OASIS: 'Underneath The Sky' (The Story Of The Song)

[@bigmantim4660]

This song is absolute magic. Probably my favourite

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Yeah I think it's a hell of a tune. Been a bit surprised by how many people don't like it actually

[@bigneon_glitter]

Should've been a lead single on _Morning Glory._ Blew my mind when I heard it on _Masterplan._ One of Britpop's rare but brilliant uses of Rotary Reverb. Suede's extended "Wild Ones" is another one.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Yeah it's amazingly catchy for something knocked together the night before recording it!!!

[@BeerLover25]

Noel probably has a safe somewhere with this book locked in it, kinda like ‘Grays Sports Almanac’ from Back to the future 2 and Noel is Biff Tannen hahah

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Hahahahahahahahaha nice

[@petianenakhov1777]

Underneath the Sky is one of my favorite oasis songs... Sadly never played in full band set :(

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Yeah would be epic live. Maybe if they ever reform!

[@XoXo475]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitarlet’s hope this gem gets included next year , like Going Nowhere recently on Noel’s solo tour 😊❤

[@waynepinnock5874]

My favourite Oasis track. Beautiful jazzy chords and choral, swampy production

[@raptopp]

You're doing an amazing job with these videos! It is so fascinating to learn new thing about the songs, especially when it is one of my favorite Oasis-songs. I regularly play this on my guitar and was playing this on my acoustic last night and it's one of the Oasis B-sides I'll always include when I need some Oasis tunes in my playlist.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers Stian! Kind of you to say. Yeah it's really unique amongst the Oasis tunes of that time. Really brings all kinds of interesting images to mind when you listen to all those scenes and descriptions in the lyrics - and the sound of the band suits the words perfectly too

[@DiegoArt]

Hi James, first of all great video!!! Two pieces of information to add: There's an audio of Oasis rehearsing 'Undereneath The Sky' at the Roseland Ballrom soundcheck ( October 1995 in my channel you can find it) it's an interesting soundcheck where the band plays many songs and test every single mic of each member, I hope it helps to find the exact date of composition. And the other fact, here in Argentina the magazine 'Rolling Stone' (June 2000) has an interview with Noel where he says that one of his best compositions is Underneath The Sky, along with The Masterplan. And I think that Noel believed it firmly. I hope I have helped with this data.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers Diego - cool, thanks for the info 👍👍

[@rosiegunn4671]

The WTSMG era (including the whatever single) could well be one of the best album and single cycle of any band ever.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Yeah those were definitely the glory years! Although I would extend it back to the Live Forever single & b-sides and forward to the Stand By Me single & b-sides

[@doctornov7]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar I actually only own the singles from Live Forever to All Around The World, and it's a blessing to have their peak period on CD.

[@hansgiebenrath7444]

i've seen lotsa people also highly regarding the SMS single with acquiesce, headshrinker & TT as well as the wonderwall single w/ RAW, TSS and the masterplan as their best singles releases, and i do like em. to me those standing on the shoulder of giants b-sides are so underrated though... mainly cos the main singles are rather unexciting (GLIO, WFL, SMC)

[@jefflikeusual20]

My favourite Oasis song of all time! That cover was absolutely amazing!! The female vocals bring it into another realm!

[@SimmyBassline]

It absolutely should have been a lead single for Morning Glory! It blows my mind that its only (to some*) a throwaway b-side! Its so uplifting, its criminal that they don't play it live when its easily one of the best they've recorded! Its my favourite Oasis track by far

[@stevelogan1699]

Another brilliant video, James, bringing scholarship to popular music. Noel’s lyrics have always struck me as combining words and phrases from known sources in ways that make something completely new out of them. In literary studies, this is a massive subject. Coleridge coined a fancy phrase about it: 'the esemplastic imagination'. By this he meant the power to combine what comes your way and form from it a work of art which expresses true feeling. T. S. Eliot does it all through The Waste Land (1922). Don’t Look Back in Anger includes references to Shakespeare (‘the eye of your mind’ is Hamlet’s ‘in my mind’s eye’) and the chorus responds to a famous play (also a film) by John Osborne, Look Back in Anger. Under the Sky may also include an awareness that in 1990 Bob Dylan released an album called Under the Red Sky and in 1980 the Police released a song, with its title cribbed from a well-known TV series called Man in a Suitcase. Heart released a song with the same title as Noel’s, Under the Sky, in 1980 and in ‘land with no name’ there may be a hint of the desert landscape (picked up in your video) in America’s old song, Horse with No Name. I think this is just the way his imagination works and, as he clearly recognises, it’s quite different from plagiarism. T. S. Eliot said, ‘immature poets borrow, mature poets steal’, so Noel’s in good company.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers Steve - yes I very much agree that much of creativity comes from reshaping what has come before - there are very few absolutely new ideas. It's how music is composed, we take something someone else wrote, and change it by increments until it is something different - it is almost never simply plucked finished out of the blue

