said. "Great music is in the ear of the beholder." and that it's one of his least favourite Oasis songs because it's "unfinished". If I could somehow twist time and go back there, I’d probably pick a different song for our calling card. Probably Some Might Say."

But one comment from Liam struck me as extreme even for him, In 2008, Liam said during the press run for Dig Out Your Soul, “At least there’s no ‘Wonderwall’ on there. I can’t fucking stand that fucking song! Every time I have to sing it, I want to gag." So it could be its popularity or the fact Liam had lost his voice, but I've never heard him talk so critically about an Oasis song, it sounded personal. Just like when Noel recently said he's glad he's singing that one as it's a better song.

So I still think that while they're honest saying they don't want Oasis to be summed up to one tune, but their uneasiness playing the song live was due to its meaning. Noel even stressed the band couldn't find a way to play it right live, which is not exactly true, considering the famous live where Liam stares at Noel during the chorus.

So there's that.

"Just you and me in Paris! "

Noel and Liam Gallagher are each other. Same hair, same scowl, same swagger, same security guards: brothers. In matching Kangol parkas.

"I swear I didn't know he was going to wear his," says Noel, fingering his designer logo. "Do you think I'd have turned up wearing the same clobber as that c*** on purpose?"

(...)

Liam swivels round looking for his security guard. "Get us a couple of beers, mate. I'm going to hit f***ing Paris tonight! I've been in for three days and nights doing f*** all, just watching Neighbours twice a day. I'm getting a thing for Helen f***ing Daniels and it's not healthy! I am gasping for a proper night out. It's going to be top!" Noel momentarily brightens. It's not been a great morning but the future smells sweeter.

"Yeah," he says, nudging his brother, "just you and me in Paris! We're going to have a right party! Patsy and Meg will be panicking, ringing the hotel rooms, wondering where we are and we won't be there. We'll be out!"

"Yeah," agrees Liam decisively, "we'll be right out!"

So, yeah, Liam is mad for many things, but chat?

"No, I'm mad for that."

And he is, he's mad for chat. Mad for it right up until he sits down in the brightly lit make-up room and gets himself involved in the question-and-answer thing. He's polite and accommodating, he'll answer any question asked. But if he can answer it in one word, then he will. See, he's also pretty mad for getting out of here and going to Paris. Contrivance isn't really his bag.

(...)

Another cough from outside and Noel winks. "That's my signal. I'll have to get off or I'll miss me train to Paris, and I don't want to do that, I'm looking forward to our night out too much."

Source: NME - 12th July 1997

April 7 & June 7

One gets married at 5 am and the other rambles about plum Sake.

The Beatles love songs yes but Yesterday ?? Maybe he adores the song but what a sensational choice for your wedding day.

2017 (Council skies nostalgia?)

ZEITmagazin: Was there ever a time when you got on better with Liam?

Gallagher: Of course, when we were young, there were times when we didn't argue. The big break probably came when I moved from Manchester to London when I was 26. He completely freaked out then. He never forgave me for that. And when the first people told him he was a star, he finally lost it. That's what happened, whether he liked it or not.

ZEITmagazin: Why did you move to London back then?

Gallagher: Because I was bored to death in Manchester. I was going to London more and more often, so at some point it was obvious for me to move there completely. And when I told the family about my decision, Liam freaked out.

ZEITmagazin: Did he feel left alone as a little brother?

Gallagher: But he wasn't alone! There was the rest of Oasis, they all lived in Manchester.

ZEITmagazin: After all, you are his big brother.

Gallagher: (long silence) I think he sees a lot more in me.

ZEITmagazin: What?

Gallagher: Probably a surrogate father. But let's not go there. I moved to London anyway, and my brother became a complete idiot in Manchester.

*

I moved to London anyway. Sounds like he knew he was breaking his heart. But, maybe, likely, he thought Liam would follow him. Probably he stayed over at Noel’s when he had to be in London, yet effectively he moved out of his mothers place after he met Patsy.

