Oasis’ Magic? They Briefly Made a Better Britain Seem Possible

Judging by the reaction to the announcement of the Oasis reunion, it seems nostalgia remains one of the most potent forces from the 1990s. For ardent fans of the Britpop era, the upcoming reunion gigs next summer will be a chance to relive simpler times. On the other hand, those skeptical about Oasis view the reunion as an example of what French dramatist Émile Augier once described as “nostalgie de la boue” – a longing to remember a questionable, somewhat regrettable experience from the collective past.

Somewhere between the devotion of Oasis enthusiasts and the derision of their critics, the reality of the band’s legacy can be found. Oasis did herald a rise in cultural conservatism in the mid-90s, but there was also a significant amount of radical potential in their early work. As Britain faces ongoing social and political challenges, reflecting on the cultural impact of Oasis provides an opportunity to remember the valuable sense of collective identity they inspired.

Beyond the sibling rivalry, chart battles, and the Cool Britannia hype, the Oasis narrative resonated because it hinted at a new form of collective consciousness in Britain during the late 20th century. Despite its frequent crudeness, the inclusive mood that Oasis fostered advocated a more democratic and down-to-earth way of national identity, rooted in working-class experiences. Class, more than anything, shaped who Oasis were and what they represented to the public.

Oasis may not have been a comprehensive representation of working-class culture, but they celebrated a specific modern British working-class ethos. Their best early songs, such as “Rock ’n’ Roll Star,” “Cigarettes & Alcohol,” “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” and “Champagne Supernova,” captured the sense of empowerment found in the most influential working-class music of post-60s Britain. Glam rock’s idealism, punk’s expressive intensity, rave culture’s euphoria, and the Beatles’ melodic humanism all influenced Oasis’s sound.

However, Oasis was also shaped by antagonistic influences. Growing up in South Manchester during the Thatcherite 80s, the Gallagher brothers developed anger towards Conservative policies that targeted the working class and dismantled the welfare state. This anger is evident in the accusatory tone of their early songs, like “Bring It on Down” and “Live Forever.” Noel Gallagher’s recollection of visiting the dole office with his father during the Thatcher years symbolizes this collective melancholy.

The genius of Oasis was their ability to take the pride and rage of working-class experience and make it a significant cultural force in mid-90s Britain. Even though they are often associated with Britpop, their version of Britishness was an alternative one. It was rooted in disdain for the Tory establishment, love for football and pop music, and their identity as the children of immigrants who felt a strong Irish connection.

It’s widely known that after their initial success, Oasis’s oppositional spirit waned as they aligned with the very establishment they once opposed. Much like Tony Blair’s approach to Thatcherism, Oasis, after their first two albums, were engulfed by money and excess, losing their capacity to express outsider yearning for something better.

Despite all this, the reunion next summer still offers a glimmer of hope. The power of Oasis’s melodies combined with the collective hopefulness of their audience might just evoke a sense of unity and optimism. Perhaps, the new iteration of the band could suggest that there is still a better future to be found in these islands.

Source: The Guardian