NOEL & COUNCIL SKIES - The Meaning Behind The Album (and Robbie Williams, for some reason...)
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- Опубликовано: 2 окт 2024
- Join me to look through the latest album from Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Council Skies, to see what the lyrics mean and to uncover some pretty unexpected Easter eggs!
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Many thanks, JH.
There She Blows killed it for me. A direct lift of Homefront Cameo by Cotton Mather. Hats off to the mention of ELO Out of the Blue. One of the greatest
I think There She Blows is the best song on the album and you can't be much of an Oasis fan if lifting a portion of a song offends you given that some of Oasis' biggest songs have major portions of them lifted from others.
The verse melody in Homefront Cameo is also used in Soul Love by Beady Eye
If Noel is using Robbie Williams for inspiration then I give up
Ughhh lol
😂😂
What’s the matter with Robbie.
@@lester3917 if you have to ask, you won’t get it. My guess would be that his target audience is middle age frumpy mums and mummy’s boys. That is only a guess, I could be wrong 😂
Ha ha there’s no way he’s influenced by Rodney
"Open The Door, See What You Find" sounds like "I Am The Key" by The La's. The lyric "There She Blows!" Is also sung during the second verse of "There She Goes" by The La's as a variation.
Yes!
I am the key you are the door
I am the sea you are the shore
Do you know what you're looking for
Do you know what you are
Well I am the key open the door open the door
and
There she goes
There she goes again
Racing through my brain
And I just can't contain
This feeling that remains
It's definitely up there as one of my favourite albums of all time
I think track 13 on the deluxe edition explains it all. It's his excellent cover of John Lennon's "Mind Games". Noel is playing his mind games again.
Kinda shocked that anyone cares what this crap means. Let’s be clear - there is nothing on this album that can hold a candle to the worst Oasis album. There are moments on these sorts of albums- put out by rockers that should have retired 10 years ago, that sound ‘okay’. But, you put on one of their early albums, and it hits you just how bad this later career solo work actually is. We should think are lucky stars that Liam is still putting out exciting work, and call it a day.
@@hardmoney8560 Liam? His songs are written by a committee and his voice is shot. I like both Gallaghers, but Noel has always been the guy who made Oasis huge. Liam had the swagger and the voice. Now he has the swagger, which is good if you're in you're twenties, not in your fifties.
@@hardmoney8560 Comparing apples and oranges there mate. Oasis was a moment in time, different music altogether. Noel's moved on, Liam has to a certain extent BUT much of his music AND the fact he did Knebworth shows he's trying to relive the past.
Mind you, I like em both. They're doing their own thing and both sound GREAT.
Ok so the vibe may be different now but to say he’s not writing some amazing songs solo is ridiculous. Sure “Who Built The Moon “ was a very different kinda album but he damn well deserves a pass to try and create something unique. But the other 3 albums are pretty damn great. No retirement necessary. And as for Liam woohoo he has 10 people try to write an album that sounds like Oasis. Every time. Very original 🙄
@@theselector4733EXACTLY my thoughts also
Glad you gave this album it's own proper review. So many top tunes and a storming return to form from the master. Love this album so much.
Great album. Love it
It is my favourite album of Noel’s
Noel recently said he wished "Think of A Number" was the opener and "I'm Not Giving Up Tonight" was the closer, which might fit the narrative better by starting with the break-up and ending positively.
You saved me writting this thanks 😅❤
35 quid for vinyl.. f that!
CD2 of the deluxe version opens with "Don't Stop..." (last Oasis single) and closes with a version of "Live forever". At least it caught my attention on a solo album by Noel. I think good times are coming ;)
It’s his best since chasing yesterday for me
Definitely, it works great as an album.
Instant respect for shouting out Out Of The Blue, incredible album.
Love ELO. That album is particular is massively Noel-esque; loads of nicked melodies and sequences all rejigged and put together in a new way to make something brilliant (alongside a ton of brilliant inspired original stuff too)
Great songwriting and musical construction but one gripe from me. The mixing is really flat, wall of sound, almost sounds mono.
