Lyla (song)

"Lyla" is a song by the English rock band Oasis. It was released as the first single from their sixth studio album Don't Believe the Truth (2005), released in May 2005. "Lyla" was released to American radio on 12 April 2005.[1]

"Lyla"
Single by Oasis
from the album Don't Believe the Truth
B-side
  • "Eyeball Tickler"
  • "Won't Let You Down"
Released16 May 2005
Format
RecordedDecember 2004
StudioWheeler End, London
GenreAlternative rock
Length5:12
LabelBig Brother
Songwriter(s)Noel Gallagher
Producer(s)Noel Gallagher, Dave Sardy
Oasis singles chronology
"Songbird"
(2003)		 "Lyla"
(2005)		 "The Importance of Being Idle"
(2005)

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".[2]

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".[3] 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.[4]

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.[5] 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" became the band's seventh UK number one, when it reached top spot in the UK Singles Chart in its first week of release.[6] 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 8, which is roughly equivalent to number 108 on the main Hot 100 chart. It was the first Oasis song to appear on any US singles chart since 2000, when "Go Let It Out" hit number 14 on the Modern Rock 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, a hole in a wall in her flat opens and she walks through 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 a line of garages outside.

Personnel

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".

The song leaked on the internet during late March 2005, weeks before its May release date, after an unauthorised early airing on Polish radio station Radiowa Trójka.

"Lyla" was covered by the Foo Fighters during a show/radio session on 23 August 2005 at the Maida Vale Studios in London for The Jo Whiley Show.

The song is included on Oasis' compilation album Stop the Clocks. It is also included in FIFA 06 as a track.

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.[7]

Track listing
  • CD single / digital download
  1. "Lyla" (Noel Gallagher) - 5:12
  2. "Eyeball Tickler" (Gem Archer) - 2:47
  3. "Won't Let You Down" (Liam Gallagher) - 2:48
  • UK 7" single
  1. "Lyla" (Noel Gallagher) - 5:12
  2. "Eyeball Tickler" (Gem Archer) - 2:47
  • UK DVD single
  1. "Lyla" - 5:14
  2. "Lyla" (demo) - 5:29
  3. "Can You See It Now?" (Documentary) - 9:22

The DVD also contains a hidden piece about new drummer Zak Starkey. The video lasts for 1:16 and is accessed by highlighting the word 'Credits' on the main menu, then pressing right until you see the name Zak appear. Then press 'Play' or 'Enter' to view the video.

Charts and certifications

References
  1. "FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock". Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Incorporated. Archived from the original on 22 March 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  2. "XFM". XFM. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  3. JL (23 May 2016). "OASIS – 'Lyla' Number One in UK on 23 May 2005…". Turn Up The Volume!. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  4. "Our favourite Oasis trivia". Virgin. 14 January 2014.
  5. Archived 27 June 2005 at the Wayback Machine
  6. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 712. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  7. "Watch Liam Gallagher perform 'Columbia' and 'Lyla' solo for the first time". 6 June 2019.
  8. "Australian-charts.com – Oasis – Lyla". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  9. "Austriancharts.at – Oasis – Lyla" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  10. "Ultratop.be – Oasis – Lyla" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  11. "Ultratop.be – Oasis – Lyla" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  12. "Oasis Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  13. "RR Canada Rock Top 30" (PDF). p. 57. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  14. "Danishcharts.com – Oasis – Lyla". Tracklisten. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  15. "Hits of the World – Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 117 no. 23. 4 June 2005. p. 67. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  16. "Oasis: Lyla" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  17. "Lescharts.com – Oasis – Lyla" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  18. "Offiziellecharts.de – Oasis – Lyla". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  19. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  20. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Lyla". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  21. "Italiancharts.com – Oasis – Lyla". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  22. "Dutchcharts.nl – Oasis – Lyla" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  23. "Norwegiancharts.com – Oasis – Lyla". VG-lista. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  24. "Notowanie nr1219" (in Polish). LP3. 10 June 2005. Retrieved 26 February 2019. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  25. "Spanishcharts.com – Oasis – Lyla" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  26. "Swedishcharts.com – Oasis – Lyla". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  27. "Swisscharts.com – Oasis – Lyla". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  28. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  29. "Oasis Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  30. "Oasis Chart History (Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  31. "Oasis Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  32. "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2005". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  33. "British single certifications – Oasis – Lyla". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 August 2019. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Lyla in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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