Live Forever (1994)
I actually like ‘Live Forever’. It’s got all the ridiculous Noel rhymes, but with just enough meaning to feel epic. Plus, Liam’s voice hasn’t yet become a parody of itself.
As for the video, director Carlos Grasso had a tough job on his hands because although everyone in 1994 shit their pants over how exciting Oasis were when they first appeared, the truth is that they’re a very boring band to look at. Normally a guitar is a potent, majestic thing, but the sight of Bonehead playing one brings to mind a grandma tentatively stroking an old cat. It’s not quite as bad as watching paint dry, but not far off – maybe seeing the skin form on a rice pudding.
So, how to make them look exciting: stick Liam up on a chair nailed to the wall (a Freudian ego image if ever there was one). Sure, let’s have some dogs walking backwards. And why not pour water over Bonehead while we’re at it. Great – all done.
The most telling part of the video comes when the band buries drummer Tony McCarroll alive. As recent documentary Supersonic revealed, Noel was bullying McCarroll mercilessly at this point and about to kick him out of the band. Nice of him to symbolically bury him just to drive the message home.