18 Things You Might Not Know About Oasis’s ‘Some Might Say’

‘Some Might Say’ has come of age. 22 years ago today (6 May 1995), Oasis scored their very first UK No.1, the track that bridged the gap between the twin mountains of ‘Definitely Maybe’ and ‘(What’s The Story) Morning Glory?’ and taught us all we’ll ever need to know about sinks full of fishes. And the benefits of education in the rain, for that matter. In a startling piece of symmetry, here are 18 things you might not know about the song.

1. ‘Some Might Say’ was initially demoed at Maison Rouge studios in Fulham, where Blur recorded parts of ‘Leisure’, ‘Modern Life Is Rubbish’, ‘Parklife’ and ‘The Great Escape’. Not so far apart as they seemed, maybe. Another, um, kindred spirit Wham! recorded debut album ‘Fantastic’ there too.

2. It ended fellow Manchester band Take That’s four-week reign at No.1 with ‘Back For Good’ but was supplanted itself just seven days later by Livin’ Joy’s ‘Dreamer’.

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3. Manchester City fans slapped its lyric on a banner when they played Manchester United in 2012: “The noisy neighbours are getting louder Alex,” it said. “Some might say, we will find a brighter day”.

4. ‘Some Might Say’ was the last Oasis recording to feature drummer Tony McCarroll. On its second appearance on ‘Top Of The Pops’, Alan White had replaced McCarroll in the chair.

5. Noel Gallagher calls it “the archetypical Oasis song” and says it “defines what Oasis is”.

6. The idea for ‘Some Might Say’ came to Noel when he was living in Chiswick, just after he moved to London. Not enough info? He was in a bedsit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fLR3FRaFsQ

7. As for the meaning behind the lyrics, Noel’s not too precise, admitting, “I used to write really pissed and out of it so I can’t remember what I was thinking about.”

8. When the single was No.1 some chap approached Noel in Swiss Cottage and told him, “That song really meant a lot to me,” because he was a Christian. No, no idea.

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9. Oasis’s Creation label boss Alan McGee wanted ‘Some Might Say’ to share a AA-side single with ‘Acquiesce’, but Noel dug in.

10. When Noel played B-side ‘Talk Tonight’ on Channel 4 show ‘The White Room’, Paul Weller accompanied him on keyboards.

11. Liam Gallagher recorded his vocal in just two takes.

12. Other B-side ‘Acquiesce’ was the first Oasis record to feature Liam and Noel sharing lead vocals.

13. The early ‘Some Might Say’ was slower, “heavy and dark… really quite cool in a Rolling Stones way,” as producer Owen Morris told Q magazine in 2011.

14. The waiting room at Cromford Railway Station in Derbyshire – featured on the ‘Some Might Say’ cover – is a Grade II listed building, built in 1860.

15. Tucked away on the Japanese version of the single was Oasis’s cover of The Beatles’ ‘You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away’, with Noel denying Liam his chance to do his best Lennon, and no flute in earshot.

16. Noel claims he polished off the songwriting when he was bored in the studio after the band failed to show up. They were busy getting chucked out of a London hotel after hurling a table through the windscreen of the manager’s Merc. Allegedly.

17. Having trumpeted it about ‘Some Might Say’, Noel later claimed that ‘Acquiesce’ “defines what Oasis is”. Well, at least all these definitions are on the same record.

18. The week ‘Some Might Say’ crashed into the UK charts at No.1, Paul Weller’s ‘The Changingman’ entered at No.7, in a mod-barneted dadrock double.

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