"Whatever" is a standalone single by Oasis, released on 18/19 December 1994 by Creation Records. It was their first non-album single, bridging the gap between the debut album Definitely Maybe (August 1994) and the follow-up (What's the Story) Morning Glory? (October 1995). Written by Noel Gallagher, with Liam Gallagher on lead vocals, the track runs 6:21 long and marked a shift toward a more epic, orchestrated sound for the band.
The song was recorded at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, Wales. It was the first Oasis single to feature a prominent string section, performed by the London Session Orchestra (which included former Electric Light Orchestra violinist Wilfred Gibson). The orchestration was arranged by Nick Ingman and Noel Gallagher himself. This lavish production made it feel bigger and more cinematic than previous singles.The track has a classic Oasis structure: verses and choruses built around a simple but anthemic chord progression, a key change in the bridge for dramatic effect, and then a long, fading outro (about 2.5 minutes) where instruments drop out one by one until only the strings remain. It ends with a recorded applause track and a faint Japanese festival chant ("mikoshi").Noel has described the song as wrapping up the "innocent and pure" early phase of Oasis — before the pressures of massive fame set in after Morning Glory?
"Whatever" debuted at No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Oasis's first Top 5 single (and their highest-charting release at that point). It spent a remarkable 51 weeks on the UK chart — more than any other Oasis single. It later re-entered in 2010 when the compilation Time Flies... 1994–2009 was released (the first time it was available digitally).The single is famous for its exceptional B-sides, which many fans argue could have made a mini-album on their own:
- "(It's Good) to Be Free" — upbeat, rocking celebration of small freedoms.
- "Half the World Away" — a beautiful, melancholic acoustic track (later used as the theme for The Royle Family TV show) that became a fan favourite and appeared on the B-sides compilation The Masterplan.
- "Slide Away" (on some formats) — already a highlight from Definitely Maybe, adding huge value.
This single is often ranked among Oasis's strongest releases purely because of the quality and quantity of material.
"Whatever" is seen as a transitional track that hinted at the more ambitious, string-laden sound Oasis would fully embrace on Morning Glory? (think "Don't Look Back in Anger" or "Champagne Supernova"). It solidified their status as the biggest band in Britain at the time and showed Noel's willingness to experiment beyond straight guitar rock.Despite the plagiarism issue, fans love it for its defiant spirit, epic scale, and the unbeatable B-side package. It's frequently included on "best of" lists and compilations, and it sold over 600,000 copies in the UK (platinum certification).