Contents

1. Foreword..............................................................................................................2

2. ‘The Fab Four’.....................................................................................................3

3. A miracle in the desert-Oasis...............................................................................6

4. Great Expectations..............................................................................................9

5. Conclusion.........................................................................................................11

6. Bibliography………..........................................................................................12

1. Foreword

Music is the most important part of my life and this is the main reason I chose to write about this topic.

Since my early years of life I have had a close relationship with music in all forms and genres. Due to the fact that English is my favourite foreign language, I was able to understand the music from abroad. Hence, I was able to filter the commercial music and to select only those genres which I consider to be meaningful.

I have always admired Great Britain when it comes to fashion and of course music. British music guided many artists in finding their inspiration so I believe that it is a very important part of the UK’s culture.

In my project I am going to focus on three British bands which for me represent perfection, inspiration and soul all put together in a song. Secondly, I chose this bands because I find them representative for British music.

My relationship with these three bands began back in my early years of school when as a young teen I started being passionate about alternative music. The Beatles, Oasis and Porcupine Tree are the most well-known three figures in the British alternative genre.

The Beatles were introduced to me by my cousin who used to listen all day long to their songs. At first, I was bored and I loathed their music because I was not able to understand what they were saying. Later on, as the years went by and I grew up, I stumbled across one of their songs and it was love at second hearing.

Oasis got under my skin quite recently thanks to a very close friend of mine who used to show and play their songs to me. Very fast I started remembering their lyrics and shortly after they went on my music player where they still can be found.

Porcupine Tree fever began about five years ago. At first I thought it was just another fling but in two weeks all their songs were saved in my computer. I could say that they are like a drug and I cannot and I do not want to be cured.

The last reason for UK music being my topic is the fact that I cannot imagine myself living in a world without British bands.

2

2.’The Fab Four’

I want to start my project with The Beatles because I consider them a truly important band. Also I believe that they should be the first to be mentioned because they come straight away in my mind when I am thinking about the UK music.

The Beatles are the only band to be recognized as the band that encompassed the Sixties, beginning in 1960 and ending in 1970. They represent the changes that occurred in that decade, they being a catalyst for those changes.

Throughout their reign big names as Jimi Hendrix, Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd went in and out of the spotlight. So we can define The Beatles both as precursors and survivors.

They represented the first British Group that stood out and focused all ears on the British music scene and this is why they are the trace-setters for the modern music.

The four Beatles, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison, poured their souls out in each song, being the first band in a long time that really enjoyed everything they did and the audience noticed that from the first chord. They were not concerned about the money, they just wanted to play good music, their music and to make their voices heard in the UK at first and afterwards all around the Globe. But their work turned out to be successful and they easily got rich . Nevertheless, the four members kept their sensible attitude and they showed that to each crowd gathered in a place to listen to their songs. Each live performance was equally important for them no matter if they played in a pub or in front of a full stadium.

When taking a closer look I can easily notice that I cannot remember a band that has worked as much as The Beatles did (for example: 800 hours on stage in Hamburg,275 performances at the Cavern).In addition to that, they were giving more interviews than an artist would give in a whole year. Also, they recorded two movies. They were just like super-humans managing to work everything out.

‘The Fab Four’, as they were nicknamed, went through some changes. At first, they would wear shirts, ties and fringes so I can say that they had a classy, yet preppy clothing style. Afterwards, you could have seen them wearing more relaxed clothes, having longer and sloppier hair. They were less concerned about their appearance than about their inner part. Though they did not shock because this were the Sixties when the Hippie style was blooming. I can state that they adapted to the ages they were living in.

Their music could not be enframed in a specific genre. Their songs ranged from pop ballads to psychedelic rock. No other band could match them. They recorded 184 original songs but their success is due to the fact that they kept on reinventing from an album to another. Nowadays, it takes up to three years or more between albums being released, but ‘The Fab Four’ released 12 albums, including one double, between 1963 and 1970, leaving aside 30 non-album tracks. Each member brought their contribution by composing their own songs. They were very dedicated to their work.

