Don't Look Back in Anger: Difference between revisions

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"'''Don't Look Back in Anger'''" is a song by English [[Rock music|rock]] band [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]]. It was written by the band's lead guitarist and chief songwriter [[Noel Gallagher]], and produced by Gallagher and [[Owen Morris]]. Released on 19 February 1996 by [[Creation Records]] as the fifth single from their second studio album, ''[[(What's the Story) Morning Glory?]]'' (1995), it became Oasis's second single to reach number one on the [[UK Singles Chart]], eventually earning a six times-platinum sales [[Music recording certification|certification]] in the UK. It was the first Oasis single with lead vocals by Noel, who had previously only sung lead on B-sides, instead of his brother [[Liam Gallagher|Liam]]. Noel would later sing lead vocals on six other singles. The music video was directed by [[Nigel Dick]], featuring the band performing at a mansion where a large group of women appears.

It is one of the band's signature songs, and was played at almost every live show from its release to the dissolution of the band in 2009. In 2012, it was ranked number one on a list of the "50 Most Explosive Choruses" by ''[[NME]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/oasis-170-1278050|title='Don't Look Back in Anger' by Oasis tops NME's 50 Most Explosive Choruses list|date=28 February 2012|work=[[NME]]|access-date=5 November 2020|archive-date=20 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190820092954/https://www.nme.com/news/music/oasis-170-1278050|url-status=live}}</ref> and the same year it was voted the fourth-most-popular No. 1 single of the last 60 years in the UK by the public in conjunction with the [[Official Charts Company]]'s 60th anniversary.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/queen-63-1266677|title=Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' named as 'UK's Favourite Number One single' &#124; News|date=16 July 2012|work=[[NME]]|access-date=5 November 2020|archive-date=14 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514012031/https://www.nme.com/news/music/queen-63-1266677|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' readers voted it the second-greatest Britpop song after "[[Common People]]" by [[Pulp (band)|Pulp]].<ref name="auto">{{cite news|title=Readers' Poll: The 10 Best Brit-Pop Songs|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/readers-poll-the-10-best-britpop-songs-20150513/oasis-dont-look-back-in-anger-20150513|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=25 March 2018|access-date=19 September 2019|archive-date=26 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326064352/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/readers-poll-the-10-best-britpop-songs-20150513/oasis-dont-look-back-in-anger-20150513|url-status=live}}</ref> On 29 May 2017, [[Absolute Radio 90s]] broadcast a programme counting down the top 50 songs written by Noel Gallagher to mark his 50th birthday, with the song being voted No. 1. In August 2020, the song was voted as the greatest song of the 1990s by listeners of [[Absolute Radio 90s]] as part of celebrations for the station's tenth anniversary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://planetradio.co.uk/absolute-radio/music/news/greatest-songs-of-the-90s/|title=The 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s revealed|website=Absolute Radio|access-date=8 September 2020|archive-date=4 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204034406/https://planetradio.co.uk/absolute-radio/music/news/greatest-songs-of-the-90s/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2025, "Don't Look Back in Anger" became Oasis's second song to hit a billion streams on [[Spotify]], after "[[Wonderwall]]".<ref>Spotify Most Streamed Songs from the 90s https://kworb.net/spotify/songs_1990.html</ref>

