Oasis’ top 9 best-selling songs

Oasis
Credit: Jill Furmanovsky

Anyone who resided in the United Kingdom or certain rock-pop-loving European nations during the 1990s, when rave culture merged with indie and Britpop, can attest that Oasis was an undeniable powerhouse. They dominated record and ticket sales, filled newspaper headlines, captured the public’s attention and Oasis tickets sold out for every show.

When the feuding Manchester brothers, Noel and Liam Gallagher, disbanded Oasis in 2009, they left behind a flawless chart legacy.

Every one of Oasis’ seven studio albums secured the top spot on the Official U.K. Albums Chart, from their 1994 debut “Definitely Maybe” to 2008’s “Dig Out Your Soul”. Following their split in 2010, the compilation “Time Flies – 1994-2009” also topped the charts, marking Oasis’ eighth No. 1 album.

On the Billboard 200 albums chart, Oasis has left a notable imprint with 11 entries, including three top-10 hits. Their best showing came in 1997, when “Be Here Now” peaked at No. 2.

On August 27, 2024, the iconic British rock band revealed the Oasis Live ’25 Reunion Tour on their official website, exciting fans after 15 years of solo ventures. As fans eagerly anticipate how Liam and Noel’s dynamic will unfold, there’s no mention of McGuigan, Bonehead, or Tony McCaroll joining the tour. Many still hope for a complete original lineup reunion.

The announcement of Oasis’ reunion has ignited excitement among their long-devoted fans in the United Kingdom, which is evident from the buzz on the midweek album chart.

Oasis’ Live ’25 tour is set to be a nostalgic experience for fans, bringing the Britpop band back after 15 years of back-and-forth tensions and silence. For the group, this tour is more than just a return to the stage—it’s a chance to redeem themselves in the eyes of fans after their bitter 2009 split. The band has vowed to deliver an unforgettable performance and reestablish their legacy as one of rock’s all-time greats.

With some of their record-breaking and highest-grossing tracks likely to be featured on the tour, Xsnoize highlights an overview of Oasis’ best-selling songs of all time.

 

1: “Roll With It”

Released in 1995, the song became part of one of the most iconic chart battles in British music history, competing against Blur’s “Country House” during the height of the Blur vs. Oasis rivalry. Despite the anticipation, Oasis had to settle for second place, as Blur comfortably won, selling nearly 50,000 more copies that week.

The rivalry went beyond the charts, with both bands openly disliking each other for years. However, the feud eventually ended, and Noel Gallagher later made peace with Blur’s frontman, Damon Albarn, whom he had once described as “condescending.” Though it didn’t win the top spot, “Roll With It” has still sold an impressive 520,000 copies.


2: “Whatever”

The song was a significant track for Oasis, marking their first entry into the UK Top 3. Interestingly, the single didn’t appear on any of the band’s studio albums but was released between “Definitely Maybe” and “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?” to maintain momentum. After its success, Oasis enjoyed a consistent run of top-charting singles, which remained unbroken until “Who Feels Love” in 2000.

Despite being a standalone release for years, “Whatever” was eventually included on the 2009 greatest hits compilation and made its digital debut. The single even re-entered the Top 75 that same week, with total sales reaching 553,000 copies.


3: “Champagne Supernova”

Released as the sixth and final single from the album in Australia and New Zealand in May 1996, it found immense success in the United States. The song became Oasis’s second No. 1 single on the Modern Rock Tracks chart and reached No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay, marking their third top 40 hit on that chart.

Noel Gallagher wrote this song and serves as the final track on Oasis’s iconic second album, “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?”.


4: “D’You Know What I Mean”

It was the lead single from the highly anticipated “Be Here Now”, Oasis’s third studio album. The track, an eight-minute epic, was accompanied by a blockbuster-style music video and showcased the band in peak confidence. The single sold over 370,000 copies in its first week and gave Oasis its first consecutive No. 1 hit. “D’You Know What I Mean” went on to become the fifth-best-selling single of 1997, with total sales reaching 745,000 copies.


