Burt Bacharach

It's the melody of the song that people remember, the guy when he's going to work in the morning, he's whistling the melody not the chords.

Noel Gallagher

Noel Gallagher's admiration for Burt Bacharach represents a fascinating intersection of Britpop's raw energy with the sophisticated, melodic craftsmanship of 1960s pop. While Oasis is often associated with influences like The Beatles, The Sex Pistols, and The Stone Roses, Bacharach's impact on Noel—particularly through his collaborations with lyricist Hal David—added a layer of emotional depth and harmonic complexity to Noel's songwriting. This connection wasn't immediate; Noel grew up in a working-class Manchester household steeped in punk and rock, but it was during Oasis's early touring days that Bacharach entered his world, courtesy of sound engineer Mark Coyle.

Mark Coyle, who joined Oasis as their live sound engineer in the early 1990s and later co-produced their debut album Definitely Maybe (1994), was an ardent Bacharach enthusiast. Coyle's role extended beyond technical duties; he was a close friend to Noel, and the two had collaborated on electronic dance tracks before Oasis fully formed, experimenting with acid house and ecstasy-fuelled creativity in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

On the band's tour bus during their gruelling early gigs, Coyle would spin Bacharach records, introducing the group to classics like "This Guy's in Love with You" (1968), originally performed by Herb Alpert. Noel, then in his mid-20s, was immediately captivated by the song's lush orchestration, unconventional chord progressions, and heartfelt vulnerability—elements that contrasted sharply with the aggressive rock he knew but resonated with his own budding song writing instincts.

As Noel later reflected in interviews, Bacharach's melodies taught him how to elevate simple lyrics into something timeless and emotive, blending pop elegance with rock's edge.

"It wasn't a conscious thing to come up with these great melodies, I don't know where they came from … It's all magic to me"

This newfound influence manifested quickly in Oasis's visual and musical identity. A photograph of Bacharach was prominently featured on the floor in the iconic living room setup for the Definitely Maybe album cover, symbolizing Noel's respect for the composer amid nods to other heroes like George Best and Rodney Marsh.

The album itself, recorded at Sawmills Studios in Cornwall with Coyle's co-production, captured this evolving style, though the Bacharach touch was more evident in B-sides and acoustic tracks from the era.

The relationship deepened into a personal collaboration in 1996, at the height of Oasis's fame following (What's the Story) Morning Glory?. Noel met Bacharach in his London hotel room, a surreal encounter for the 29-year-old rocker facing a 68-year-old legend. Despite the generational gap, they bonded over music: Bacharach played piano while Noel sang "This Guy's in Love with You," and the two discussed influences, with Noel quizzing Bacharach on bands like The Clash (which the composer admitted he didn't know).

Noel described the moment as "ludicrous," highlighting the absurdity of a Manchester lad harmonizing with a West Coast icon who could have been his grandfather.

This meeting led directly to a high-profile gig on June 25, 1996, at London's Royal Festival Hall as part of the Meltdown Festival, curated by composer David Bowie that year. Noel performed "This Guy's in Love with You" live, backed by a 36-piece orchestra conducted by Bacharach himself. Seated on a stool without his guitar—reminiscent of crooners like Val Doonican—Noel found the experience intensely nerve-wracking, as it stripped away his usual rock armour. Yet, he later called it "ace" and "mad," a pinnacle of his career that blended Oasis's swagger with Bacharach's orchestral grandeur.

The performance was a testament to Noel's growth, showcasing how Bacharach's influence encouraged him to step outside his comfort zone.

In terms of songwriting, Bacharach's imprint is most overt in tracks like "Half the World Away" (1994), a B-side to "Whatever" that became a fan favorite and the theme for the BBC sitcom The Royle Family. Written by Noel during Oasis's September 1994 tour in Japan—specifically at the Roppongi Prince Hotel in Tokyo—and demoed in a hotel room with Coyle's portable recording setup, the song mirrors "This Guy's in Love with You" in its electric piano riff, shuffling rhythm, and melancholic introspection. 

Noel has candidly admitted, "It’s exactly the same... I’m surprised he hasn’t sued me," though he transformed Bacharach's lounge-pop romance into a Britpop ballad about escapism and urban alienation: "And when I leave this island, I’ll book myself into a soul asylum." 

Other early Oasis songs echo this influence more subtly. "Take Me Away" (1993), a solo acoustic B-side to "Supersonic," draws from Bacharach's intimate style alongside Harry Nilsson's confessional song-writing, with Noel yearning for transcendence: "Me and my soul we know where we’re going." 

"Married with Children" (1994), recorded during 1992 demos at Coyle's Manchester house, incorporates Bacharach-like harmonic twists in its petty, domestic narrative, blending acoustic simplicity with melodic sophistication. 

Even later works, like "The Masterplan" (written during Oasis's 1995 Japan tour), show traces of Bacharach's orchestral flourishes and emotional arcs. 

Bacharach's passing on February 8, 2023, prompted Noel to pay tribute, reaffirming him as a key songwriting hero. In interviews, Noel has emphasized how Bacharach's "proper songwriting" inspired him to prioritize melody over attitude, helping Oasis craft anthems that transcended Britpop. This cross-generational bond not only enriched Noel's catalog but also highlighted music's ability to bridge eras, from Bacharach's 1960s hits to Oasis's 1990s dominance.