The Beatles were the first band that introduced the concept of stadium concert after filling Shea Stadium to its 55000 capacity. This was unexpected because no other artist gathered so many people for a concert . Soon after that they managed to fill 77000 spaces in Philadelphia. They went on numerous tours and during this period they had some encounters with illegal substances. The Beatles politics concerning drugs was well-known since this is how they usually got their inspiration in writing songs. So the drugs

3

did not affect their work. I think that without drugs they would not have been so successful and since they did not harm anyone they can be forgiven for consuming them. They supported marijuana legalisation by paying and signing the ’pot ad’. Besides having problems with the authorities, the drugs accentuated their physic weakness in the end and the four members looked exhausted. The police knew that they consumed drugs so they raided their flats. Lennon was charged for possession and for obstructing police in the execution of a search warren. Lennon pleads guilty and he is fined £150 plus 20 guineas costs. In an interview he explained everything by saying :”We took heroin because we were artists”. This turned out to be a rough period for The Beatles, especially for John since Yoko Ono, who was carrying their baby, suffered a miscarriage. Both Lennon and Ono were deeply marked by their loss but they chose to put their grief in their songs. A disturbing fact about this sad event is that John recorded the baby’s fading heartbeats and released them on the “Life With The Lions” album.

Taking everything into account they did a great job but I should mention that they were helped by several people. I refer to Yoko Ono, Brian Epstein and the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

Yoko Ono was a major part of John Lennon’s life. Besides having John’s babies, she influenced his work by helping him when composing. She was his business partner at first, later on his lover and afterwards she became his wife and his child’s mother. Though Yoko was everything John could have ever wanted in a woman, she was seen as a threat by the other Beatles. The couple was inseparable and this was not seen with good eyes. The other Beatles’ girlfriends and wives were never seen in the studio, but Yoko was always there expressing her thoughts.

Brian Epstein was the band’s manager, so he had a great part in their success. Though his personal life was a mess he promised them to use his influence in order to secure them a UK recording contract. He helped them throughout their career.

When Brian Epstein passed away, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi helped them getting over it. They were already involved in meditation. This was a sobriety period for them which turned out to be very positive because they managed to write many songs. Most of these songs appear on the double white album and “Abbey Road”.

What brings us closer to them is their heritage: their songs. I want to present some of my personal favourites and some of their greatest hits.

The first song I want to mention is ‘Yesterday’. Paul McCartney said in an interview: I really reckon ‘Yesterday’ is probably my best song. I like it not only because it was a big success, but because it was one of the most instinctive songs I’ve ever written. I was so proud of it. I felt it was an original tune the most complete thing I’ve ever written. It’s very catchy without being sickly”. The story behind this song reveals us that McCartney woke up one day with this song in his head. The other members thought at first that Paul had stolen this song but they could not find any source. Being released in 1965, ‘Yesterday’ evoked some controversy due to the fact that Paul had recorded it without any help from the rest of the group, but he was not thinking about a solo career, at least not then.

Another song worth mentioning is the popular ‘Yellow Submarine’. This was intended to be a simple children’s song but it received the full-scale studio treatment. I consider this song the most important song on the Revolver LP. ’Yellow Submarine’, besides being itself an injection of optimism, brought another success to The Beatles. It

4

inspired the cartoon movie which solved the enduring problem of the third movie that the band had owed United Artists since the summer of 1965.

‘Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds’ is a John Lennon’s composition. It caused a stir at the time because when people started to notice the initials of the song’s title(LSD) they wondered if Lennon was describing an acid trip. He denied everything about this rumor and he declared that the song was inspired by a drawing made by his son, Julian, at the nursery school.

Probably the most well-known Beatles’ song is ‘All you need is love’. This represents for me and for all the Beatles’ fans one of the anthems of the Sixties. It portraits the Hippie image and a Universe made out of positive feelings where summer lasts forever. I like to listen to it after having a bad day because it is like a warm hug for my ear canals.

‘I Am The Walrus’ generated once again many rumors about its ‘hidden message’. John Lennon said : “I was the Walrus, whatever that means. The Walrus was a big capitalist that ate all the oysters, if you must know. I always had this image of the Walrus in the garden and I loved it, so I didn’t checked out what the Walrus was[...] Everybody presumes that means something, that just because I said I am the Walrus, it must mean I am God or something, but it’s just poetry”. Later on, he revealed that it was a deliberate effort to mystify his critics and followers alike by gathering unrelated images without a shred of continuity.

I could say that there is no person in the world that has not heard by now about ‘Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da’. This was according to the four Beatles just a mock-reggae tune but they spent a lot of time to record it. It was a big hit and I consider it to be one of their best songs.

