Review: Oasis in COPENHAGEN 10 Sep 1997
Andreas Svenning
Review of the Oasis gig in Copenhagen 10 September 1997
Written by Andreas Svenning
(hub...@uplift.sparta.lu.se) 11 September 1997
=======================================================
City: Copenhagen
Country: Denmark
Date: 10 September 1997, 9 pm - 10.50 pm
Arena: Forum
Attendance: 10,000 (sold out)
Support act: Ocean Colour Scene
Overall score: 4 out of 5
Best moment of concert: Last "speedy" part of "Champagne supernova"
I arrived at the Forum arena at 1800 hrs and according to the tickets,
the gates were to open 1900 hrs. A medium large crowd had allready
gathered outside the gates and people were now anxiously waiting for
the doors to open. Finally, at 1920 hrs the gates opened and the people
started to pour in. I had in fact not heard anything about the support
act and as the Swedish evening papers (I live in Sweden) reviewed the
Oslo and Stockholm gigs and didn't mention a word about the support
act, I doubted that there would be a support act at all. I was
pleasantly surprised by Ocean Colur Scene as they performed (I don't
know the titles as I've never even heard of this band before). They're
pretty good! Apparently the crowd liked and knew about the band, as
they knew the words and seemed to follow the songs quite well. I had by
then advanced towards the stage and was now about 10 metres from the
fence. Ocean Colour Scene left the stage and the arena was lit up once
again allowing the crew to work more efficiently when replacing the
stage settings. Lights went out and the *the band* came out from the
"phone booth". Some of the notable things Oasis brought for decorating
their stage was a large clock displaying the time going backwards and a
Rolls-Royce front just beneath the drum kit.
I'll just review some of the songs...the songs that I find particularly
notable in one or another way. I guess I'm a little biased here when
reviewing the Oasis gig. I've seen 3 U2 Popmart shows in Scandinavia
this summer and I loved the shows. Problem here is that I'm used to a
nice and very large show with lots of effects and technology (I mean
the screen that U2 uses isn't bad after all). One might argue that U2
uses technology too much and that the music is a secondary concern,
drowning the music with flashy pictures on the world's largest screen.
Well, Oasis didn't exactly put on a great *visual* show. The band did
what they usually do on stage...stood. I'm not saying this is bad,
just that I'd like a little more energy from the band and a little more
"show". Anyway, Liam strolled around the stage in his usual way and it
was quite a traditional Oasis show. IMHO, they choose the wrong songs
to open with. They should have opened the show with "Supersonic" and
"Some might say". Watching the crows going wild during those two
songs, they would be good openers. I understand Oasis want to play some
of their new songs for a start, but I think it would have been better
to start with a "oldie" like they did in Oakland as a support act for
U2 (they opened with "Acquiesce"). The biggest disappointment was that
the 2 best songs on "Be here now" (IMO) was left out - "My big mouth"
and "I hope, I think, I know". I really expected these two songs at the
gig. I've never been to a gig with such a loyal audience. The crowd
went absolutely *crazy* during the 3 first songs. "Be here now" was
very powerful and it was almost impossible to stay at the very front.
"Stand by me" was a real favourite and people sang along very
accurately. During "Supersonic" and "Some might say", it was all about
staying alive where I was standing. I was a bit disappointed with the
versions of "Supersonic" and "Some might say". IMO, if a band has
played those songs so many times before on a previous tour (and the
songs are among the most famous that Oasis ever done) they've got to
change them a bit. The extremely powerful instrumental part at the end
of "Supersonic" is probably my very favourite, but I had hoped they
would do something even stronger (and innovative) at the end of
"Supersonic" and "Some might say". These 2 songs sounded exactly like
they did the last tour (but they are extremely good!!!). "Roll with it"
sounded like before and revealed little innovation. It's a very
powerful song and the crowd went absolutely mad! The first single from
"Be here now" was quite boring. I'd expected a more powerful version
with a lot more effects. The entire stage was filled with images of
helicopter propellers projected by several spotlights and a deep red
light filled the stage. It was a standard version of "D'you know what I
mean?". "Magic pie" sung by Noel himself sounded much like the version
on the album. "Don't look back in anger" was also performed by Noel
himeself, sounded like it did the last tour with nothing particular
fanzy about it. "Wonderwall" was a peak of the concert for most people
in the crowd, and the crowd sang along loudly (who'd expected anything
else?). "Live forever" was dedicated to Lady Diana and was extremely
powerful at the end when Liam screams on top of his lungs "We're gonna
live forever". Not very different from what we've heard before, but
powerful as allways! "It's getting better (man)" was a pleasant
surprise, very nice version, much more powerful than the album version.
