Oasis (2) – All Around The World

Tracking at nearly ten minutes in length, at the time, this was the longest single recorded by Oasis, a psychedelic masterpiece that ebbs and builds, creating a sonic all-encoming wholeness, employing and delivered with an almost cinematic vision that washes over and around you, leaving budding ears to ring with a defining high watermark of robust yet luscious euphoric engulfing immersion.

Now, flashback to the late 60’s, where the Beatles challenged the world with the then longest radio hit “Hey Jude,” inspiring Oasis to nearly double that length, also charting at number one; an epic feat back in 1998. Strangely enough, the song did not appear on either Definitely Maybe or (What’s the Story) Morning Glory, as Noel Gallagher was so ionate about the number that he held it back, waiting for the band to have enough money to do the song justice; and while the track would have made either album far better, I for one am certainly glad that he held to his vision.

Of course the lyrics are deeply rooted in the garden of teen-pop, yet with a thirty-six piece orchestra, there is an inherent underlying degree of sophistication that never fails to please, all due to the three key chord changes drifting in at the end to make things feel as if the number could go on forever, especially with all of those Beatle inspired flirtations, making for a perfect couch-bound experience.

Say what you wish about Oasis, the truth of the matter is that they’ve laid down some dynamic songs that will stand the test of time, earning them a seat at the table with other rock legends.

*** The Fun Facts: The video for the song is an homage to the Beatles “Yellow Submarine,” with nearly thirty computer animators working six months to bring it to fruition, costing half a million dollars to produce.

Review by Jenell Kesler