The original publication can be found here.
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| Spoiler: This article's mostly about Oasis. |
Holy unsubtle symbolism, Batman. Shame About The Video finally returns after a much too prolonged absence with an analysis of the music video for Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds debut song. Here's the Death of You and Me:
Let's start with the obvious. Noel Gallagher's "The Death of You and Me" sounds like a lesser Oasis song. However this is preferable to much of Beady Eyes output that sounds more like a pub band trying to replicate an Oasis song. All Beady Eye songs sound like they're missing something. And that thing now has his own band.
Here we have something that harkens back to the fondly remembered days of BritPop. It may not be Wonderwall or Aquiesce, but it's at least as good as - if not better than - Lyla, Stand By Me and what could be its companion piece - The Importance of Being Idle.
We could debate all day about which Gallagher brother is the most important* or whether they'll ever be able to recreate the musical success and influence separately that they managed together**, but instead let's focus on the video itself.
And on watching, it's very hard to see it as anything other than representative of the end of Oasis and the rise of the High Flying Birds. Again starting with the obvious, the video opens with a shot of the "last chance" diner with Noel Gallagher inside writing new songs (presumably). The last chance for Noel Gallagher to prove once and for all that he's a more talented rockstar than his brother? Or the last chance for his old band (if you note that we move away from the diner at the end of the video)? It could be either, it could be both.
Gallagher isn't the protagonist of this video however, that would be the waitress of the diner. We see her disgusted by her clientele and clearly desperate for a way out of her life there. Again, there are - I think - two interpretations of this.
One: she represents Noel Gallagher. Tired of the job, tired of the people there and tired of the life that comes with it, she needs to get out and start something new. As she stands by the swimming pool of the diner she is pushed by Gallagher. She falls backwards, arms outstretched in to the pool. Then she gets out. She is reborn and she runs out of the diner towards an oncoming band. The High Flying Birds.
Noel Gallagher is tired of his band and the people in it. He needs something new. He finally gives himself the push he needs to get out and, after a brief fall, is reborn and ready to pick up the High Flying Birds and start something brand new. Gallagher is Jesus.
Two: she represents the fans. A longtime devotee, she is forced to watch as what she once knew becomes ugly, old and beaten. As she stands by the swimming pool of the diner she is pushed away by Gallagher. She falls backwards, arms outstretched in to the pool. But as the High Flying Birds come over the horizon she gets out, baptised, ready to join this new group.
Fans become fed up of the fighting and arguing and the ugly break up of Oasis***. Noel Gallagher finally pushes them away by leaving the band. But then as he returns with the High Flying Birds these fans can now convert to this new band, baptise themself as High Flying Birds fans and follow this new group wherever they may go. Gallagher is God.
The video ends, some time after the song, with the words "To Be Continued". Whatever your interpretation of the video, it will be interesting to see what happens in the next chapter of this saga.
SATV Rating: 9.5/10
Gallagher isn't the protagonist of this video however, that would be the waitress of the diner. We see her disgusted by her clientele and clearly desperate for a way out of her life there. Again, there are - I think - two interpretations of this.
One: she represents Noel Gallagher. Tired of the job, tired of the people there and tired of the life that comes with it, she needs to get out and start something new. As she stands by the swimming pool of the diner she is pushed by Gallagher. She falls backwards, arms outstretched in to the pool. Then she gets out. She is reborn and she runs out of the diner towards an oncoming band. The High Flying Birds.
Noel Gallagher is tired of his band and the people in it. He needs something new. He finally gives himself the push he needs to get out and, after a brief fall, is reborn and ready to pick up the High Flying Birds and start something brand new. Gallagher is Jesus.
Two: she represents the fans. A longtime devotee, she is forced to watch as what she once knew becomes ugly, old and beaten. As she stands by the swimming pool of the diner she is pushed away by Gallagher. She falls backwards, arms outstretched in to the pool. But as the High Flying Birds come over the horizon she gets out, baptised, ready to join this new group.
Fans become fed up of the fighting and arguing and the ugly break up of Oasis***. Noel Gallagher finally pushes them away by leaving the band. But then as he returns with the High Flying Birds these fans can now convert to this new band, baptise themself as High Flying Birds fans and follow this new group wherever they may go. Gallagher is God.
The video ends, some time after the song, with the words "To Be Continued". Whatever your interpretation of the video, it will be interesting to see what happens in the next chapter of this saga.
SATV Rating: 9.5/10
*Noel
**Unlikely
***Of course you and I both know that not all Oasis fans felt disillusioned to begin with, nor will they all unquestionably start following the High Flying Birds. But remember that this interpretation is really about what the band (and the video director) want to happen and how they may think the fans feel.
***Of course you and I both know that not all Oasis fans felt disillusioned to begin with, nor will they all unquestionably start following the High Flying Birds. But remember that this interpretation is really about what the band (and the video director) want to happen and how they may think the fans feel.