Noel Gallagher Says His Sons Ignore Oasis Songs in Favor of a Much Different Genre

The kids of classic rock stars don’t always appreciate their parents’ music much. For example, Oasis’ Noel Gallagher admitted that his sons largely ignore Oasis’ music in favor of a different genre. Oasis has impacted many young music fans — even if they don’t realize it.

Noel Gallagher said his sons like rap more than Oasis’ songs

During a 2019 interview with The Fader, Gallagher was asked if he appreciated his sons’ taste in music. “No, they’re way too urban for me,” Gallagher replied. “They’re into anything urban, grime and all that kind of thing.”

The “Wonderwall” singer was asked if his sons liked his music. “They like the gigs, but they’re not massive fans,” he replied. “They’ve shown more interest in the latest stuff, ​’cause it’s a bit more electronic. But they never mention Oasis. They’re all on Spotify and [in charge of] the speaker system round the house, so every time I walk in, Stormzy’s playing and one of them is dancing past me like a madman, doing the Vossi Bop.” For context, Stormzy is a British rapper, and the Vossi Bop is a dance that his fans perform.

While Gallagher said he’s not much of a fan of his son’s taste in music, he still wants to expand his sonic palette. “I’ve been taking a lot from David Bowie, how he would approach music,” he revealed. “His thing was: try anything. Just throw as much shit at the wall as you can.”

Noel Gallagher has no interest in just appealing to his older fans

Gallagher was asked if his changes in sound might upset his “largely old” fans. “Well, I had to not have the fear of knowing that a healthy portion of my fanbase is going to listen to Black Star Dancing for under 30 seconds and go: ​’ Well, he can f*** off,'” he said.

This all raises an interesting question: are Oasis relevant to younger listeners? As an American, I cannot speak to their impact in the United Kingdom. In the United States, however, Oasis are largely remembered for “Wonderwall.” That’s no small feat. “Wonderwall” has become a song like John Lennon’s “Imagine” or Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk!” that everyone knows, regardless of age, creed, or personal taste in music.

Are Oasis important to younger people?

Furthermore, a lot of bands that were far bigger than Oasis are completely and utterly irrelevant to younger listeners. Many young people couldn’t name a single song by The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney & Wings, or The Supremes. The fact that everyone knows “Wonderwall” and it’s inspired a plethora of memes is a sign that Oasis have some cultural relevancy.

Of course, sometimes a band can still have a legacy even if their songs aren’t radio staples. For example, artists like The Crazy World of Arthur Brown and Screamin’ Jay Hawkins are primarily important because of the impact they had on much more successful acts. Oasis’ influence can still be felt in the U.S. thanks to the Britpop-inspired soundscapes of Harry Styles and Ed Sheeran. Younger pop fans might not have heard of Oasis, but they like their style nonetheless.

Gallagher’s sons might not be the biggest Oasis fans — but Oasis are doing just fine.