Lyla (song) explained

Lyla
Cover:Lyla (song) album cover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Oasis
Album:Don't Believe the Truth
B-Side:
  • "Eyeball Tickler"
  • "Won't Let You Down"
Studio:Wheeler End, England
Genre:Alternative rock, blues rock
Length:5:12
Label:Big Brother
Producer:Noel Gallagher, Dave Sardy
Prev Title:Songbird
Prev Year:2003
Next Title:The Importance of Being Idle
Next Year:2005

"Lyla" is a song by the English rock band Oasis. It was released in May 2005 as the first single from their sixth studio album, Don't Believe the Truth (2005). "Lyla" was the band's first single following the departure of their long-time drummer Alan White, and replaced by Ringo Starr's son and the Who drummer Zak Starkey as an additional drummer of the band.

The song was written by Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher, who has varyingly described the track as "specifically designed for pogoing", "annoyingly catchy", and the "poppiest thing since "Roll with It". Noting the varied influences of the song, Gallagher says that it's "a bit like... The Soundtrack of Our Lives doing The Who on Skol in a psychedelic city in the sky, or something".[1]

Composition

Gallagher says that the song existed in an early form as a song called "Sing" and dated from the Heathen Chemistry-era. He also says that the title for the final song should have been "Smiler", but was changed seeing as guitarist Gem Archer's previous band, Heavy Stereo, also had a song called "Smiler".[2] Noel has also joked with the fact that the Lyla in the song is actually the sister of the Sally mentioned in the Oasis single "Don't Look Back in Anger". Also, he had said that the song is a "love song", being about Sally's sister.[3]

Originally claiming that he was not very fond of the song, Noel has said that "Lyla" "isn't even the fifth best track on the album". The song had existed as a demo since the early recording sessions for the album but was all but forgotten until practically the last minute.[4] However, on the Lock the Box feature on the Stop the Clocks, Noel admitted that he "didn't realise how good it was until [we] played it live," while Liam stated that he loved the "guitars, the drums, and the vocals" of the song.

Release

"Lyla" was released in Japan on 11 May 2005 and in the United Kingdom and Australia five days later, on 16 May. It became the band's seventh UK number one when it reached top spot on the UK Singles Chart during its first week of release. The song also debuted at number 31 on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart, peaking at number 19. It also appeared on the US Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart at number eight. It was the first Oasis song to appear on any US singles chart since 2000, when "Go Let It Out" reached number 14 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. Sony's insistence that "Lyla" be released as the first single from the album helped to fuel the tension between the band and their record label, which led to Oasis not renewing their contract with the record label following the release of Don't Believe the Truth.

Music video

The video features a woman in a flat being harassed by two men, whom she eventually has leave. Shortly after, one of the garages outside her flat opens and she walks through into it and finds herself at a masquerade ball where Oasis are performing the song. The woman eventually leaves and returns to her flat, where she looks out her window and sees the words "Don't Believe The Truth" on the line of garages.

Live performances

When performing on the UK music chart show Top of the Pops, Liam, who was forced to mime to the music, made no secret of the fact, walking away from the microphone with his mouth closed mid-way through lines that he was supposedly 'singing'. It would be Liam's last performance on the programme before its demise in late 2006. However, Noel and the rest of the band would return in August 2005 to perform "The Importance of Being Idle" and later in 2009 to perform their last ever released single "Falling Down". Liam performed the song for the first time as a solo artist at Hackney Round Chapel (where the music video to "Lyla" was filmed) on 5 June 2019.[5]

Track listing

  1. "Lyla" – 5:12
  2. "Eyeball Tickler" – 2:47
  3. "Won't Let You Down" – 2:48
  1. "Lyla"
  2. "Eyeball Tickler"
  1. "Lyla"
  2. "Lyla" (demo)
  3. "Can You See It Now?" (documentary)

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2005)Peak
position
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[11] 4
Canada Rock Top 30 (Radio & Records)[12] 3
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[13] 3
Greece (IFPI)[14] 9
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[15] 3

Year-end charts

Chart (2005)Position
Italy (FIMI)[16] 36
UK Singles (OCC)[17] 31
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[18] 86

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United States11 April 2005Epic[19]
Japan11 May 2005CD[20]
Australia16 May 2005Helter Skelter[21]
United KingdomBig Brother[22]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: XFM . XFM . 2 April 2014.
  2. Web site: OASIS – 'Lyla' Number One in UK on 23 May 2005... . 23 May 2016 . JL . Turn Up The Volume! . 16 December 2018.
  3. Web site: Our favourite Oasis trivia. 14 January 2014. Virgin.
  4. http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/celebrity_interviews/37052004.htm
  5. Web site: Watch Liam Gallagher perform 'Columbia' and 'Lyla' solo for the first time. . 6 June 2019.
  6. Web site: Lyla – EP. Apple Music. 2 May 2021.
  7. Lyla. Oasis. 2005. UK CD single liner notes. Big Brother Recordings. RKIDSCD29.
  8. Lyla. Oasis. 2005. European & Australian CD single liner notes. Helter Skelter Records. HES 675920 2.
  9. Lyla. Oasis. 2005. UK 7-inch single sleeve. Big Brother Recordings. RKID29.
  10. Lyla. Oasis. 2005. UK DVD single liner notes. Big Brother Recordings. RKIDSDVD29.
  11. Oasis Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs). Billboard. 27 August 2019.
  12. R&R Canada Rock Top 30. Radio & Records. 1614. 57. 8 July 2005. 11 October 2019.
  13. Hits of the World – Eurocharts. Billboard. 117. 23. 67. 4 June 2005. 8 April 2020.
  14. Web site: Top 50 Singles Εβδομάδα 10–17/7. IFPI. el. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20050718232557/http://www.ifpi.gr/chart03.htm. 18 July 2005. 4 July 2020. See Best Position column.
  15. Web site: Tipparade-lijst van week 25, 2005. Dutch Top 40. nl. April 11, 2023.
  16. Web site: Classifiche annuali 2005 FIMI Nielsen, dominano gli artisti italiani. FIMI. it. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20060506075305/http://www.fimi.it/dettaglio_documento.asp?id=637&idtipo_documento=1. 6 May 2006. 15 January 2021. Click on Scarica l'allegato.
  17. Web site: End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2005. Official Charts Company. 27 August 2019.
  18. 2005 The Year in Charts: Top Modern Rock Songs. Billboard Radio Monitor. 13. 50. 52. 16 December 2005.
  19. Going for Adds. Radio & Records. 1601. 21. 8 April 2005. 21 May 2021.
  20. Web site: Oasis Artist Information. Sony Music Entertainment Japan. https://web.archive.org/web/20060407052044/http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/International/Arch/ES/Oasis/. 7 April 2006. 25 August 2023.
  21. Web site: The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 16/05/2005. ARIA. 29. 16 May 2005. dead. https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20050519140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20050520-0000/issue794.pdf. 19 May 2005. 21 May 2021.
  22. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 31. 14 May 2005.