Alsooo, love how not one word is mentioned of Paul, it’s not he wasn’t alone he was with Paul and Mum, it’s, the rest of oasis was there so what’s the complaint. I don’t know about then but this right in 2017 either seems connected to their u love me so show me power play, or, and, just goes to show how close they were back then and how very aware they both were of it.

Again, very normal behaviour.

…

Noel said later he was thinking them having kids would either « make them or … make them even madder » (added but in the end it made Liam grow up etc) I guess he meant, plainly, will having kids break us and that’s how he felt back when it happened.

Oasis bad boy Liam Gallagher has had an emotional reunion with brother Noel - thanks to his new baby. The two had been barely speaking to each other after a bust-up earlier this year. Liam's baby son Lennon was born a month ago - but neither Uncle Noel nor wife Meg had even been to see him. Until last week that is. Liam, 26, has been left 'angry and hurt' by his big brother's astonishing snub.

The wild singer first clashed with Noel, 31, while they worked on songs for the new Oasis album in a New York recording studio just days after Lennon was born. Guitarist Noel had insisted that Liam tear himself away from Patsy, 31, and their newborn baby to go to the States. Liam flew back from America last weekend and rushed to be with his wife and first child.

A source close to Liam told Sunday People: "Liam couldn't believe the way Noel had behaved over the birth of Lennon. It was one of the biggest if not the biggest day in his entire life. Noel's absence for nearly three weeks after the birth had soured his relationship with Liam to an all-time low. But it's all sorted out now. They've made up and they are now getting on better than ever.”

Source: People, October 1999

"he writes all those words for me to sing, like “Noel’s gonna tell you what you’re gonna do” and “I wish I wasn’t me” and I still sing them."

ugh I always wondered how Liam felt about this type of lyrics, especially when I first heard it's good to be free, I love the song, yet I couldn't believe Noel freaking made Liam sing his own thoughts and feelings on their conflict/why he left him, how over-powering...

To me that confirms that while Liam still sings the song like he meant every word, he may still get crushed inside while doing so.

In the white room live, you can see that for once Liam blatantly ignores Noel, while Noel tries to turn towards him.

Liam and I went off for a drink.

‘See what happened then?’ he said. ‘That’s what happens all the time. That’s why people say we’re always fighting. I’m just standing up for myself. He thinks it’s his band and we’re all supposed to be sheep. The rest of them go along with it, but I’m not going to. I mean, if he told them all to turn up tomorrow because we were going to play a gig under a lamp post, they’d just do it. I’d ask him, “Why are we playing up a lamp post. Can’t we play a stadium or something?” […]’

And, while he wasn’t denying the importance of Noel in shaping the band’s sound, he wasn’t about to give his brother sole credit.

‘We’re not just old Bartholomew’s backing band like he sometimes thinks. I mean, he wouldn’t have joined if I hadn’t been there in the first place. If he hadn’t joined we might’ve been shit or we might’ve ended up being good. I wrote three songs back then and I admit two of them were shit. The other one was all right, though. And I wrote the chorus to “Columbia”. I’m not useless. […]’

Would Noel welcome the creative input from him?

‘No, of course he fucking wouldn’t. I remember I said to him, “If I’d came up to you and I’d written something as good as ‘Hey Jude’ - I know it’s not likely, but if I had - would you let us record it?” And he went, “No, I’d quit.” It really hurt when he said that. I mean he writes all those words for me to sing, like “Noel’s gonna tell you what you’re gonna do” and “I wish I wasn’t me” and I still sing them. I don’t complain about that to him because I know he writes brilliant songs, but I don’t think he should just ignore my ideas.

‘It’s like when we were on the last tour. I had an idea for backing vocals on one of the songs, but when I told him, he just went, “No, that’s shit.” Then when we did the song, he started doing backing vocals just like I’d said. I went, “I’d told you that would be good,” but he went, “No, they were different backing vocals.” He’s just too proud to admit that I’m right sometimes.

‘There’s only a few songwriters that really inspire me. People like John Lennon and Paul Weller. And Noel’s up there with them. I’m not going to pretend he isn’t. I’d just wish he’d remember sometimes that Oasis is a band.’

- “Take me There: OASIS - The Story” by Paul Mathur (p. 151-153)