5: “Don’t Look Back In Anger”

“Don’t Look Back In Anger” was Oasis’s second No. 1 single and marked the first time Noel Gallagher took the lead on vocals for a chart-topping hit. The song’s iconic chorus, particularly the line “So Sally can waaaaait,” came about by accident. Noel was strumming the melody, singing random words, when Liam questioned who Sally was, thinking Noel had already settled on the lyrics. Noel liked the suggestion and kept it. This choice paid off, as the track became the fourth best-selling single of 1996, with 948,000 copies sold.


6: “Wonderwall”

It was Noel Gallagher’s tribute to his then-girlfriend, became Oasis’s top-selling single, though it surprisingly never reached No. 1. Despite the personal nature of the song, Liam Gallagher insisted on being the lead vocalist, recognizing its potential as a massive anthem. Over time, the song’s ubiquity at concerts became overwhelming for the band. Nevertheless, “Wonderwall” remains one of the best-selling songs in history, with over 140,000 copies sold in its first week. By 2009, it had crossed the million mark, ultimately selling 1.34 million copies.


7: “Live Forever”

This masterpiece was the third single from “Definitely Maybe”, Oasis’s debut album. The album itself sold over 8 million copies, with “Live Forever” marking Oasis’s first UK top 10 hit. In the U.S., it reached No. 2 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart and No. 10 on the Mainstream Rock chart. The single went double platinum in the UK, selling 1.2 million copies.

This upbeat track features simple yet captivating lyrics that explore breaking free from mundane life and finding joy with close companions. It was one of Noel Gallagher’s earliest compositions, and it became pivotal in securing the band’s record deal with Creation Records. Critics praised it as something unique, setting Oasis apart from the average band.

“Live Forever” was a concert staple, played 570 times during Oasis’s career, making it their third most performed song. Post-Oasis, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds has played it 72 times, while Liam has performed it 139 times as a solo artist.


8: “Supersonic”

“Supersonic” was Oasis’ debut single, released on 11 April 1994, and later featured on their first studio album, “Definitely Maybe” (1994). It first appeared in Ireland on 5 April 1994, followed by the UK on 11 April via Creation Records, and then in the US on 11 September through Epic Records. The song quickly gained significant radio play, especially on independent stations in England and late-night shows on BBC Radio 1.

On the UK Singles Chart, “Supersonic” initially peaked at No. 31 and remained on the chart for 60 weeks, with much of its longevity coming after the success of Oasis’s second album, “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?” Despite this, “Supersonic” was the band’s lowest-peaking single until 2015, when “Half the World Away” entered the charts at No. 56.

The track debuted at No. 3 on the UK Independent Singles Chart, behind Erasure’s “Always” and Prince’s “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World.” It was later featured on the compilation “Indie Top 20: Vol. 20” in October 1994.

To commemorate the song’s 30th anniversary, “Supersonic” was reissued on 12 April 2024 as a CD and limited edition numbered, pearl-coloured 7-inch vinyl.


9: “Columbia”

Although the song was initially released as a promotional single in 1993 and did not chart in the United Kingdom, it was reissued as a CD in 2014 to mark the 20th anniversary of “Definitely Maybe”.

This reissue saw the song reach No. 111 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 78 in Scotland, topping the UK Physical Singles Chart, where it narrowly edged out “Acquiesce,” which was also reissued that week. The song has since been certified silver by the BPI.

During the “Definitely Maybe” tour, “Columbia” was a staple and also featured on the “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?”  tour, including Oasis’ notable shows at Knebworth Park.

It continued to be performed on subsequent tours, including the Standing on the Shoulder of Giants Tour, the Tour of Brotherly Love, the 10 Years of Noise and Confusion tour, and the Heathen Chemistry tour.

After Oasis’ disbandment, Liam Gallagher frequently included “Columbia” in his solo performances. Notably, during his 30th-anniversary album tour on 15th and 16th June 2024 at Co-op Live, he performed a version of the song with a 10-second rap, originally recorded at Sawmills Studio. This version was included in the 30th anniversary edition of “Definitely Maybe”, released as a single on 13th June 2024.

 

Xsnoize Author
Mark Millar is the founder of XS Noize and host of the XS Noize Podcast, where he interviews top music artists and emerging talent. Known for insightful, in-depth conversations, Mark brings a passionate, fan-first approach to music journalism. Favourite album: Achtung Baby by U2. Follow on X: @mark_xsnoize.

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