“The finest commander
The world has ever know
Died of a broken heart
‘Cause I told him that loved you
More than love”
Far fetched but that could also be interpreted as a callback to the day Noel left Oasis, leaving Liam behind which Liam seen as an abandonment, in favour of his new life with Sarah. Calling him ‘the finest commander’ due to his role as the frontman of the band, being the one that would generate a reaction from fans. So when Noel chose a life with Sarah over the band it shattered Liam
It never occurred to me that this was a concept album but now you've mentioned it, I can't unhear it! Its actually a work of genius the way Noel has structured the album to suit the narrative of the story he wanted to tell. Great review thanks for the insight 👍
I always love your breakdowns James. Thanks for sharing.
You're very welcome
James you need to get the 2 disc album of this mate because he has a radio 2 session of live forever and the riff in the jntro sounds exactly like Angels by robbie williams
Not guna lie. No regrets by Robbie is a masterpiece
Yea it is my fav Robbie tune by far
@@tomcremeens6898yes it’s got to be one of mine too
@@tomcremeens6898Robbie's best is Lazy Days in my opinion.
@@heppolo roI agree with Mark Morris, Robbie has lied about all his songs, all his big hits were written by someone else. Personally, I do not think Robbie has done one great song, let alone a masterpiece BUT it depends how low you set your standards
I have to admit, i wasn't really pumped for this album release, the singles that were released didnt captivate me. But after watching this vid, and giving it a few listens through, i actually really really love it. It is as good if not better than chasing yesterday. Nice one james 👏
Love the album, think it's Noel's best work post-Oasis. Caught the 2nd show on the US tour last week and it was great! He played 5 songs from the new album, 5 Oasis tracks including an acoustic-y version of Live Forever which was interesting to hear, Masterplan which was amazing, and ended the set with Don't Look Back In Anger. Probably the closest I'll ever get to seeing Oasis live so it was a great experience.
Better than his first solo album?
Did he sing Going Nowhere?
@@Walpurgis117 yup! And Little By Little
James! You should do a video about the alternative universe in which Inspiral Carpets gave Noel the singer job when he auditioned back in the early 90s… and what form definitely maybe may have come out in if he became their vocalist.
Dunno if Noel has nicked chords and tunes off of Robbie, but he did nick his drummer (Chris Sharrock) back in 2008!
I love your videos, James. I wish there were more channels like you who do research and make the most informative videos but about bands like Queens of the Stone Age, Failure, Nine Inch Nails and countless other amazing bands up there with Oasis
Excellent work James, good job contributing to #Takebackthecharts
I did the same thing. Waited until release day, went to my local (independent) music store and bought the vinyl. Can’t deny, it felt gooooood!
My first thought when I listened to ‘There She Blows’ was concerning the lyric ‘The finest commander that the world had ever known
He died of a broken heart
'Cause I I told him that I loved you more
I told him that I loved you more
I love you more than love’…If you switch the word Commander for Frontman then it could be about how Noel chose Sara over Oasis when he walked away. Just a thought.
Spot on!!!!!!!!!
“We’re gonna get there in the end”’s lyric “don’t be afraid when you’re rolling the dice, life is a trip that you don’t take twice” is just brilliant
If you had asked me who wrote that lyric i would've guessed it was the Chief! Brilliant.
Havent heard the album yet any suggestions for first tune? 🤔
@@damotheman4196 defo go from start to finish mate. All of them are an easy listen
@@TechnicalDirectorFM Actually just went for a walk there and listened to the whole thing! Really impressed with his vocals.. Particularly strong in the title track. Sound mate 👍
GREAT channel have to say . lot of research too well done James
Great video and thoughts, its classic Noel again and a great album. On par with Chasing Yesterday as thats still my favorite for helping me through a divorce back then
WE LOVE THESE VIDEOS!!! 🧡💛❤💙💜
You clearly have good taste
That ‘life thru a lens’ one is ‘fade away’ mate. That chord stuck out to me instantly when I first heard it.
I highly doubt Noel is thinking about Robbie 😂👍🏼
It's Noel lifting from Robbie/Guy Chambers who lifted from Noel who lifted from every good band from the 60s/70s/80s 😂
It also sounds like let's dance by bowie in places
Great album and great review. Thanks James. For me 'Who Built the Moon' is his best work so far, the combo of him and David Holmes was something very special indeed. The idea of writing songs there and then in the studio was so refreshing, and it forced Noel to innovate in different ways. Very exploratory & creative album. This new album however is great and am pleased he's kept the Oasis fans happy.