[@aiturran]

Brilliant as usual, James. Underneath is one of those songs that have lingered forever in my mind, and the fact we've never gotten it played live, makes it much more dear to my heart. And as a longtime Oasis fan, you tend to value more these kind of songs, the ones that show you're a fan that knows beyond their famous catalog. The reverb effect, Liam's crisp and powerful voice, that chorus... and it's a pretty unique song, if you add all those elements. And thinking it was created in such a short period. Composition wise, Noel was touching the clouds in those years. Thanks for keeping the Oasis flame alive. Much respect and appreciation from far Southamerica, at the end of the world in Santiago, Chile.

[@The.Dulcet.Toned.Scotsman]

Great analysis as always James and a banging cover to boot too! That early period of Noel's writing definitely shows the want/need to get away, songs like this, it's good to be free, going nowhere, listen up etc, something we can all relate to more than ever over this last year, a perfect excuse to go through all those hidden gems all over again. Top man!

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers Kris! Glad you enjoyed 👍👍👍🎸🎸🎸

[@CraigABuchanan]

Honestly, this is the first time I heard your northern accent! When you said “go”

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Hahahahahaha because I'm a guitar teacher, I kind of go into standard-English guitar-teacher-mode when I'm filming. In a less formal setting I've got a definite Yorkshire twang haha

[@CraigABuchanan]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar makes sense! The drummer on a few of my tunes in a northern lad too. You can hear him on my new commentary release on Spotify too

[@MandLMusic]

Great working with you on the cover & a big congrats on 1 million views! 🎉🥳

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers guys! Yeah this was a fun collab 👍👍👍🎸🎸🎸

[@tabeecorr6611]

James whether people write or songwrite I think reading can put your creative mind and memory on to another level. When I started reading the works of Rumi and Miyamoto Musashi it put my writing skills on a different level. When you do it most days words just flow and glow out of you like a beautiful floating butterfly. I'm just glad Noel's a Gemini as well as it makes me feel more connected to his songwriting. Also a good part of the Go Let It Out lyrics Noel stole from a old poem. Cheers for another top form video once again.

[@paninovevo1162]

The NME special collector's edition says it was recorded in october 1995 in Maison Rouge, Chelsea. Noel said in an interview to promote The Masterplan it was recorded the same day as Cum On Feel The Noize.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Huh, interesting, thanks for this. I wasn't aware of that publication, but have now ordered it...

[@lifebeatmusic1565]

Underneath The Sky is a great [oasis] song to be documented.. great job Sir keep it up!!!

[@babyshambler]

I always loved Liam's "againnnnNAHH" at the end. Your version is ace too. The female vocal makes it sound quite Fleetwood Mac to me!

[@andrewwebster2598]

It’s Good to Be Free is a amazing song I feel , as well

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Yeah definitely a top quality b side

[@brendanbyrne6607]

This channel is fantastic, thanks James.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

You are very welcome :)

[@lizardlordlordoflizards5096]

Well, I totally enjoyed that. The info about the song is amazing and your performance was cool too. Great job y'all !

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Thanks :)

[@jamboz]

Another great video James. Random observation: one of the b-sides to Dead End Street was "House in the Country", which is kind of notable given the era we're discussing here.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Ah interesting!

[@alexneill130]

Fascinating video, you're on your way to becoming the Mark Lewisohn of Oasis history!

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Hahahahaha nice! I'll take that...

[@alexneill130]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar Now you need to spend the next 50 years on a meticulous biography 😂

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Hahahahahaha I think my other half might have something to say about that...

[@brandonwholikesstuff]

Love this coverage over one of my favourite overshadowed songs

[@zigguratdemetrius5984]

I love this song, thanks for the video!

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers ZD, more than welcome!

