How Oasis’ ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’ Became Manchester’s Anti-Terror Anthem
Soon after terrorists struck at Ariana Grande's Manchester, England concert on May 22, Oasis' "Don't Look Back in Anger," a song from their 1995 album (What's the Story) Morning Glory, began to see a resurgence — one that's lining the relief fund coffers, not the Brothers Gallagher's pockets.
It first popped up on May 23, when students from Chetham's School of Music, a boarding school in the city's center, performed the song while embracing each other after their regular afternoon concert was canceled due to the events.
Then on the morning of May 25, in the center of Manchester's St. Ann's Square, the song made another appearance. Following a moment's silence to honor the victims of the attack, someone shouted "Rock on, Manchester," according to the Guardian, and then Lydia Bernsmeier-Rullow quietly began to sing the Oasis tune. It wasn't long before the crowd of about 400 people joined her.
“I love Manchester, and Oasis is part of my childhood,” 32-year-old Bernsmeier-Rullow said of the band that got its start in Manchester. “'Don’t Look Back in Anger' – that’s what this is about: we can’t be looking backwards to what happened, we have to look forwards to the future.
With lead vocals by composer Noel Gallagher instead of his brother Liam, "Don't Look Back in Anger" quickly became a signature song for the band, They performed it at nearly every concert until they broke up. It was a No. 1 hit in the U.K. and reached No. 10 on the U.S. Modern Rock chart.
“We all joined together and we’re all going to get on with it because that’s what Manchester does," Bernsmeier-Rullow continued. "It really touched my heart and gave me shivers to hear everyone joining in with me.”
Clearly, she was not alone in her sentiment. The events sent the song climbing the chart again, and had already reached No. 29 by the following day.
On June 4, Liam Gallagher joined Coldplay on "Live Forever," while Coldplay and Grande performed "Don't Look Back in Anger" at One Love Manchester, a fundraiser for the British Red Cross’s Manchester Emergency Fund. The organization is assisting the families of the victims, following the suicide bombing that killed 22 people and wounded 59 others.
Noel and Liam Gallagher have both ensured their royalties from the song will be donated to the fund.
Oasis Albums Ranked in Order of Awesomeness