Yes. I think WBTM is his best solo album too. But CS fit in the context.
WBTM is his best work so far imo also. It's creative, electronic BUT the melodies and songs are there also. Council Skies is very good indeed and it seems to open up the more you play it.
Today I suddenly imagined you narrating an hour long Oasis iceberg video. And now I'm sure you have the knowledge to actually make something like this soon. Keep it up
Thanks for the great video James
Trying to find a world that’s been and gone and easy now? It’s Dying of the Light mate, “the cold against my shoulder” bus fares, he’s about to cry, now he is crying, it’s all there!
So is dying of the light a song about cracks in his marriage?
Another lyric reference is finding the place where he belongs which is also in Sail On “tell the girl behind the counter I loved her once, but soon I must be gone…”
"Going to HMV to buy the album" That's still a store that exists? To me (im 23) that sounds like "Well better head down to blockbuster and pickup that new matrix movie" lol
I go to hmv every Saturday ,the cds are at the back past all the Japanese sweets and toys lol
"Pretty Boy" could be about Oasis comeback... all part of the Masterplan???
Beneath the starry sky
Of a distant moon
At the magic moment
That's gonna come too soon...
...I hope you live to see them
Before you get too old
You bring the whole world down
I'll make your dreams come true...
Council Skies is so good. Man...
On first few listens I really like it. It flows together really well.
What I think makes it so good is that it's the first time that it's a proper Noel album. It's full of the songs that he's best at but more importantly they're all Noel songs. Every other album has songs that you think 'yeah, it's a good song but it would sound amazing with Liam singing it....'
There's none of that on this one, at least not that I can hear. And for that it's the least Oasisy album he's written even if it's a 'return' to his classic style.
Yeah it's the first one that really SOUNDS like NGHFB in a way. They've kind of established their own independent sound on this one I reckon
The verse of "There she blows" is very reminiscent of the middle 8 of"Bus stop" as made famous by The Hollies.
Decent album after a first listen.
13:34 in the masterplan riff i would say reminds me of one of the riffs in the Wall by Pink Floyd
I can't imagine Noel intentionally lifting anything from a Robbie Williams song - but it could've happened accidentally, I guess.
Council Skies is a great album, but I adored Who Built the Moon? By far his best. Maybe you could do a video explaining why you're not feeling that album.
Love is a Rich Man also has the same melody as a song called Outcast by Eddie and Ernie. He has also gave them songwriter credits for the Love is a Rich Man, which is how I tracked it down.
Homage/easter-egg (for true Beatles fans) >> Track: Don't Stop (around 2:48) // Easter-egg (or plain rip-off): Dig a Pony's (slightly changed) riff - not the intro one, though, the one after "...all I want is you")
Alas, £35 seems to be the RRP for all new single LP releases these days.
Inflation, innit.
Christ, if you thought his stuff after Chasing Yesterday was "Techno Electronica" I'd hate to see you listen to some actual experimental music!
Should've bought it from a local independent record shop and not HMV. Support local record stores!
LibertyShipDisappeared= Oasis
FinestCommander = Liam
Told him that I love you more
Is the new love Oasis, as in he's not sure about going back. Also, in one of the songs he sings about being caught in the crosshair. I heard that to be about Sara and Liam hating each other and being given an ultimatum, and he's maybe admitting he was forced to side with someone he perhaps shouldn't have.
Alright Jack Reacher just stop.Reaching. I appreciate your effort but the reaching is just way out of reach Mr Reacher.
What a great video and insight. Agree it’s a fucking belter and noticed the Easter eggs myself as well. Class James
Think a video on the connection between Cotton Mather and Oasis/The Gallaghers would be worth telling with the lift thats in There She Blows!
Noel dared Liam to call him so they can reunite Oasis. It's on this interview. ruclips.net/video/3tLLrrEhAiY/видео.html
Disc 2 of the deluxe version hasn't left my cd player . Apart from a non descript cover of Lennon's Mind Games, it is a beaut of a listen.
I'm surprised you haven't managed to get an interview with Noel. I don't think he's ever turned one down! he'd read out the weather forecast if asked
That whooshing wind sound can’t be the same as the one from Let’s All Make Believe as it’s a preset from the Arturia Analog Lab synth pack.
