Contents

1. Foreword..............................................................................................................2
2. The Fab Four.....................................................................................................3
3. A miracle in the desert-Oasis...............................................................................6
4. Great Expectations..............................................................................................9
5. Conclusion.........................................................................................................11
6. Bibliography..........................................................................................12

1. Foreword
Music is the most important part of my life and this is the main reason I chose to
write about this topic.
Since my early years of life I have had a close relationship with music in all forms
and genres. Due to the fact that English is my favourite foreign language, I was able to
understand the music from abroad. Hence, I was able to filter the commercial music and
to select only those genres which I consider to be meaningful.
I have always admired Great Britain when it comes to fashion and of course
music. British music guided many artists in finding their inspiration so I believe that it is
a very important part of the UKs culture.
In my project I am going to focus on three British bands which for me represent
perfection, inspiration and soul all put together in a song. Secondly, I chose this bands
because I find them representative for British music.
My relationship with these three bands began back in my early years of school
when as a young teen I started being passionate about alternative music. The Beatles,
Oasis and Porcupine Tree are the most well-known three figures in the British alternative
genre.
The Beatles were introduced to me by my cousin who used to listen all day long
to their songs. At first, I was bored and I loathed their music because I was not able to
understand what they were saying. Later on, as the years went by and I grew up, I
stumbled across one of their songs and it was love at second hearing.
Oasis got under my skin quite recently thanks to a very close friend of mine who
used to show and play their songs to me. Very fast I started remembering their lyrics and
shortly after they went on my music player where they still can be found.
Porcupine Tree fever began about five years ago. At first I thought it was just
another fling but in two weeks all their songs were saved in my computer. I could say that
they are like a drug and I cannot and I do not want to be cured.
The last reason for UK music being my topic is the fact that I cannot imagine
myself living in a world without British bands.

2.The Fab Four

I want to start my project with The Beatles because I consider them a truly
important band. Also I believe that they should be the first to be mentioned because they
come straight away in my mind when I am thinking about the UK music.
The Beatles are the only band to be recognized as the band that encompassed the
Sixties, beginning in 1960 and ending in 1970. They represent the changes that occurred
in that decade, they being a catalyst for those changes.
Throughout their reign big names as Jimi Hendrix, Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd
went in and out of the spotlight. So we can define The Beatles both as precursors and
survivors.
They represented the first British Group that stood out and focused all ears on the
British music scene and this is why they are the trace-setters for the modern music.
The four Beatles, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George
Harrison, poured their souls out in each song, being the first band in a long time that
really enjoyed everything they did and the audience noticed that from the first chord.
They were not concerned about the money, they just wanted to play good music, their
music and to make their voices heard in the UK at first and afterwards all around the
Globe. But their work turned out to be successful and they easily got rich . Nevertheless,
the four members kept their sensible attitude and they showed that to each crowd
gathered in a place to listen to their songs. Each live performance was equally important
for them no matter if they played in a pub or in front of a full stadium.
When taking a closer look I can easily notice that I cannot remember a band that
has worked as much as The Beatles did (for example: 800 hours on stage in Hamburg,275
performances at the Cavern).In addition to that, they were giving more interviews than an
artist would give in a whole year. Also, they recorded two movies. They were just like
super-humans managing to work everything out.
The Fab Four, as they were nicknamed, went through some changes. At first,
they would wear shirts, ties and fringes so I can say that they had a classy, yet preppy
clothing style. Afterwards, you could have seen them wearing more relaxed clothes,
having longer and sloppier hair. They were less concerned about their appearance than
about their inner part. Though they did not shock because this were the Sixties when the
Hippie style was blooming. I can state that they adapted to the ages they were living in.
Their music could not be enframed in a specific genre. Their songs ranged from
pop ballads to psychedelic rock. No other band could match them. They recorded 184
original songs but their success is due to the fact that they kept on reinventing from an
album to another. Nowadays, it takes up to three years or more between albums being
released, but The Fab Four released 12 albums, including one double, between 1963
and 1970, leaving aside 30 non-album tracks. Each member brought their contribution by
composing their own songs. They were very dedicated to their work.
The Beatles were the first band that introduced the concept of stadium concert
after filling Shea Stadium to its 55000 capacity. This was unexpected because no other
artist gathered so many people for a concert . Soon after that they managed to fill 77000
spaces in Philadelphia. They went on numerous tours and during this period they had
some encounters with illegal substances. The Beatles politics concerning drugs was wellknown since this is how they usually got their inspiration in writing songs. So the drugs