[@indiekiduk]

I searched on Amazon's text search and closest I found to that kind of language was the author Haruki Murakami so made me wonder if maybe he picked up one of his books in a Japanese airport in Sept 1994. But then I remember Noel saying he hates fiction so either that was to throw us off or maybe he does use a non-fiction travel book. Airport shops tend to have the popular Lonely Planet books on display and there is one called Japanese Stories but that is as far as I got. Very hard to search because he likely takes a line from the book and reorganises it so the the word he wants to rhyme is last, e.g. changing underneath the red sky to underneath the sky of red. There are a bunch of books with red sky in the title by the way. Your idea to search for the book inspired me because I totally agree it must exist, I recently listened to Dilan's Hong Kong balcony interview where Noel mentioned his books saying "every song writer has their collection of little books" kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4bYoWOaqdx3epo

[@joseac26]

That guitar part sounds like The Importance of Being Idle

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Yeah, similar very percussive strumming rhythm and tempo

[@redadamearth]

Dude, every Oasis song sounds like another one. Noel Gallagher wasn't exactly known for a lot of variation in his melodies and guitar parts. The amount of Oasis songs that sound almost identical to each other on those first 4 or 5 albums, is legion. Not saying there's anything wrong with that, I mean, The Ramones did the same thing, but it's why I've literally never understood people who compare Oasis to the Beatles. Gallagher's writing has NONE of the musical curiosity, melodic experimentation, lyrical insight (even his nonsense lyrics are insipid and rote, IMO) or anything else, of the Beatles. Every once in a while, he'll literally *rip off* a Beatles melody or middle eight, but the amount of bands who do that could fill the Grand Canyon to overflowing. I'm not saying Oasis was a bad band or anything - I love the first 2 albums and I like a handful of other songs - but Noel Gallagher basically has 3 songs he just wrote over and over again. If you want to know who should have been compared to the Beatles at the time, listen to Blur's self-titled album from '97. That record showed a lot of people what Oasis was missing in the whole "Britpop wars" thing that was going on and was another White Album compared to "Be Here Now". People always seem to forget that one of the things that made the Beatles so extraordinary was that almost every other song was a *totally different genre*, almost from the beginning. I mean, Rubber Soul, alone, is like a travelogue through musical genres. That's why I always scoff at anyone who calls a band a "new Beatles", because unless they're not giving a toss about having a "consistent sound", one can't even begin to compare them to the Beatles. Blur, in terms of their musical evolution and genre-jumping on their albums, track-by-track, was MUCH closer to what the Beatles were about. And it has to be said, if one wants to talk about songs that SOUND like the Beatles, "Beetlebum" was a better "Beatles song" than anything Gallagher ever wrote. None of which, again, is to say that Oasis was a bad band. They were great - at least for their first two records and then things obviously became pretty scattershot (I think "Don't Believe the Truth" was their best record since the first two). I just personally think a BIT too much praise and hyperbole has been laid on top of their name when one considers their actual output.

[@BattleBecause]

​@@redadamearth​Well, Oasis are a stadium rock band and clearly people pleasers. Their songs have a hypnotic feel to them and they are very repetitive, particularly the ending. Some sound like adult nursery rhymes with their juvenile lyrics (Some Might Say, She's Electric etc.) So it's easy to see how easily audiences can get hooked into them. The same way kids love having the same bed time story read to them over and over again. Repetition is comforting and people find that in Oasis. Look at the reaction when they announced their tour for next year - it was like daddy is coming home from the war!

[@masonmennell8514]

I would love to hear some oasis covers with your voice, its great

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers Mason! There's a version of Cast No Shadow I did here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppW4pJqvd655gMk

This was really interesting gwwk-stuff, which I really appreciated. One of Noel's best songs ever.. Your cover version was really good as well..

[@j9186]

Interesting channel. I've been a massive Oasis fan from they were from seen Oasis live in 96 legendary Concerts in Pairce Uu Chao I'm he Cork Ireland. And seen Liam and Noel solo as well. I'm learning stuff about Oasis that I didn't know like the history of this song. A great watched and I just subscribed and liked Vid.

[@neonatalpenguin]

Bob Dylan released a (terrible) album in 1990 called Under The Red Sky. I could be wrong, but I always sort of assumed that Noel had that title/image in mind when he wrote that opening line. After all, Dylan is often called things like "rock's great storyteller". And Noel would reference another Dylan album title (Blood On The Tracks) on D' You Know What I Mean, which he must have written not long after writing Underneath The Sky.