It does seem as if the actress in the Easy Now video resembles his daughter...
I agree with noels statement about ‘no one is humming the chords’,he’s right. The average joe isnt walking around thinking i wonder what chords he’s playing there. Of course it helps but as long as the melody behind the chords is great then who cares. More complicated doesnt always mean better, look at wonderwall or bittersweet symphony for example.
Council skies is about burnage where he was from when born🎉
Nice to see you doing a video on this album. Clearly Noel has been listening to a lot of Robbie Williams haha.
Another potentially interesting thing I noticed, is that on the Deluxe version of the album, Don't Stop is track 11 and We're Gonna Get There In The End is track 12. I don't know if that means anything but thought I'd point it out. Although I always like the think of that song as a goodbye to Oasis fans.
But regardless, it's a top album from the chief!
Yeah I saw that the deluxe had a different listing! And also Noel has recently said he wishes the first and last tracks of the album had been switched, which is interesting
I think this is NG's White City album (by Pete Townshend). Even the album cover is similar.
Some other easter eggs:
Council Skies 'I found you, I found you' - linking back to 'I will find you, I will find you' from the ballad of the mighty I
Think of a number - The change at 1:40 sounds very much like 'Fade away'
Did anyone see the guitar peddle show, pure gold x
I don't know about the music but another video was comparing the album to White City by Pete Townshend. I mean, the cover is a blatant rip off if nothing else.....
3:07 you weren't taken with council skies initially? That's mental, considering you made a big video breaking down how much u loved it. What changed between first and then multiple listens?
I liked his electronic departure sound. I thought it was great.
Same here. It's funny how proudly he stated multiple times that he's not interested in fame anymore and just experimenting to amuse himself, then right after Liam's unexpected success he released this fanservice album.
Ive also heard Open the door is similar to Raspberry berret/Sara by Starship, and the chorus was stolen from the La's.
They showed the secret chord on that pedal show !!!
I bought chasing yesterdays on vinyl and it came with a cd copy too. I was delighted. I like listening to vinyl at home and cd in the car. Vinyl is far too expensive, could be justified if a cd copy came with it
I didn't know the world still sold CDs
I wonder if sarah is a massive robbie fan and noel is either trolling her or playing mind games with her.
I love Trying To Find A World That's Been And Gone, but when are we getting Part 2? If you take out the instrumental parts, it only seems like half of a fantastic song
Yeah I immediately thought Pretty Boy was about Liam, but when you put it in the concept of a breakup/relationship it makes a lot more sense. I need to listen to the album a few more times though to get a proper feel for it
I saw noel play the other night in vivary park taunton and it was absolutely incredible. Hearing him play the songs from the new album you can definitely hear the longing to let go of something dark and return to the optimism of the past. It's definitely my favourite album since chasing yesterday lyrically.
Honestly think you should be more open to the idea of electronic music and other genres in general seems your music taste isn't all too diverse
Fun fact: Millennium by Robbie Williams runs 4:08
Open the door see what you find runs?.......
4:08 😂
8:31 I see your, “Bitter Sweet” and raise you, Bob Dylan’s, “Lay Lady Lay”!
Listen these brothers will never get back together again. They loathe each other
James I think There She Blows is actually a nod to Home Front Cameo by Cotton Mather. An album he championed in the 90s (which is fantastic btw) and which I recall he likened to being the closest thing to Revolver.
One of the best albums I've ever heard! Have you checked out the follow up? Just as good!
@@Trevo1 kontiki is an all time classic mate and one that I revisit frequently! The next one is also great.
What u think of stereophonics 1st album 💿 just wondering as it was my 1st album I saved up for.
Great work on the video. On think of a number in between lyrics or so there's a guitar riff or sound that is similar to Coldplay track talk off of x and y.
James. I love your videos. But i felt this was quite rushed... I mean you hit the message. Then boom, next, boom next.
Is it possible to get an extended video and go deeper into more than a few quotes from the song?
For example, when breaking down council skies i found a reference to the mighty I. Which leads me to explore this song deeper. I am sure with more time you'll also break all this down and find way more than me cheers :)
I'm not sure it's a lift or a sample, but there are tonnes of little vocal melodies that remind me of To Be Someone by The Jam. He did a cover of that in the past, and it kind of resonates lyrically with all these themes.