did not affect their work. I think that without drugs they would not have been so
successful and since they did not harm anyone they can be forgiven for consuming them.
They supported marijuana legalisation by paying and signing the pot ad. Besides having
problems with the authorities, the drugs accentuated their physic weakness in the end and
the four members looked exhausted. The police knew that they consumed drugs so they
raided their flats. Lennon was charged for possession and for obstructing police in the
execution of a search warren. Lennon pleads guilty and he is fined 150 plus 20 guineas
costs. In an interview he explained everything by saying :We took heroin because we
were artists. This turned out to be a rough period for The Beatles, especially for John
since Yoko Ono, who was carrying their baby, suffered a miscarriage. Both Lennon and
Ono were deeply marked by their loss but they chose to put their grief in their songs. A
disturbing fact about this sad event is that John recorded the babys fading heartbeats and
released them on the Life With The Lions album.
Taking everything into account they did a great job but I should mention that they
were helped by several people. I refer to Yoko Ono, Brian Epstein and the Maharishi
Mahesh Yogi.
Yoko Ono was a major part of John Lennons life. Besides having Johns babies,
she influenced his work by helping him when composing. She was his business partner at
first, later on his lover and afterwards she became his wife and his childs mother. Though
Yoko was everything John could have ever wanted in a woman, she was seen as a threat
by the other Beatles. The couple was inseparable and this was not seen with good eyes.
The other Beatles girlfriends and wives were never seen in the studio, but Yoko was
always there expressing her thoughts.
Brian Epstein was the bands manager, so he had a great part in their success.
Though his personal life was a mess he promised them to use his influence in order to
secure them a UK recording contract. He helped them throughout their career.
When Brian Epstein passed away, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi helped them getting
over it. They were already involved in meditation. This was a sobriety period for them
which turned out to be very positive because they managed to write many songs. Most of
these songs appear on the double white album and Abbey Road.
What brings us closer to them is their heritage: their songs. I want to present some
of my personal favourites and some of their greatest hits.
The first song I want to mention is Yesterday. Paul McCartney said in an
interview: I really reckon Yesterday is probably my best song. I like it not only because
it was a big success, but because it was one of the most instinctive songs Ive ever
written. I was so proud of it. I felt it was an original tune the most complete thing Ive
ever written. Its very catchy without being sickly. The story behind this song reveals us
that McCartney woke up one day with this song in his head. The other members thought
at first that Paul had stolen this song but they could not find any source. Being released in
1965, Yesterday evoked some controversy due to the fact that Paul had recorded it
without any help from the rest of the group, but he was not thinking about a solo career,
at least not then.
Another song worth mentioning is the popular Yellow Submarine. This was
intended to be a simple childrens song but it received the full-scale studio treatment. I
consider this song the most important song on the Revolver LP. Yellow Submarine,
besides being itself an injection of optimism, brought another success to The Beatles. It

inspired the cartoon movie which solved the enduring problem of the third movie that the
band had owed United Artists since the summer of 1965.
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds is a John Lennons composition. It caused a
stir at the time because when people started to notice the initials of the songs title(LSD)
they wondered if Lennon was describing an acid trip. He denied everything about this
rumor and he declared that the song was inspired by a drawing made by his son, Julian, at
the nursery school.
Probably the most well-known Beatles song is All you need is love. This
represents for me and for all the Beatles fans one of the anthems of the Sixties. It
portraits the Hippie image and a Universe made out of positive feelings where summer
lasts forever. I like to listen to it after having a bad day because it is like a warm hug for
my ear canals.
I Am The Walrus generated once again many rumors about its hidden message.
John Lennon said : I was the Walrus, whatever that means. The Walrus was a big
capitalist that ate all the oysters, if you must know. I always had this image of the Walrus
in the garden and I loved it, so I didnt checked out what the Walrus was[...] Everybody
presumes that means something, that just because I said I am the Walrus, it must mean I
am God or something, but its just poetry. Later on, he revealed that it was a deliberate
effort to mystify his critics and followers alike by gathering unrelated images without a
shred of continuity.
I could say that there is no person in the world that has not heard by now about
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da. This was according to the four Beatles just a mock-reggae tune
but they spent a lot of time to record it. It was a big hit and I consider it to be one of their
best songs.
The final single, Let It Be written by Paul McCartney was originally taped in
front of the cameras in January 1969. The song was overdubbed with a lead guitar solo in
April. This song was perceived as an open peace message from Paul to the other Beatles.
Although the fans could have seen it coming, in 1970 The Beatles separated. The
first who decided to leave was Paul McCartney. In an interview for Peter Brown he puts
his separation on the account of :personal differences, business differences, but most of
all because I have better time with my family. The final press release for The Beatles,
written by Derek Taylor, informs the fans that Ringo and John and George and Paul are
alive and well and full of hope[...] the Beat goes on, the Beat goes on.
What I consider to be a major hit for The Beatles fans, besides their
disintegration, is John Lennons death. In 1980, the former leader of The Beatles was shot
by Mark Chapman. He declared: The voice said, Do it! Do it! Do it! I aimed at his
back. I pulled the trigger five times [...] Then the gun was empty and John Lennon had
disappeared. But this is not true because Johns memory remains vivid in our hearts and
his art will be forever lasting.
Coming back to our days, I believe that The Beatles had a major part in the
transformations that occurred in the Sixties. They changed not only the way in which
music is perceived but also the peoples mentality. The Fab Four opened the gates for
many modern artists, they themselves being a source of inspiration.

