With so much speculation about the setlist for the upcoming oasis gigs, I thought it would be fun to create my own, containing what I would like to hear them play and then say what I think they will play in that slot. It’s sort of fantasy against speculation, if you like, based on what I know from following the band’s live performances over the years and a kind of yearning for the songs they’ve either never or seldom performed live.
Please remember this is just for fun and whatever oasis do play at these gigs it’s going to be epic. If you agree with me, great. If not – I don’t mind. Write your own fantasy setlist. Or don’t. I couldn’t care less.
I suspect the shows will open with F***in’ In The Bushes, as this is about as good a stage-filling tune as they have in their repertoire. It’s possible they could use The Swamp Song, but I think it more likely they’ll go with the number they were using latterly (and also the one Liam used at his live shows).
SONG ONE
The song I would like to hear: Rock’n’Roll Star.
Like Mani said, this song is a “statement of intent”, the perfect opener and one of the band’s key tunes. Some have suggested they might open with Acquiesce, which I think will definitely feature later in the show, but not here. If they don’t open with this, I’ll eat my bucket hat.
The song I think they will play: Rock’n’Roll Star
SONG TWO (no Blur pun intended)
The song I would like to hear: Cloudburst.
Yeah… not going to happen is it? But I did get to see Liam do it, so that’s alright. This Live Forever B-side with more than a flavour of ‘Standing Here’ about it has always been one of my favourites, mainly because of the mighty riffs and screaming guitar outro.
The song I think they will play: Lyla
SONG THREE
The song I would like to hear: Some Might Say
Their first number one, the one which will forever be synonymous with them on that upward trajectory in 1995, the last to feature Tony on drums… one everybody knows. It’s going to happen or the Adidas top is next on the menu.
The song I think they will play: Some Might Say
SONG FOUR
The song I would like to hear: Supersonic
The debut single. There’s no way they won’t be playing this. I wonder if Noel will use a sunburst Les Paul Epiphone?
The song I think they will play: Supersonic
SONG FIVE
The song I would like to hear: The Hindu Times
One of their very best post-90s singles and Noel’s self-confessed return to writing “positive” songs, this one is a pure rush of adrenaline from start to finish (even if the title has absolutely nothing to do with the lyrics).
The song I think they will play: The Hindu Times
SONG SIX
The song I would like to hear: Roll With It
I’ve heard Noel say he thinks this song is ‘sh*t’, but let’s face it, when it comes to oasis and the feel-good factor, this one is pretty much textbook. They’re not not going to do it.
The song I think they will play: Roll With It
SONG SEVEN
The song I would like to hear: Hey Now!
Yes, we’re firmly into fantasy land here, but you never know, they might surprise us with a curve ball or two. I’ve always liked this one and I’m pretty certain there’s a whole lot more to the lyrics than we get at face value.
The song I think they will play: Morning Glory
SONG EIGHT
The song I would like to hear: Headshrinker
A monster B-side from the Some Might Say single, this must surely be one of their most underrated tunes… I’m fairly certain if you asked some AI song generator tool to give you a creation by Revolver-era Lennon and The Sex Pistols in one this is what it would produce. They won’t do it, but it doesn’t matter, we have Live By The Sea.
The song I think they will play: Stand By Me
SONG NINE
The song I would like to hear: Whatever
Crowd-pleaser Whatever must make it on to the setlist and maybe Noel will weave a bit of Octopus’s Garden into it. Always reminds me of December ’94 this one, particularly their appearance on Jools Holland, their first and best.
The song I think they will play: Whatever
SONG TEN
The song I would like to hear: I’m Outta Time
Liam’s best song really is a surprise show-stopper when performed live. I’ve seen oasis do it and I’ve seen him do it and it always just… works. The closest thing we have to a duet between him and his idol, they’d be missing a trick if they left this off the setlist.
The song I think they will play: I’m Outta Time
SONG ELEVEN
The song I would like to hear: D’You Know What I Mean?
Noel thinks it’s too long, having been convinced by boring critics and vacuous peers that everything on Be Here Now is a waste of time (with the exception of Stand By Me, although that may be down to a certain building society using it in an advertising campaign) but I like it. Always have. I want the full seven or eight minutes of this.
