Expert: Pete - 7/25/2004

Question
HI john could oasis get big in america again bigger than they were if they brung a album out again. ?

One other thing and why don t they bring out albums like there first 2 albums they were the best in the world.

  Thanks from Mike

Answer
Hello Mike,

It sounds like what you are asking is what would it take to make Oasis popular in the US again and why aren't they making more albums that sound like their first two.

This is only my opinion based on what I've read over the years, but Oasis lost their popularity here in the US shortly after "Be Here Now" was released.  It peaked at #2 in the Billboard album charts the week it was released and then quickly faded away.  The reason?  Other than "Don't Go Away", it didn't have any radio friendly tracks that sounded like the songs on "Morning Glory".  Once people realized that "Be Here Now" was not another "Morning Glory", they lost interest in the band.  So far the band has been unable to get all but us die hard fans to buy their albums here in the US.

Their lack of popularity is also the result of extremely poor marketing here in the US.  We live in a country where rap/hip hop/R&B dominates radio, and Oasis don't fit into that mold.  Their last album, "Heathen Chemistry", did very well in all countries except the US.  It sounded like a return to the "Definitely Maybe" and "Morning Glory" days, yet Sony didn't market it very well so radio stations never really played any singles except "Stop Crying Your Heart Out".  This was a huge mistake on Sony's part.  That album was full of potential Top 40 singles, but Sony just wouldn't market it the way it should have been.

Finally, I really don't believe Oasis will ever be as big as their "Wonderwall"/"Champagne Supernova" days of 1996 here in America UNLESS they release an album with such a phenomenally new sound that Sony decides to market it properly.  Think about it....the reason Oasis were so popular in 1996 was that their songs sounded fresh, like nothing else being played on the radio at the time.  Oasis will need to do that again if they ever expect to be popular in the US again.  Then again, they could produce a superb album that hits #1 all over the world, but if Sony chooses not to market it to US radio stations, the band won't have a prayer of regaining their popularity in the US.

I hope I've answered your questions.  If not, let me know.

Cheers,
John