3. A miracle in the desert-Oasis

The greatest band that used Beatles work for their inspiration is Oasis. This is
the reason for me considering them one of the most representative British bands. I
perceive them as a modern reinterpretation of The Beatles.
At first, the band was called The Rain and the members were Paul McGuigan,
Paul Bonehead Arthurs, Tony McCaroll and Chris Hutton. The band was not satisfied
by Huttons work so Liam Gallagher was auditioned for his place. Liam was the one that
came up with the second and final name: Oasis. This name came from an Inspiral Carpets
tour poster that was hung in the Gallaghers bedroom. Liams older brother, Noel, was a
roadie for Inspiral Carpets. He went in 1991 to see his brother in his first gig at the
Boardwalk club in Manchester. He did not think much of their performance but he soon
got the idea of using Oasis as an outlet for the songs he had been writing for several
years. Arthurs recalled: He had loads of stuff written. When he walked in, we were a
band making a racket with four tunes. All of a sudden, there were loads of ideas. Noel
wanted to be Oasis sole songwriter and leader.
They were spotted by Alan McGee, co-owner of Creation Records. Though, this
was not just a coincidence. They were invited to play in Glasgow. After struggles to find
money, they managed to hire a van and they got to Glasgow. There, they had an
unpleasant surprise when at the entrance they were told that they did not appear on that
nights set list. So they literally bullied their way in. They were given the opening slot in
the end. McGee, who was there to see one of his own band, was impressed by Oasis and
he signed the band to Creation four days later. However, the band ended up signing a
worldwide contract with Sony.
Oasis were said to be obsessed by The Beatles. The resemblance was obvious and
Noel often admitted that John Lennon was his idol. Nevertheless, the band usually
responded that they got their inspiration from many other bands such as: The Bee Gees,
The Who, Nirvana, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, Inspiral Carpets and many others.
From my point of view, Oasis represents one of the greatest bands from the
British music scene. Their music might not be very complex, but it reaches each corner of
my heart. I think that one could listen to their songs even if they had a great day or if they
are down in the mouth. Due to its simplicity it can cheer you up or it can sustain your
positive feelings. No matter if I am preparing for an exam or if I am in a train travelling
to some unknown place, I like listening to their songs. I consider them modern even
though they started playing in 1991. This is due to the fact that I can still hear them at
parties or watch them on TV and they still seem to be just out of the wrap. It is like their
songs do not get old.
They have a strong influence on me, as The Beatles and Porcupine Tree also do. I
could call them my soul music. I will never get tired of them and they will always be
among my favourites.
Why Oasis? Because they represent me. As them, I am not common, but I cannot
call myself unique. As their members, I am picky and everything I do is perfect or it is set
to fail. As well as them I am not liked by everyone and I have changing moods like their
changing approach from one song to another.