==Background and writing==

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"Don't Look Back in Anger" was met with high critical praise and it became a commercial hit. [[Larry Flick]] from ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' said, "Noel Gallagher reveals a deft sense of timing and craft that turn his improprieties into masterful pop gems."<ref>[[Larry Flick|Flick, Larry]] (15 June 1996), "Singles: Pop". ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''. '''108''' (24):74</ref> [[David Stubbs]] from ''[[Melody Maker]]'' commented, "It's Oasis at their least incandescent, another outing for the chamber orchestra, supposedly elegiac but actually coming across as jaded and shagged. The chorus sounds like a [[Mott the Hoople]] reunion gig."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=David|last=Stubbs|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/53563867514/|title=Albums|magazine=[[Melody Maker]]|date=30 September 1995|page=33|access-date=13 March 2024|author-link=David Stubbs}}</ref> The Stud Brothers of ''Melody Maker'' stated, "From its '[[Imagine (John Lennon song)|Imagine]]' intro to its storming conclusion this is, as we all already know, a very good song indeed."<ref>{{cite magazine|author=The Stud Brothers|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/53631986306/|title=Singles|magazine=[[Melody Maker]]|date=10 February 1996|page=34|access-date=9 May 2024}}</ref> ''[[Music Week]]'' rated it five out of five and named it Single of the Week, writing, "Cheekily opening with [[John Lennon]]'s "Imagine" riff, another [[Beatles]]-inspired single which will turn on the fans on Brits day. The inclusion of the ill-advised [[Slade]] cover of "[[Cum On Feel the Noize]]" is a low point, however."<ref>{{cite magazine|title= Reviews: Singles – Single of the Week |magazine= [[Music Week]] |date= 10 February 1996 |page= 10 |access-date= 27 May 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1996/Music-Week-1996-02-10.pdf}}</ref> John Robinson from ''[[New Musical Express|NME]]'' remarked, "When That Noel Moment arrives with 'Don't Look Back in Anger', he instructs us not to ''put your life in the hands of a rock and roll band''."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=John|last=Robinson|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/53565940480/|title=Albums|magazine=[[New Musical Express|NME]]|date=30 September 1995|page=52|access-date=13 March 2024}}</ref> [[Andrew Harrison (journalist)|Andrew Harrison]] from ''[[Select (magazine)|Select]]'' praised it as "superior" and "sung beautiful by Noel." He felt the song "captures a wistful mood of confusion and loss, but you're never sure what it's all about."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Andrew|last=Harrison|url=https://selectmagazinescans.monkeon.co.uk/showpage.php?file=wp-content/uploads/2012/03/oasis1.jpg|title=New Albums|magazine=[[Select (magazine)|Select]]|date=November 1995|page=98|access-date=25 December 2024|author-link=Andrew Harrison (journalist)}}</ref> Also editors Helen Lamont and Leesa Daniels from ''[[Smash Hits]]'' gave the single five out of five in two separate reviews. Lamont named it "a new rock 'n' roll classic, imagine that."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Helen|last=Lamont|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/53142377926/in/album-72177720310744167/|title=Singles|magazine=[[Smash Hits]]|date=17 January 1996|page=52|access-date=1 December 2024}}</ref> Daniels wrote, "Noel's turn to have a go at the singing lark, and by God it's fantastic! A rip-roaring, fist-punching-the-air type of anthem."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Leesa|last=Daniels|url=https://sites.google.com/view/smash-hits-remembered-1994-5/home/1995/439-27th-september-10th-october-1995|title=Albums: Best New Album|work=[[Smash Hits]]|date=27 September 1995|page=57|access-date=14 February 2025}}</ref>

In December 1996, ''Melody Maker'' ranked "Don't Look Back in Anger" number 31 in their list of "Singles of the Year".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/53760986465/|title=Singles Of The Year|magazine=[[Melody Maker]]|date=21 December 1996|page=68|access-date=5 June 2024}}</ref> In a 2006 readers' poll conducted by [[Q (magazine)|''Q'']] magazine, it was voted the 20th-best song of all time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/qlistspage3.htm#100%20greatest%20songs|title=100 Greatest Songs Ever|work=Q|year=2006|access-date=23 September 2007|archive-date=13 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313132941/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/qlistspage3.htm#100%20greatest%20songs|url-status=usurped}}</ref> In May 2007, ''[[NME]]'' magazine placed "Don't Look Back in Anger" at No. 14 in its list of the "50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/nme-1474-1349079|title=50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever|work=[[NME]]|year=2007|access-date=5 November 2020|archive-date=11 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200911214655/https://www.nme.com/news/music/nme-1474-1349079|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2025, "Don't Look Back in Anger" became Oasis's second song to hit a billion streams on [[Spotify]], after "[[Wonderwall]]".<ref name="k864">{{cite web |last=Dalugdug |first=Mandy |date=2025-07-09 |title=Oasis streams surged 320% on Spotify globally after first reunion tour concerts in Cardiff |url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/oasis-streams-surged-320-on-spotify-globally-after-first-reunion-tour-concerts-in-cardiff/ |access-date=2025-08-09 |website=Music Business Worldwide}}</ref>

==Chart performance==