Acquiesce
Encyclopedia
"Acquiesce" is a song by the English rock
band Oasis
, written by Noel Gallagher
. The song originally appeared as a B-side
to Oasis' first UK #1 single, "Some Might Say
", in April 1995. Its popularity led to it being included on the B-sides compilation album
The Masterplan
, released in 1998, after being voted for inclusion by fans of the band on their official website.
In 1998, the song was issued as a radio single in the United States
to promote the release of The Masterplan
. It reached #24 in the US Modern Rock Chart, based on radio airplay. A promotional video for the song was also produced, with images of a live performance at the G-Mex Centre in Manchester
, on 14 December 1997. The vocals on this footage were overdubbed from another performance.
"Acquiesce" was also released as one of the lead tracks to the Stop the Clocks EP
, in promotion of their compilation album
, Stop the Clocks
. A new promotional video was filmed at the Electric Ballroom
in Camden
, London
, on 12 September 2006, but did not feature the band. Instead, a Japan
ese look-alike/tribute band played the roles of Oasis. More footage is also understood to have been filmed in Japan
, mirroring the idea featured in R.E.M.
's 1995 video for "Crush with Eyeliner
."
The verses to "Acquiesce" are sung by Liam Gallagher
, with the chorus sung by Noel (because, he claims, Liam could not reach the high notes), making it the first song to ever feature both Gallagher brothers on lead vocals. The only other Oasis song to feature both brothers on lead vocals is "Let There Be Love", from their 2005 album Don't Believe the Truth
.
. The train was delayed, and during this interruption, he wrote parts of the song. According to The Masterplans sleeve notes
(written by music writer and critic Paul Du Noyer
), "The song is about friendship in the widest sense and not, as often speculated, about the Gallagher brothers themselves."
"Acquiesce" has become a fans' favourite and is regularly played live. Many Oasis fans feel this song should have been held back to go on the (What's the Story) Morning Glory?
album, with others also feeling the song was strong enough to have been released as a single. This was an opinion that Alan McGee
had when he first heard the song; he tried to convince Noel to release "Acquiesce" as a single instead of "Some Might Say". Noel rejected this idea because he was adamant that the work on the single was completed, and was unwilling to have to write another B-side and record it. However, Noel has since said that this and a couple of other songs such as "The Masterplan
" were strong enough to have been album tracks and singles.
The song features clips of an acoustic version of another Oasis song, "Morning Glory". This is heard at the beginning and at the end of the song. Also, over the distortion and guitars of the intro, a conversation between Liam and an anonymous voice (which is believed to be of co-producer Owen Morris
) can be heard, played in reverse. Played correctly, the conversation goes:
The song is featured in the episode "The Day Before
" (season 1, episode 12) of the television show Jericho
, in the movie Goal!
, and has been covered by bands such as Good Charlotte
and Third Eye Blind
.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
, written by Noel Gallagher
Noel Gallagher
Noel Thomas David Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, formerly the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and principal songwriter of the English rock band Oasis. He is currently fronting his solo project, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.Raised in Burnage, Manchester with his...
. The song originally appeared as a B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
to Oasis' first UK #1 single, "Some Might Say
Some Might Say
"Some Might Say" is a song by the English rock band Oasis. The song was written by the band's lead guitarist Noel Gallagher. It was the first single later included in their second album Morning Glory? in 1995, and provided the band with their first number one in the UK Singles Chart .The single...
", in April 1995. Its popularity led to it being included on the B-sides compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
The Masterplan
The Masterplan
The Masterplan is a compilation album by English rock band Oasis, comprising B-sides which never made it onto an album. The album was originally intended for release only in areas such as the United States and Japan, where the tracks were only available on expensive European import singles. It was...
, released in 1998, after being voted for inclusion by fans of the band on their official website.
In 1998, the song was issued as a radio single in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to promote the release of The Masterplan
The Masterplan
The Masterplan is a compilation album by English rock band Oasis, comprising B-sides which never made it onto an album. The album was originally intended for release only in areas such as the United States and Japan, where the tracks were only available on expensive European import singles. It was...