Nowadays, Oasis stand as an icon for the Nineties alternative music. They stood
out as an example for the fact that one did not have to play shallow music to be
successful.
Their songs were often in the UK charts and in all world charts as well. But there
were some songs that stood out and they remain engraved in my ears and in my brain.
One of these songs is Wonderwall. It was written by Noel Gallagher and it
appears on their second album, (Whats the Story) Morning Glory?. When asked, Noel
said it describes an imaginary friend whos gonna come and save you from yourself.
But at first, before divorcing Meg Matthews, he admitted that it was written for Meg who
was his girlfriend at that time. This is their most successful song and it took only half-day
to produce it. Recently, I have noticed that Wonderwall is enjoyed by each teen who is
or was in love, me myself being one of those teens. It was released in 1995 and since then
it has not stopped gaining more and more Wonderwall addicts.
It seems that Noels girlfriends were a source of inspiration for his songs. Slide
away was intended to describe the stormy relationship between Noel and Louise Jones.
He used to believe that they were soul mates and when they split up he admitted that he
would never get over it. He just took a guitar, sat down and as he said the song wrote
itself. Noel said in an interview that Slide away contains Liams best ever singing.
Paul McCartney should agree since this song is claimed to be one of his favourite songs.
Although this was one of their best songs it was rarely played in concerts.
Cigarettes & Alcohol was written after a major conflict between the Gallagher
brothers. According to Alan McGee, this song was one of the greatest social statements
anyone had made in the past 25 years. This was due to the fact that it made cigarettes,
alcohol and drugs seem a remedy for the banality of the working class. Though, the song
caused a stir because it was the second time when Oasis was accused of plagiarism.
Lyla is described by Noel as specifically designed for pogoing and
annoyingly catchy. Though Gallagher was not very pleased at first about it, when the
band played it for the first time he discovered that he loved the guitars, the drums and
the vocals. This song is remembered by the fans because at a show Liam was forced to
mime to the music. So he walked away from the microphone with his mouth closed when
he was supposedly singing and everyone knew what happened.
Songbird was the first song released by Liam. It is their shortest single (2:08).
Liam said about it: I like beautiful things...its not all dark in Liam World. I take my
shades off every now and again and have a look at the world and see some nice things. I
find this song filled with positive feelings, a song written for a laid-back sunny Sunday
afternoon.
Champagne Supernova is considered to be a fan-favourite and it is one of my
personal favourites. No one really knows what this song is about and Noel in an interview
said: thats probably as psychedelic as Ill ever get. He also explained that it means
different things when Im in different moods. So this song will remain a mystery not
only for all the fans but for its writer too.
Whatever represents Oasis life philosophy. To be more specific, this song is
about being yourself and being able to do what you choose to do. It is a very up-lifting
song that reminds me not to care about critics and it cheers meup whenever I am down in
the dumps.

Oasis does not exist anymore as a group because the conflicts between the
Gallagher Brothers became so strong that they split up. But Oasis is not dead, at least not
for me and for thousands of other fans who still listen to their songs. Their music will
continue to tell a story about what they meant for my generation to the generations to
come.

3. Great Expectations
Porcupine Tree is my favourite band from all the bands in the world. I like them
because they are special and one cannot enframe them in a category of bands. I can still
recall when I first listened to one of their songs. I saw on my Youtube account two
strange words: porcupine and tree. I typed them in the search box and hit search. In
two seconds there were hundreds of videos as a response and I decided to watch one:
Lazarus. From the first chords I was enthralled. It felt like it was designed to reach to
me and since then it is like I am under a Porcupine Tree spell.
Their fans should agree with me when I say that they are simply brilliant. Even
though I never saw them live I have watched videos from their concerts and they sound
even better live. When watching the audience it is like the all world stops listening to
their music and after the songs stop playing the silence is filled with harmony and
warmth. The jaws simply drop and the bodies are surrounded by the sequence of wellcoordinated chords and lyrics.
At first, Porcupine Tree was formed only out of two men: Steven Wilson and
Malcolm Stocks. This project was intended to be just a hoax and the two fabricated a
story which described their band as a rock legend of the 1970s. But as soon as Steven put
aside enough money he bought his own studio equipment. All the work was done by
Wilson, Stocks only provided some occasional ideas. Their project began to evolve and it
was not just a joke. At the time, Wilson was concentrating on his other project: No-Man.
By 1989, he started considering some of the Porcupine Tree material as potentially
marketable. By 1990, the band became a solo since Stocks left the band.
As the years went by, other members appeared and the band was not anymore just
Steven Wilson but Richard Barbieri, Colin Edwin, Gavin Harrison, John Wesley and
Chris Maitland.
Wilsons inspiration in songwriting dates back to his childhood when his parents
gave presents to each other. His father received Pink Floyds The Dark Side of the
Moon and his mother got Donna Summers Love to Love You Baby. Both were played
continuously and as a consequence they had a great influence on Stevens songwriting.
This was not his only source of inspiration, Wilson often admitted that experimental
metal had a considerable influence upon him.
Their music is often described as melancholic. Steven states music is a way for
him to channel all his negative feelings and that he finds it easier to write songs about
the negative side of the world than it is about the happy side of the world. He also said
in a live radio broadcast that the saddest music is often the most beautiful.
What differentiates Porcupine Tree is that you cannot find a song that resembles
another song. Each song has its own personality. They used some unusual instruments
such as mellotron, banjo, hammered dulcimer and guimbri and this made their music a bit
awkward yet so special.
A person that had a strong influence upon the bands work is Lasse Hoile. His
bizarre work seems to go hand in hand with Porcupine Trees music. He is the one that
directed their videos and he came out with all the album sleeves since 2002. Their
collaboration gave birth to many beautiful and unique works of art.
But what brings me closer to them is their music which will never seize to
impress and to move me.

