Oasis’ ‘Definitely Maybe’ Turns 30: Ranking Every Song
The best classic rock is always a mix of the old and the new. With Definitely Maybe, Oasis arranged a wonderful marriage of 1990s lyrical sensibilities and the soundscapes of The Beatles and the Sex Pistols. Let’s take a look at the 11 songs from Definitely Maybe from worst to best.
11. ‘Married With Children’
A bitter end to an optimistic record, the acoustic “Married With Children” sadly has nothing to do with Al Bundy. It’s not a bad song, it just feels incongruous in the worst way. If this was part of a different Oasis record or even a few spots higher on the Definitely Maybe tracklist, it wouldn’t leave such a sour taste in the mouth.
10. ‘Shakermaker’
Some pleasant Beatlesque vocal intonations and 1990s guitar fuzz don’t stop this song from sounding too much like “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony).” I guess it’s better than its predecessor. However, nobody wants alternative rock to sound like a Coca-Cola commercial.
9. ‘Live Forever’
“Live Forever” is a mess of conflicting emotions in a pretty Britpop package. It’s what Kurt Cobain would have written if he were a British soccer hooligan instead of an American punk. “Maybe I don’t really wanna know / How your garden grows” is still a sick burn.
8. ‘Bring It On Down’
“Bring It On Down” could have used a little more texture. It just sounds too much like the rest of the album. Regardless, the line “You’re the outcast – you’re the underclass / But you don’t care – because you’re living fast” captures youth dissatisfaction in a timeless way.
7. ‘Up in the Sky’
In true Oasis fashion, the meaning of “Up in the Sky” is hard to pin down. The track could be a song directed at an angry God or a haughty girlfriend. All that really matters is that the melody is pretty, though the line “How does it feel / When you’re inside me?” raises a lot of questions.
6. ‘Columbia’
The fact that the quintessential British band of the 1990s wrote a song called “Columbia” is a weird mixed signal. The track is reportedly named after the Columbia Hotel in London. An explanation of the lyrics is harder to track down, as Noel Gallagher claimed they weren’t designed to impress anyone. Perhaps that’s why “Columbia” is a middle-of-the-road track on the album.
5. ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Star’
Every great rock band needs a song about feeling like a rock star. Oasis got their contribution to the subgenre out of the way early, as “Rock ‘n’ Roll Star” is the first track on Definitely Maybe. It was an early indicator of what was to come for the band.
4. ‘Cigarettes & Alcohol’
Some Oasis songs are oblique — but not “Cigarettes & Alcohol.” This upbeat song seems to proscribe illicit substances as the solution to life’s ills. I don’t vibe with that message at all. However, it’s hard to just say “no” to the track’s infectious energy or its bouncy vocals. Listen to this song responsibly.
3. ‘Digsy’s Dinner’
You know what’s great? Diners. We already have so many songs about clubs and bars, but we need more songs about diners. The Gallaghers do a good job on this one, using a trip to the diner with a lady to encapsulate young people’s possibilities.
2. ‘Slide Away’
“Wonderwall” is Oasis’ most famous love song (depending on how you interpret it) but “Slide Away” is most affecting. If you choose one Oasis track to play at your wedding, let it be this one. It has the right attitude to love — that finding that special someone is another reason to seize the day.
1. ‘Supersonic’
The defining song of this album has the haunting line, “You can have it all, but how much do you want it?” That lyric is enough to make this song fantastic. “Supersonic” is a song about being yourself that works because the verses paint portraits of a handful of interesting oddballs.
Definitely Maybe wasn’t Oasis’ definitive artistic statement. That was their follow-up, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? The greatness of that second album shouldn’t overshadow the many pleasures of Definitely Maybe.