The final single, ‘Let It Be’ written by Paul McCartney was originally taped in front of the cameras in January 1969. The song was overdubbed with a lead guitar solo in April. This song was perceived as an open peace message from Paul to the other Beatles.

Although the fans could have seen it coming, in 1970 The Beatles separated. The first who decided to leave was Paul McCartney. In an interview for Peter Brown he puts his separation on the account of :”personal differences, business differences, but most of all because I have better time with my family”. The final press release for The Beatles, written by Derek Taylor, informs the fans that Ringo and John and George and Paul are alive and well and full of hope[...] the Beat goes on, the Beat goes on”.

What I consider to be a major hit for The Beatles fans, besides their disintegration, is John Lennon’s death. In 1980, the former leader of The Beatles was shot by Mark Chapman. He declared: ”The voice said, ’Do it! Do it! Do it!’ I aimed at his back. I pulled the trigger five times [...] Then the gun was empty and John Lennon had disappeared”. But this is not true because John’s memory remains vivid in our hearts and his art will be forever lasting.

Coming back to our days, I believe that The Beatles had a major part in the transformations that occurred in the Sixties. They changed not only the way in which music is perceived but also the people’s mentality. ‘The Fab Four’ opened the gates for many modern artists, they themselves being a source of inspiration.

5

3. A miracle in the desert-Oasis

The greatest band that used Beatles’ work for their inspiration is Oasis. This is the reason for me considering them one of the most representative British bands. I perceive them as a modern reinterpretation of The Beatles.

At first, the band was called The Rain and the members were Paul McGuigan, Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs, Tony McCaroll and Chris Hutton. The band was not satisfied by Hutton’s work so Liam Gallagher was auditioned for his place. Liam was the one that came up with the second and final name: Oasis. This name came from an Inspiral Carpets tour poster that was hung in the Gallagher’s bedroom. Liam’s older brother, Noel, was a roadie for Inspiral Carpets. He went in 1991 to see his brother in his first gig at the Boardwalk club in Manchester. He did not think much of their performance but he soon got the idea of using Oasis as an outlet for the songs he had been writing for several years. Arthurs recalled: ”He had loads of stuff written. When he walked in, we were a band making a racket with four tunes. All of a sudden, there were loads of ideas.” Noel wanted to be Oasis’ sole songwriter and leader.

They were spotted by Alan McGee, co-owner of Creation Records. Though, this was not just a coincidence. They were invited to play in Glasgow. After struggles to find money, they managed to hire a van and they got to Glasgow. There, they had an unpleasant surprise when at the entrance they were told that they did not appear on that night’s set list. So they literally bullied their way in. They were given the opening slot in the end. McGee, who was there to see one of his own band, was impressed by Oasis and he signed the band to Creation four days later. However, the band ended up signing a worldwide contract with Sony.

Oasis were said to be obsessed by The Beatles. The resemblance was obvious and Noel often admitted that John Lennon was his idol. Nevertheless, the band usually responded that they got their inspiration from many other bands such as: The Bee Gees, The Who, Nirvana, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, Inspiral Carpets and many others.

From my point of view, Oasis represents one of the greatest bands from the British music scene. Their music might not be very complex, but it reaches each corner of my heart. I think that one could listen to their songs even if they had a great day or if they are down in the mouth. Due to its simplicity it can cheer you up or it can sustain your positive feelings. No matter if I am preparing for an exam or if I am in a train travelling to some unknown place, I like listening to their songs. I consider them modern even though they started playing in 1991. This is due to the fact that I can still hear them at parties or watch them on TV and they still seem to be just out of the wrap. It is like their songs do not get old.

They have a strong influence on me, as The Beatles and Porcupine Tree also do. I could call them my soul music. I will never get tired of them and they will always be among my favourites.

Why Oasis? Because they represent me. As them, I am not common, but I cannot call myself unique. As their members, I am picky and everything I do is perfect or it is set to fail. As well as them I am not liked by everyone and I have changing moods like their changing approach from one song to another.

6

Nowadays, Oasis stand as an icon for the Nineties’ alternative music. They stood out as an example for the fact that one did not have to play shallow music to be successful.

Their songs were often in the UK charts and in all world charts as well. But there were some songs that stood out and they remain engraved in my ears and in my brain.