What gave me the Porcupine Tree fever was their song called Lazarus. As I
mentioned before, I had the impression that it was written for me. I will always remember
that day as the day that brought a slice of heaven in my life in what concerns music. I can
say that what really got my attention is the fact that they did not use the same rhythm for
three minutes, but a fluctuation of chords and various sounds from different instruments
and this applies to all their songs.
Blackest Eyes is the second song that I have heard from them and I was not
disappointed. It has a catchy tune and the lyrics boost my moral each morning on my way
to school. Sometimes I like to associate myself to songs and this is one of those songs
since I have dark eyes.
When I am thinking about Anesthetize in my mind appears this: 17 minutes of
delight. From my point of view this is one their bests. Wilson did a spectacular job and
one cannot get bored while listening to this song. I could say that it goes up and down
and the sounds simply spark. Just when you think it is over a powerful tune hits you and
takes you right back to the beginning.
Way Out of Here is a melancholic, yet so beautiful song. I could say that I sort
of have a ritual whenever I am travelling because I cannot recall a journey without Way
Out of Here. It goes perfectly with a winding road and it reminds me that there are yet so
many places to be seen. Though this song is about a break up I choose to select its best
side and I try not to look back, but instead I look forward into the unknown.
I could say that Sentimental describes my worst fear: the fear of growing old.
Since I am 19 I find myself in the gap between childhood and adulthood. I am not afraid
of having wrinkles and saggy skin but I am afraid that I will end up alone. When I say
this I refer to my parents. It breaks my heart to know that some day they will not be there
anymore.
Trains is the song that I usually listen to cheer me up. It has a positive vibe and I
just cannot help myself smiling when listening to it. And as a fact I should mention that it
has been used in the high-rate movie Inception. However, I admit that this did not bring
its huge success but it went as a glove.
When it comes to the emotional side I have to remind Shes moved on.
Whenever a boy breaks my heart I like to listen to it and I could say that it reminds me
that the best is yet to come and I have the future ahead. Then I realise that it is his loss
anyway.
Nowadays, Steven Wilson focuses on his solo career. Though Porcupine Tree still
exists, the members have decided to take a break. By the time they get back in the studio
to compose again, I shall treasure each song they have given to the audience and I hope
that some day I will have the opportunity to see them in a live concert.

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4.Conclusion
In the end, what brings together my favourite three bands is their ambition to
achieve something and to make some changes in the modern society. Furthermore, I
could say that what brought them the fans love is their commitment. While The Beatles
and Oasis go along with my happy days, Porcupine Tree manages to be the perfect
soundtrack for my life. Their work gives me the perfect example for the fact that if one
works hard enough and dedicates himself to his work, one can fulfill his dreams and that
brings me to the conclusion that nothing is impossible.

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6. Bibliography

John Robertson, A journey through John Lennons life and times in

words and pictures by John Robertson, Omnibus,1995
Barry Miles, The Beatles Diary:Volume 1:The Beatles Years,Omnibus
Press, 2001
www.oasisnet.com
www.porcupinetree.com
www.pdrp.net/specials/porcupinetree.index.html
www.innerviews.org/inner/wilson.html
www.discordmagazine.com/steven-wilson-the-definitive-interview
www.thebeatles.com
www.beatlesstory.com

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