. It reached #24 in the US Modern Rock Chart, based on radio airplay. A promotional video for the song was also produced, with images of a live performance at the G-Mex Centre in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, on 14 December 1997. The vocals on this footage were overdubbed from another performance.
"Acquiesce" was also released as one of the lead tracks to the Stop the Clocks EP
Stop the Clocks (EP)
Stop the Clocks is an EP by English rock band Oasis. The EP is a "preview" of the band's compilation collection, also called Stop the Clocks. The EP is led by "Acquiesce", and book-ended by "The Masterplan", one of the B-sides to the "Wonderwall" single released in October 1995...
, in promotion of their compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, Stop the Clocks
Stop the Clocks
Stop the Clocks is a compilation album by English rock band Oasis, released on 20 November 2006. The "retrospective collection" is an 18-track double album with the featured songs chosen by Noel Gallagher; however, it does not actually include their song "Stop the Clocks" after which the album is...
. A new promotional video was filmed at the Electric Ballroom
Electric Ballroom
The Electric Ballroom is a performance venue and indoor market located at 184 Camden High Street in Camden Town, London . The Electric Ballroom has been in operation for over seventy years, during which time it has been used in many different ways.The two storey building has two dance floors and...
in Camden
Camden Town
-Economy:In recent years, entertainment-related businesses and a Holiday Inn have moved into the area. A number of retail and food chain outlets have replaced independent shops driven out by high rents and redevelopment. Restaurants have thrived, with the variety of culinary traditions found in...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, on 12 September 2006, but did not feature the band. Instead, a Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese look-alike/tribute band played the roles of Oasis. More footage is also understood to have been filmed in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, mirroring the idea featured in R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
's 1995 video for "Crush with Eyeliner
Crush with Eyeliner
"Crush with Eyeliner" is a song by R.E.M., released as the third single from their ninth studio album Monster. Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore provides background vocals....
."
The verses to "Acquiesce" are sung by Liam Gallagher
Liam Gallagher
William John Paul "Liam" Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, the former frontman of the English rock band Oasis and currently of the band Beady Eye. Gallagher's erratic behaviour, distinctive singing style, and abrasive attitude have been the subject of commentary in the press...
, with the chorus sung by Noel (because, he claims, Liam could not reach the high notes), making it the first song to ever feature both Gallagher brothers on lead vocals. The only other Oasis song to feature both brothers on lead vocals is "Let There Be Love", from their 2005 album Don't Believe the Truth
Don't Believe the Truth
Don't Believe the Truth is the sixth studio album by English rock band Oasis, released on 30 May 2005. It reached number 1 in the UK Albums Chart with first week sales of just under 238,000, and is the 32nd fastest selling album ever in the UK. The album entered the U.S...
.
History
Noel Gallagher claims to have written the lyrics to "Acquiesce" on the way to the studio for the recording sessions of Definitely MaybeDefinitely Maybe
Definitely Maybe is the debut album by English rock band Oasis, released in August 1994. It was an immediate commercial and critical success in the UK, having followed on the heels of singles "Supersonic", "Shakermaker" and "Live Forever"....
. The train was delayed, and during this interruption, he wrote parts of the song. According to The Masterplans sleeve notes
Liner notes
Liner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes.-Origin:...
(written by music writer and critic Paul Du Noyer
Paul Du Noyer
Paul Du Noyer is a British rock journalist and author. He was born in Liverpool and educated at the London School of Economics. He has written and edited for NME, Q, and Mojo...
), "The song is about friendship in the widest sense and not, as often speculated, about the Gallagher brothers themselves."
"Acquiesce" has become a fans' favourite and is regularly played live. Many Oasis fans feel this song should have been held back to go on the (What's the Story) Morning Glory?
(What's the Story) Morning Glory?