One of these songs is ‘Wonderwall’. It was written by Noel Gallagher and it appears on their second album, ‘(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?’. When asked, Noel said it describes “an imaginary friend who’s gonna come and save you from yourself”. But at first, before divorcing Meg Matthews, he admitted that it was written for Meg who was his girlfriend at that time. This is their most successful song and it took only half-day to produce it. Recently, I have noticed that ‘Wonderwall’ is enjoyed by each teen who is or was in love, me myself being one of those teens. It was released in 1995 and since then it has not stopped gaining more and more ‘Wonderwall addicts’.

It seems that Noel’s girlfriends were a source of inspiration for his songs. ‘Slide away’ was intended to describe the stormy relationship between Noel and Louise Jones. He used to believe that they were ‘soul mates’ and when they split up he admitted that he would never get over it. He just took a guitar, sat down and as he said “the song wrote itself”. Noel said in an interview that ‘ Slide away’ contains Liam’s best ever singing. Paul McCartney should agree since this song is claimed to be one of his favourite songs. Although this was one of their best songs it was rarely played in concerts.

‘Cigarettes & Alcohol’ was written after a major conflict between the Gallagher brothers. According to Alan McGee, this song was one of the greatest social statements anyone had made in the past 25 years. This was due to the fact that it made cigarettes, alcohol and drugs seem a remedy for the banality of the working class. Though, the song caused a stir because it was the second time when Oasis was accused of plagiarism.

‘Lyla’ is described by Noel as “specifically designed for pogoing” and “annoyingly catchy”. Though Gallagher was not very pleased at first about it, when the band played it for the first time he discovered that he loved the “guitars, the drums and the vocals”. This song is remembered by the fans because at a show Liam was forced to mime to the music. So he walked away from the microphone with his mouth closed when he was supposedly ‘singing’ and everyone knew what happened.

‘Songbird’ was the first song released by Liam. It is their shortest single (2:08). Liam said about it: ”I like beautiful things...it’s not all dark in Liam World. I take my shades off every now and again and have a look at the world and see some nice things.” I find this song filled with positive feelings, a song written for a laid-back sunny Sunday afternoon.

‘Champagne Supernova’ is considered to be a fan-favourite and it is one of my personal favourites. No one really knows what this song is about and Noel in an interview said: “that’s probably as psychedelic as I’ll ever get”. He also explained that “ it means different things when I’m in different moods”. So this song will remain a mystery not only for all the fans but for its writer too.

‘Whatever’ represents Oasis’ life philosophy. To be more specific, this song is about being yourself and being able to do what you choose to do. It is a very up-lifting song that reminds me not to care about critics and it cheers meup whenever I am down in the dumps.

7

Oasis does not exist anymore as a group because the conflicts between the Gallagher Brothers became so strong that they split up. But Oasis is not dead, at least not for me and for thousands of other fans who still listen to their songs. Their music will continue to tell a story about what they meant for my generation to the generations to come.

8

3. Great Expectations

Porcupine Tree is my favourite band from all the bands in the world. I like them because they are special and one cannot enframe them in a category of bands. I can still recall when I first listened to one of their songs. I saw on my Youtube account two strange words: “porcupine” and “tree”. I typed them in the search box and hit ‘search’. In two seconds there were hundreds of videos as a response and I decided to watch one: ‘Lazarus’. From the first chords I was enthralled. It felt like it was designed to reach to me and since then it is like I am under a ‘Porcupine Tree spell’.

Their fans should agree with me when I say that they are simply brilliant. Even though I never saw them live I have watched videos from their concerts and they sound even better live. When watching the audience it is like the all world stops listening to their music and after the songs stop playing the silence is filled with harmony and warmth. The jaws simply drop and the bodies are surrounded by the sequence of well-coordinated chords and lyrics.

At first, Porcupine Tree was formed only out of two men: Steven Wilson and Malcolm Stocks. This project was intended to be just a hoax and the two fabricated a story which described their band as a rock legend of the 1970’s. But as soon as Steven put aside enough money he bought his own studio equipment. All the work was done by Wilson, Stocks only provided some occasional ideas. Their project began to evolve and it was not just a joke. At the time, Wilson was concentrating on his other project: No-Man. By 1989, he started considering some of the Porcupine Tree material as potentially marketable. By 1990, the band became a solo since Stocks left the band.

As the years went by, other members appeared and the band was not anymore just Steven Wilson but Richard Barbieri, Colin Edwin, Gavin Harrison, John Wesley and Chris Maitland.