There's a hint of Let Me Entertain You in the chorus of There She Blows too
Actually that TOAN part also reminded me Bowie's China girl middle eight. Not sure the chords are the same, but pretty similar melody. Bowie influence to me is also in LIARM, with the brass section coming from Berlin trilogy somewhere...
Yes, TOAN is like China Girl's middle part and Ashes to Ashes mixed!
There is Oasis (Liam Gallagher he named the band) and Noel Gallagher's High FLYING BIRDS Noel can't put out a bad album but that The Smiths cover "There is a Light that never goes out" is so good he could have made this Whole album that song for an hour and I would buy it!!!!!
If you have to listen to a song 3 times to decide you like it.... That's pretty sad. IMO - (don't get angry) If Noel hadn't been in Oasis - and his first release in the charts was anything by THFBs.... he really wouldn't have sold many albums. Story??? A continuous narrative for the album - I really think you think far too much about his plans for an album. - I enjoy your channel - lots of research and enjoyable information -
James, I always enjoy your videos and your analysis of Noel’s work, however, I’ve felt lately that you’re seeing signs and meanings where almost definitely none exist. No way would Noel include a reference to a Robbie Williams song. Don’t forget that Williams loved Oasis early on and has nicked a couple of Noel’s ideas. That’s all there is to it IMO.
I know you included the caveat that your ideas are just for fun, but I still think you shouldn’t go down a fantasy rabbit hole with connections and meanings which in all likelihood just do not exist. You’re in danger of being the musical equivalent of a conspiracy theorist, and that’s a place where I suspect you’d rather not end up.
Another reference I thought of - Noel's said this album had a lot of David Bowie influence. Easy Now really reminds me of that because of 1. the guitar tone in the solo is quite similar to Heroes by Bowie, which Oasis/Noel themselves have covered and 2. the vocal line in the chorus, where Noel hits a high octave, is quite similar to Life on Mars (and also kinda self referential to vocals in the Importance of Being Idle and the Death of You and Me)
There's also Bowie's China Girl written all over Think Of A Number. The melody "i'll give you television, i'll give you eyes of blue" in China Girl.
And actually Ashes to Ashes also!
I bought Noel Gallagher’s Council Skies From HMV In Cardiff It’s Great Album. I love it. Return to Form. I love Who Built the Moon It was Different but I love his first Two Albums more.
Don’t get how these tracks fit with your theory, at least one of them was public back in 2020 with full produced vid of the M62 etc. Good album though, I really do enjoy your videos JH. Keep up the great work.
There she blows! to me has some references to Bag it up and it sounds Beatles-ish
Think of a number, still can't tell what the chorus sounds like but something from Oasis in the 90s
Edit
There it is. Think of a number chorus, a mixture of Fade away warchild version and going nowhere
Some very valid points there James, but I agree with Noel on the sound of the guitars on Morning Glory was substandard. Be Here Now it was verging on hard rock and showed real progression. Even though it was unfortunately overproduced.
Have a listen to homefront cameo by cotton mather for there she blows James 👍👍
34,99 for the vinyl, how much does the CD cost? 12 pounds?
I listened to it for the first time yesterday evening - Decent album - I noticed the Robbie Williams No Regrets steal and thought surely Noel wouldn’t knowingly steal from Robbie Williams?
There's only so many chords you can play in a certain order. It's not limitless. The Beatles had same chord sequences as classical music. It's just a sequence of notes. Not using fecking Robbie Williams melody's i can tell you.
I never really thought of that theory for Easy Now….interesting. But probably what intrigues me most is that deep down he’s jealous of Robbie (blobby) Williams 😂
Not sure I agree with "get there if you can " being written as part of this album , am sure it was written during the pandemic so in my opinion it doesn't fit in with the story of the album ....apart from that I agree with most of your post keep up the good work it's brilliant 😁😁😁😁
I have tickets to a Noel Q&A - We'll be emailing ticket holders to submit questions in advance for what's sure to be a fascinating evening. - Can anyone give me some good questions to ask.
Guy chamber's Band pre-Robbie was called the Lemon trees- the other 2 members?.. the Stacey brothers(!)