hey is there any sort of relationship between r.e.m and the gallagher bros? I read somewhere that the wake up bomb was suppossed to be about liam, but i doubt it, so is there any sort of friendship?

-- Amit (amitb84@hotmail.com), July 16, 2000

Answers

once again, I'm gonna climb into the saddle of my high horse and rain seven levls of hell onto the hairy layabouts....

Oasis are obviously inspired by REM. They've called their latest album "Standing on the shoulders of giants" Now they could have got this from Newton, as Stipe did, but a drop out from Manchester - I don't think so. It is far more plausable that he pilfered it from King of Birds. The fading intro to Oasis Rocking Chair (one of only three or four remotely good songs they've ever made) sounds exactly like something from Out of Time. There are other startling similarities, but I disgress.

I don't think Oasis have a friendship with REM. I think they are inspired by them, but won't admit it.

After all, they have to portray the facade that they are real men, making music by themselves.

-- Jon Kinsey (eeg@btinternet.com), July 16, 2000.

Hey Jon, As for the title of the new oasis album, i heard noel gallaher say on tv that during recording he just so happened read what was wriiten on a #2 coin, and the back it says 'standi....'and from that he named the album. THen again you could be right.

-- Amit (amitb84@hotmail.com), July 16, 2000.

I disagree that Oasis is inspired by REM. I happen to like both bands (REM a lot more of course), and I know nearly every song by both bands, and I have to say I don't see the similarities. Oasis seems to be much more inspired by the Beatles, Rolling Stones & other British blues-rock bands, rather than American pop groups. The Oasis sound (big, epic, loud, raucous) is as completely different from the REM sound as a band can possibly be. If there is any influence at all, I'm sure it's a pretty small one. Anyway thats my 2 cents. :) -eddie

-- Eddie Yo (Mr_BRETT@angelfire.com), July 16, 2000.

does anyone else think oasis is not all that good?

-- jason (boxelder1932@aol.com), July 17, 2000.

As if you couldn't guess :)

Also, like the name. A Pavement fan, by any chance?

-- Jon Kinsey (eeg@btinternet.com), July 17, 2000.

I can't think of any band that are less likely to be influenced by R.E.M. The Standing On... title was obtained from the edge of a british #2 coin. Noel saw it and thought it would be a good title. I doubt if he's ever heard 'King Of Birds'. Oasis are influenced by The Beatles and the Stone Roses more than anything. I would go so far as to say Oasis and REM have never spoken!! (Although I can't prove that).

-- GJ (da_homer@hotmail.com), July 18, 2000.

im thinking that oasis are more of rip offs of the beatles, aren't they? (o and yes speaking of originality, i'm a huge pavement fan)

-- jason (boxelder1932@aol.com), July 18, 2000.

what about oasis' song, half a world away....familliar?? and i read somewhere about oasis saying nasty things about micheal stipe oasis aint that good

-- danel hothersall (daniel.hothersall@virgin.net), July 18, 2000.

I don't think it was Oasis, actually. However much I dislike them, if the incident is the same as you're thinking about, it was actually a band I dislike more who made the remarks - the Manic Street Preachers.

-- Jon Kinsey (eeg@btinternet.com), July 18, 2000.

By the way, just to let everyone know, I don't belive a word of the two pound coin business. The latin on the coin is "Standi". In order to have come up with the exact same quote as Newton and the exact same quote from a song, he either:-

1. Has to be psychic (Don't think so) 2. Has to have read Newton's private letters or a book with said letters printed(Even less likely) 3. Has to have heard the song.

Now what seems to you to be the most plausable????????

-- Jon Kinsey (eeg@btinternet.com), July 18, 2000.

Ok a response to a few questions rasied.

Egg the oasis album is definately named after the #2 pound coin, i'll find it on the net and post a link if you want. Just to add to this, as said by someone oasis are more influenced by the beatles, and so if they were to name an album with a link to anyone it would definately be the beatles / stones etc., and not R.E.M.

Another point, to those who said oasis ain't that good, then they need to listen to the new album properly. When listening to oasis many think , 'liams a prick' or 'noel shows off', if you take away your attitudes towars the band and listen to it as music, then you will find it is a good album. But saying all that oasis are average compared to the R.E.M boys.....

-- Amit (amitb84@hotmail.com), July 18, 2000.

My argument isn't that the title wasn't inspired by the coin - it could have been. I honestly don't know. My arguement is that to take an inspiration and to make it into a quote already in circulation in popular culture via King of Birds (which apparently they haven't listened to.) is one hell of a coincidence. If they had made the quote up, then I wouldn't have said anything. It's been around for years so they must have heard/read it, even if subconciously, they must have been exposed to it.

Anyway, I think this rather detracts from the main line of argument for the thread, so I won't go on about it, provided everyone admits that the coincidences are rather shocking.

Actually, I have heard their latest album. My best mate plays it constantly and drives me mad. There are some good songs - Sunday morning call for instance, but I still think they live off their reputation and not off their music. I can actually point out songs where the lyrics make less sense than "Sitting Still".

The band only has one original member left (unless you count Noel, but it really sounds as if he can't be arsed and would rather drum in his new band (Which I can't remember the name of at the mo.), and that one meber must be the most redundant in any band - he doesn't write (unless you count some very early stuff which skated very close to the label of diatribe, he can't play music (unless you count acustic guitar, which my nine year old brother can play better). He whines into a microphone and murders whatever good songs they may write (no, it's not a coincidence that the best Oasis songs are all sung by Noel). The band would be far better off booting out Liam and getting on with it.

Now, I'm going to sign off, before I break the record for the amount of brackets in one BB note.

-- Jon Kinsey (eeg@btinternet.com), July 19, 2000.

There is no coincidence in R.E.M. having "standing on the shoulders of giants" in their lyrics and Oasis naming an album that. The phrase has been common enough in the English language for many decades. I certainly knew of the phrase long before "King of Birds".

In answer to the original question: it was of course the "atomic supersonic" lyric that created that connection story. I believe Stipe has said this is a reference to technology, rather than anything to do with Oasis. I think no relationship, very little influence. Anyone who has heard Oasis' music, and some interviews should be able to tell the Beatles are their no.1 influence. Also the seminal indie stuff in the UK, like Stone Roses, as already mentioned.

-- uncle bob (engphd@yahoo.co.uk), July 19, 2000.

noel gallacher once said u2 and rem are the only better bands than them: you don't have to be a wanker to make a comment like that but i'd imagine it'd he

-- paul (paul_f_scott@yahoo.com), July 20, 2000.

The phrase 'standing on the shoulders of giants' comes originally from isaac newton (or possibly albert einstein, but i don't think so), who said referring to one of his scientific breakthroughs 'if i have seen further than others it is because i have stood on the shoulders of giants'. I think the oasis title is a reference to the great beatles whom they are heavily influenced by. I don't think they stole it off rem, but even if they did, who cares, rem stole it off newton.

-- mark (MarkStephenBell@hotmail.com), July 20, 2000.

I was listening to an interview of the egomaniac brothers and they actually said they were big fans of REM and the Beatles. Myself I think that Oasis is a bunch of uncreative rip off artists ( Have you ever listened to their albums and than listened to the Beatles. they have a ton of songs where the bass lines and other things are the exact same)

-- April Overlie (Dawnover@aol.com), July 23, 2000.

"And Anyway I think Oasis sucks and their Music SUCKS Big Time and Oasis are big bunch of Losers especially, Oasis should not be with Michael Stipey Baby if they're going to hurt Michael Stipey Baby and ruin his Days."

-- Stephanie (stephp@hotpop.com), July 31, 2000.