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On This Day In Oasis History....
















"All Around the World" is a song by British rock band Oasis, written by the band's lead guitarist Noel Gallagher. The song is seen by many as the stand-out track from their third album Be Here Now. Released on 12th January 1998, the track peaked at Number 1 in the UK Singles Chart; it is the longest single ever to do so.

Be Here Now has been criticised for being self-indulgent, over-produced and bloated. "All Around the World", nearly ten minutes long, embellished with string and horn pieces, and followed by its very own two minute long instrumental reprise, would appear to be the worst culprit. However, on its release the reviews were generally positive. It is in keeping with many Oasis songs, such as "Whatever", "Acquiesce", "Live Forever" and "Stop Crying Your Heart Out" in that it preaches the belief that "it's gonna be OK". It also features a backing vocal in the coda remarkably similar to the corresponding section in The Beatles' classic "Hey Jude".



The song was one of the first to be written by Noel, and there are recorded sessions of the band rehearsing it at the Boardwalk club as early as 1992. However, despite Noel's fondness for the song, it did not appear on their first two albums, Definitely Maybe and (What's The Story) Morning Glory?, as he wanted to wait until the band could afford to produce the song in the extravagant manner in which it was to eventually appear.

Keeping with the feel of the song, the video was also a lavish affair. Featuring the band in a yellow spaceship, the animated piece saw them travel through a world akin to The Beatles' Yellow Submarine film. The video was directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris and apparently took 24 computer animators 6 months to make.



When it was suggested that Oasis take legal action against pop band Hear'Say for their first single's uncanny similarity to "All Around the World", Noel simply laughed at the hypocrisy of such an act from a man who was famous for "borrowing" from other artists.

The harmonica pieces on the track were performed by Mark Feltham. Noel and Liam's then wives, Meg Matthews and Patsy Kensit, sang backing vocals.

Portions of the song were used as background music for AT&T's advertising campaign for "The New" AT&T in early 2006.

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