Morning Glory? is the second studio album by the English rock band Oasis. It was released on 2 October 1995 through Creation Records. The album was Oasis' most enduring commercial success, charting at number one in the UK and number four in the U.S...
album, with others also feeling the song was strong enough to have been released as a single. This was an opinion that Alan McGee
Alan McGee
Alan McGee has been a record label owner, musician, manager, and music blogger for The Guardian.McGee is best-known for co-forming and running the independent Creation Records label from 1983–1999, and then Poptones from 1999-2007...
had when he first heard the song; he tried to convince Noel to release "Acquiesce" as a single instead of "Some Might Say". Noel rejected this idea because he was adamant that the work on the single was completed, and was unwilling to have to write another B-side and record it. However, Noel has since said that this and a couple of other songs such as "The Masterplan
The Masterplan (song)
"The Masterplan" is a song by English rock band Oasis. It was written by lead guitarist, Noel Gallagher.The song was first released as a B-side to the CD version of their hit single "Wonderwall" in October 1995. "The Masterplan" was also released with the Stop the Clocks EP in November 2006...
" were strong enough to have been album tracks and singles.
The song features clips of an acoustic version of another Oasis song, "Morning Glory". This is heard at the beginning and at the end of the song. Also, over the distortion and guitars of the intro, a conversation between Liam and an anonymous voice (which is believed to be of co-producer Owen Morris
Owen Morris
Owen Morris is a music producer who has worked with rock bands such as Oasis, The Fratellis, The View and The Verve.He started working in the music industry as a sound engineer at Spaceward Studio in Cambridge when he was 16. He continued as an engineer until 1994 when he started producing some...
) can be heard, played in reverse. Played correctly, the conversation goes:
Owen: Where's Noel?
Liam: Gone for a walk
Unknown voice: Sacked him
Owen:
Liam: I've sacked him
The song is featured in the episode "The Day Before
The Day Before
"The Day Before" is the twelfth episode of season one of the CBS drama Jericho.- Synopsis :A flashback through the 36 hours before the bombs exploded sheds light on the actions of Jake and Hawkins, and reveals Hawkins' complicity in the events....
" (season 1, episode 12) of the television show Jericho
Jericho (TV series)
Jericho is an American action/drama series that centers on the residents of the fictional town of Jericho, Kansas, in the aftermath of nuclear attacks on 23 major cities in the contiguous United States...
, in the movie Goal!
Goal! (film)
Goal! is a 2005 film directed by Danny Cannon. It is the first installment of a trilogy also named Goal!. This film was made with full cooperation from FIFA, which is one of the reasons actual teams and players are used throughout the film...
, and has been covered by bands such as Good Charlotte
Good Charlotte
Good Charlotte is an American rock band from Waldorf, Maryland that formed in 1996. Since 1998, the band's constant members have been lead vocalist Joel Madden, lead guitarist and back-up vocalist Benji Madden, bass guitarist Paul Thomas and rhythm guitarist and keyboardist Billy Martin...
and Third Eye Blind
Third Eye Blind
Third Eye Blind is an American alternative rock band formed in the early 1990s in San Francisco. The songwriting duo of Kevin Cadogan and Stephan Jenkins signed the band's first major label recording contract with Elektra records in 1996 resulting in two multi platinum albums. The band's lineup...
.
Track listing
- CD (Promo)ESK 41522
United States
- "Acquiesce" (Edit) - 4:27
- CD (Promo)ESK 41571 United States
- "Acquiesce" (Live) - 5:25
- "Interview with Noel Gallagher" - 27:30
- "Acquiesce" (Video) (CD-ROM Extra)
Track 1: Recorded live at G-Mex, Manchester, UK on 12 December 1997.
Track 2: Hosted by Jonathan L. of The Album Network and Virtually Alternative.
This CD is not for sale and is only available with the purchase of the Epic album The Masterplan.
- CD (Promo)SAMPCM 6031
Europe
- "Acquiesce" - 4:24
- "Talk Tonight" - 4:21
- "Rockin' Chair" - 4:35
- "The Masterplan" - 5:22