Wilson’s inspiration in songwriting dates back to his childhood when his parents gave presents to each other. His father received Pink Floyd’s ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ and his mother got Donna Summer’s ‘Love to Love You Baby’. Both were played continuously and as a consequence they had a great influence on Steven’s songwriting. This was not his only source of inspiration, Wilson often admitted that experimental metal had a considerable influence upon him.

Their music is often described as melancholic. Steven states music is a way for him to channel all his negative feelings and that he finds it “easier to write songs about the negative side of the world than it is about the happy side of the world”. He also said in a live radio broadcast that “the saddest music is often the most beautiful”.

What differentiates Porcupine Tree is that you cannot find a song that resembles another song. Each song has its own personality. They used some unusual instruments such as mellotron, banjo, hammered dulcimer and guimbri and this made their music a bit awkward yet so special.

A person that had a strong influence upon the band’s work is Lasse Hoile. His bizarre work seems to go hand in hand with Porcupine Tree’s music. He is the one that directed their videos and he came out with all the album sleeves since 2002. Their collaboration gave birth to many beautiful and unique works of art.

But what brings me closer to them is their music which will never seize to impress and to move me.

9

What gave me the ‘Porcupine Tree fever’ was their song called ‘Lazarus’. As I mentioned before, I had the impression that it was written for me. I will always remember that day as the day that brought a slice of heaven in my life in what concerns music. I can say that what really got my attention is the fact that they did not use the same rhythm for three minutes, but a fluctuation of chords and various sounds from different instruments and this applies to all their songs.

‘Blackest Eyes’ is the second song that I have heard from them and I was not disappointed. It has a catchy tune and the lyrics boost my moral each morning on my way to school. Sometimes I like to associate myself to songs and this is one of those songs since I have dark eyes.

When I am thinking about ‘Anesthetize’ in my mind appears this: “17 minutes of delight”. From my point of view this is one their bests. Wilson did a spectacular job and one cannot get bored while listening to this song. I could say that it goes up and down and the sounds simply spark. Just when you think it is over a powerful tune hits you and takes you right back to the beginning.

‘Way Out of Here’ is a melancholic, yet so beautiful song. I could say that I sort of have a ritual whenever I am travelling because I cannot recall a journey without ‘Way Out of Here’. It goes perfectly with a winding road and it reminds me that there are yet so many places to be seen. Though this song is about a break up I choose to select its best side and I try not to look back, but instead I look forward into the unknown.

I could say that ‘Sentimental’ describes my worst fear: the fear of growing old. Since I am 19 I find myself in the gap between childhood and adulthood. I am not afraid of having wrinkles and saggy skin but I am afraid that I will end up alone. When I say this I refer to my parents. It breaks my heart to know that some day they will not be there anymore.

‘Trains’ is the song that I usually listen to cheer me up. It has a positive vibe and I just cannot help myself smiling when listening to it. And as a fact I should mention that it has been used in the high-rate movie ‘Inception’. However, I admit that this did not bring its huge success but it went as a glove.

When it comes to the emotional side I have to remind ‘She’s moved on’. Whenever a boy breaks my heart I like to listen to it and I could say that it reminds me that the best is yet to come and I have the future ahead. Then I realise that it is his loss anyway.

Nowadays, Steven Wilson focuses on his solo career. Though Porcupine Tree still exists, the members have decided to take a break. By the time they get back in the studio to compose again, I shall treasure each song they have given to the audience and I hope that some day I will have the opportunity to see them in a live concert.

10

4.Conclusion

In the end, what brings together my favourite three bands is their ambition to achieve something and to make some changes in the modern society. Furthermore, I could say that what brought them the fans’ love is their commitment. While The Beatles and Oasis go along with my happy days, Porcupine Tree manages to be the perfect soundtrack for my life. Their work gives me the perfect example for the fact that if one works hard enough and dedicates himself to his work, one can fulfill his dreams and that brings me to the conclusion that nothing is impossible.

11

6. Bibliography

John Robertson, “A journey through John Lennon’s life and times in words and pictures by John Robertson”, Omnibus,1995

Barry Miles, “The Beatles Diary:Volume 1:The Beatles Years”,Omnibus Press, 2001

www.oasisnet.com www.porcupinetree.com www.pdrp.net/specials/porcupinetree.index.html www.innerviews.org/inner/wilson.html www.discordmagazine.com/steven-wilson-the-definitive-interview www.thebeatles.com www.beatlesstory.com

12