[@kizza4911]

Listen up will always be my favourite random un heard of oasis choon

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

It's a great little tune. Might be forced to tab that one out sometime soon

[@troubledjoe4022]

Great video again. James if you can get your hands on NME Oasis Glory years 93-96 special magazine, it has every song from Definitely Maybe and Morning Glory including all the b-side with detailed info coming from interviews with the band etc. Something really interesting for musicians. Used to have it and was gutted when my mate lost it.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Just found it and ordered it haha Thanks for the recommendation

[@davidv5510]

The cover is amazing! You should put it on Spotify ;)

[@robsol123]

Brilliant video

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers Rob 👍👍

[@pablosegoviano3574]

He visto tres vídeos tuyos y me han gustado, seria fantástico ver mas vídeos así sobre la banda Sucede. Un abrazo desde México.

[@pablogc2008]

Amazing cover! And great analysis of the song! !

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Thanks so much! 👍👍👍🎸🎸🎸

[@hixsy]

interesting stuff my man! That DLBIAN single was mega ! Lovin watchin your stuff cause its right up my alley man!

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers Steven - yeah the Dont Look Back single was something else! Outstanding release

[@richfromtheligerz4922]

Great video James I always learn something watching your videos and a great cover❤️

[@theclinkmusic]

Amazing song

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

It’s a top tune 👍👍

[@CarlosGomesCabral]

Amazing cover, man!!!! Congrats! 👏

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers Carlos! Much appreciated

[@edwardshawe6395]

Top stuff as per, thanks!

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers Edward 👍👍👍

[@chrismorris3100]

Excellent cover! Any way to download it?

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Sure, here you go... www.jameshargreavesguitar.com/downloads.html

[@chrismorris3100]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar legend

[@soueyoflux]

I love the old Irish vibe to this song, it resurfaces a few times in oasis music (harvest home) on It's good to be free, Songbird & Underneath the Sky are very of this feel. He has said that the Wolfe Tones were an oasis influence. (Their dad was a dj and loaded lots of Irish rebel & folk, so yo can see how they would be influenced).

[@roldineiteixeira8504]

And I thought that I was a big fan of Oasis 😅 Greetings from Brazil 🇧🇷

[@JohnWayne-bm1ty]

my fav song, damn I love it

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

I bloody love it too. Been surprised by how many people don't rate it!

[@JohnWayne-bm1ty]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar ye, I think It needs a videoclip, like in the Style of Dig out your soul

[@redadamearth]

"Drink to ourselves to amuse ourselves" was taken from something, as well. That line, I know for a fact, is from either a poem or a song, I just can't recall which. If I can remember it/find it, I'll update the comment, here.

[@lb2455]

What kind of Seagull is that, James? Sounds great!

[@jfcity81]

1) could it be that the recording during the Christmas break ? Would make more sense re time to mix and master and the signed off before the actual record being released. 2) the French session was on 4th November 1997. During the French leg of the Be Here Now tour.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Hey Jf M - I'm not sure about the recording now - paninovevo commented this "The NME special collector's edition says it was recorded in october 1995 in Maison Rouge, Chelsea" I wasn't aware of this publication, but it's now ordered! Ha

[@jfcity81]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar maybe but the drum sound on Cum on Feel the Noize is consistent with Underneath the Sky. It’s not the Rogers snare sound we can hear on Step Out for example, which was recorded in 1995, when Alan White was not endorsed by Pearl yet.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Crikey you know your stuff

[@Dermot88886g]

Does anyone remember Noel talking about an Oasis song called The red, the white and the blue in the programme to Knebworth? I can't find any info

[@keironrose2653]

My favorite Alan white track 👣

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Amazing drum groove 👍👍

[@BrunoHerbert_]

I Love Your Channel Mate... Totally Mad For Ir. Best Fã from Oasis after Me 😂😂😂😂 Respect Mate.

[@DDD-vt5vb]

Do you think there will ever be a film about Oasis with actors playing the band

[@luizguilhermemoreirasales1548]

YES GREAT SONG 📻 🎶 🎼 HERE BRASIL 🇧🇷 😎 🙏 COOL

[@freddygerada4340]

Sounds like 'swamp thing' by The Chameleons

[@ladfrogman]

Hi James. Big fan of your videos and content. Would love to collaborate together, whether it's me playing guitar with you or helping you conduct some research. Fascinated with the Oasis story.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Hi Andy, thanks for your comments mate - I'm wall-to-wall right now, so am not doing any collabs at the moment (doing my MA) but maybe one day!