The song I think they will play: The Importance Of Being Idle
SONG TWELVE
The song I would like to hear: Take Me Away
This song, which they’re not going to do, always reminds me of Paris. I picked up a CD single of Supersonic when I was there in ’94 or ’95 (I already had the UK version) and it was just the two tracks Supersonic and Take Me Away on it. One of my favourite of Noel’s acoustic numbers, I’d love to hear it in the show’s ‘quieter’ section (if there is one) or as NG put it “the bit apparently everybody thinks is sh*t.”
The song I think they will play: Half The World Away or Talk Tonight
SONG THIRTEEN
The song I would like to hear: Angel Child
He won’t do this, but we can dream. One of Noel’s many underrated B-sides, which exists officially as a ‘demo’ and could quite easily have been finished and promoted more.
The song I think they will play: The Masterplan
SONG FOURTEEN
The song I would like to hear: Going Nowhere
Noel started playing this in his solo shows so presumably he likes it. The fact is folks, I’d rather hear this with the full band and Bacharach-style horns etc than the song I think they will actually play at this point.
The song I think they will play: Wonderwall
SONG FIFTEEN
The song I’d like to hear: Gas Panic!
An indisputably powerful song and a highlight from the otherwise relatively dreary Giants era, this one is brilliant live, more rock than roll certainly and quite an usual one in the oasis canon.
The song I think they will play: Gas Panic!
SONG SIXTEEN
The song I’d like to hear: Little By Little
Stadium rock par excellence, this one is crying out to be performed and will surely have everyone joining in on the chorus (like pretty much all these songs to be fair). God knows what the words mean, but it just don’t matter (now).
The song I think they will play: Little By Little
SONG SEVENTEEN
The song I’d like to hear: Be Here Now
Get on w’ye. As if they’re going to do this. But I want it and I want the ringmaster as well!
The song I think they will play: Stop Crying Your Heart Out
SONG EIGHTEEN
The song I’d like to hear: Slide Away
One of Noel’s most gorgeous chord sequences and a terrific big-gig show-stopper. I’m fairly certain most fans are going to want this and would be amazed if they don’t do it. Most groups would have a song of this calibre in an encore.
The song I think they will play: Slide Away
SONG NINETEEN
The song I’d like to hear: Acquiesce
The track some have suggested they might open with (and indeed they might) but I think it works better as an initial show closer, before encore number one. This is probably the best B-side in the catalogue and could easily have been the A and everyone loves it.
The song I think they will play: Acquiesce
ENCORE ONE
SONG TWENTY
The song I’d like to hear: Cigarettes And Alcohol
Another of the core oasis tunes, this one sends the crowd nuts and beer flying (even though you’ve paid a fortune for it). I do hope Noel plays some lead guitar during these gigs as it just doesn’t feel the same seeing oasis and not seeing the chief take the lead on some of these tunes, especially this one.
The song I think they will play: Cigarettes And Alcohol
SONG TWENTY-ONE
The song I’d like to hear: Live Forever
The quintessential oasis tune and they will play it. It’ll probably be accompanied by a video montage of stars we’ve lost, ending no doubt with the giant face of John Lennon looking out at us. That’s only to be expected.
The song I think they will play: Live Forever
SONG TWENTY-TWO
The song I’d like to hear: Don’t Look Back In Anger
Come on, you know this is coming don’t you? With the chorus to die for, this song is probably going to be remembered above all others as Noel’s best work. The question is how much of it will he actually sing?
The song I think they will play: Don’t Look Back In Anger
ENCORE TWO
SONG TWENTY-THREE
The song I’d like to hear: Champagne Supernova
Will this be the last song or will they have another just for good measure and old-time’s sake? And will we see any guest guitarists joining them at this point? Slowly walking down the hall towards…
The song I think they will play: Champagne Supernova
SONG TWENTY-FOUR
The song I’d like to hear: If We Shadows… just kidding, it’s I Am The Walrus of course!
A superb show closer and excellent cover version of a song that isn’t really possible to improve, so they just do it differently and it works. A little cameo from Macca would be nice at one of the Manchester shows, preferably the one I’m at.
The song I think they will play: I Am The Walrus
Honourable mentions must go to songs Columbia, (It’s Good) To Be Free, Don’t Go Away, All Around The World and Let There Be Love. If they find a way to squeeze any of those in I’ll be very happy.
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