Just before "Champagne supernova", Liam said "Why not go to Christiania
and get some fucking dopes..." (Christiania is a drug-liberal part of
Copenhagen, where drugs are readily available). IMHO, the best song
that night was actually "Champagne supernova". The guitarist from
"Ocean Colour Scene" entered the stage to play during "Champagne
supernova". It sounded mostly like the previous live versions we've
heard before, *but* the band adds a very nice "speedy" part at the end
where the drums and the tempo is increased very nicely. This is a good
and nice improvment of the song and I just loved it. Probably the best
thing that happened that night! After "Champagne supernova" the band
leaves the stage. They come back to play "Fade in-out". I like the live
version of "Fade in-out" because it does not contain the "blues part"
that's on the album. "Fade in-out" is a mega powerful song, blowing
your head off! I'm having a hard time diggin' "All around the world".
I do not like the song on the album and I didn't like it live. I'm sure
it was a good performace, and if you like this song, I'm sure you'll
like it with an extended "It's gonna be allright" Liam howling at the
end. Finally, one of the best Oasis songs IMHO - "Acquiesce". It is s
very good version, much like the previous live versions we heard the
last tour. I'm not sure this is the optimal last song (being
objective). I like when they finish off with a real rock-and-roll song,
but I'm not sure everyone shares my opinion. I think most people would
like a sweet version of "Wonderwall" or "Masterplan".
Overall, it truly was a nice and good gig. I was very disappointed
about the band not performing "My big mouth" and "I hope, I think, I
know". Also, they really could have shaped up the versions of
"Supersonic" and "Some might say". From where I was standing, the sound
was awful. They had too loud volume for such a small arena. Had it been
an outdoor arena, the sound would probably be a lot better, but this
was too loud! It is not fair, not even possible to compare Oasis with
for instance U2, but I'll do it anyway ;-) Oasis is a rough and very
poweful band playing loud and explosive rock-and-roll, but IMHO, Oasis
still has a long way before even competing with U2. I just can't
imagine any band in the world creating that special feeling and
atmospehere that U2 does when playing for example "Bad", "Love is
blindness", "Where the streets have no name" and "Bullet the blue sky".
I love both Oasis and U2, and after seeing the wonderful Oasis gig in
Copenhagen I can without a doubt say that U2 ranks above Oasis on my
"favourite band list", allthough Oasis is very close to ranking "as
good as U2", they just don't make it to the top :-(
Here is the setlist for Copenhagen 10 September 1997...
- Be here now
- Stay young
- Stand by me
- Supersonic
- Some might say
- Roll with it
- D描ou know what I mean?
- Magic pie
- Don愒 look back in anger
- Wonderwll
- Live forever (dedicated to Lady Di, PoW)
- It愀 getting better (man)
- Champagne supernova
- Fade in-out
- All around the world
- Acquiesce
Finally, please understand I'm not saying Oasis is crap...I'm saying
the very opposite! Do not send me mails with flames and comments
telling me that U2 have their flaws and downs. I'm an Oasis fan, but
even more a U2 fan, and that's the way it is! *But* it was an awesome
gig last night! You guys who haven't seen Oasis yet, do *not* miss this
chance...you'll regret it for the rest of your lives!
Andreas Svenning
Brian Cummings
Hey, although I don't think U2 is very good... I did enjoy reading your
review... I've never seen U2 live ($40 for that band!) so maybe they are
better live (I can't imagine that but stranger things have happened)...
Andreas Svenning <hub...@uplift.sparta.lu.se> wrote in article
<5v8la7$loe$1...@news.lth.se>...
Weezer
This page does not contain sounds or pictures of the band which you can
find everywhere else. This Oasis music page contains updated
news,reviews,gossip, and info on Merchandise of the band. Check it out, I
promise you won't be dissapointed.
I live in the states and love OASIS. My news comes from great sources,
which I know, from people who live in the UK.
Good stuff, nothing Illeagal~~
UPDATED EVERYDAY!!!!!!
Andreas Svenning <hub...@uplift.sparta.lu.se> wrote in article
<5v8la7$loe$1...@news.lth.se>...
>