[@lambrattle]

The melody reminds me of "weave me the sunshine" from puff the magic dragon cartoon

[@williammartyn]

This is such a great video. BUT…. Oasis’ best a/b side collection is still Some Might Say. Their first ever no.1 single, then add to it, Talk Tonight, Acquiesce and Headshrinker as b-sides. It doesn’t get much better. Not trying to slate DLBIA, but it’s a long way (in my view) from being either a) Oasis’ best single or b) Oasis’ best a/b side collection. To further corroborate my very personal view - Liam was famously asked the question by Noel - you get to sing one or the other: Wonderwall or DLBIA. He chose the right one. 1.2bn vs 450m plays on Spotify would suggest he made the right choice.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Fair play! I guess music is a personal thing, we all have different tunes that speak to us and ones that don’t. And yeah I agree Liam called it right on that one.

[@eddysandland58]

I Rate SMS as one of the best Singles! But Cigarettes n Alcohol Has to be there along with DLBIA n W! C&A with Listen Up Fade Away Iam The Walrus! Quality Single That! Oh Whatever HTWA, IGTBF n SA! Another Classic Single! Cheers James

[@ed2000888]

Such an underated track! Sounds a little like Slade.

[@garytaylor6648]

Its like that book out of back to the future it goes to the grave with you.

[@Wilde-Runner]

Deffo some of Noels best lyrics

[@bobhenderson9276]

Great video! It really is amazing how many fantastic songs Noel crafted in only a few years. Another b-side that would get on any other band's album. Shame they never played it live though. Much like I hope, I think, I know, imo another great underappreciated (mostly by Noel) song that never got played live.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

I agree big time on 'I Hope I Think I Know', I still consider that one of the strongest tracks on Be Here Now

[@TheGrader600]

That like to dislike ratio though... the one dislike is probably Liam.

[@mrDamory22]

Great video as always! very interesting. But I always thought that song was the weakest on Masterplan album

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Thanks Raph - yeah it's an interesting one, I didn't realise Underneath The Sky divided opinion so much! Half the people love it and the other half hate it! Random haha

[@mrDamory22]

@@JamesHargreavesGuitar Liam voice is at its best though! best era

[@redbandmedia79]

I’m not sure but I seem to remember something about someone else getting an unofficial wiring credit for part of this song from another band?

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Interesting, I'd not heard that about this one. Could have been Ray Davies & Kinks for Dead End Street, or could have been the song Step Out, which was on the same single and was co-credited to Stevie Wonder

[@StevieScotty19]

It was step out,Noel had to share writing credit with Stevie wonder and another couple of guys👍👍

[@redbandmedia79]

@@StevieScotty19 yep this one I know, you’re right 👍🏼 Just seem to remember reading something about underneath the sky and another member of a Manchester band writing some part of it but not getting credit. This is my memory of over 20yrs ago though so....😂

[@redbandmedia79]

My mistake! I’m thinking of ‘Rockin chair’. Chris Griffiths has a writing credit on that. I’m old and confused 😂

[@Mr_Manhunt88]

Never clicked so quick

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Lol thanks Samy 👍👍👍

[@joaquinvismara]

It always drove me mad that I could never mimic that guitar sound played through a Leslie or a rotary emulator.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

I'm gonna get one of those small compact leslies that John Squire used at some point...

[@lucasm3879]

I thought the Cum On Feel the Noise cover was pointless, just a retro, uninspired choice - but they performed it on TOTP in ‘96 at their peak. This is a fantastic and under appreciated song by Oasis - they should have performed this instead!

[@BackToBackJames]

You should make a video talking about Bonehead's Bank Holdiay.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

interesting idea!

[@themichael3105]

I think if Noel was to see this vid somehow, by a friend, management, etc. He would respond to you via email or whatever and he’ll give a brief answer. Worth a try, mate.

[@tornaclconor5149]

Fucking top notch James

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Cheers Conor 👍🎸🍻🌞🕶

[@BioFactory1]

They also lip sync'ed Cum On Feel The Noise for BBC at that time gap I think.

[@pablocanteros9049]

Hello. I come from the future: it is a book by Jose Saramago

[@Henkadj]

The best version of this song must be this cover: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j56ah6eigrl0ps0si=D7nPjhPhQh1MHG3y

[@garytaylor6648]

Those vocals sound like pet shop boys.Neil tennant .

[@RickyMacHatton]

Choooooon

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸

[@TheDoctorMD]

Dead End Street sounds a lot like Soldier Boys and Jesus Freaks, too.

[@JamesHargreavesGuitar]

Yeah good call - it has that same percussive strum pattern and tempo

[@royfr8136]

Many Oasis B sides are too good to be B sides... this however... is a B side.

[@Bopstery]

Sorry, but I’ve always hated this song.

[@monrush]

Oasis' best song..