"Songbird" is a song by British rock band Oasis, from their fifth studio album Heathen Chemistry. It was released as the fourth single from that album on 3 February 2003 and peaked at #3 in the UK charts. Being written by lead singer Liam Gallagher, it was the first time the band had released a single not written by his brother Noel.
Upon joining Oasis in the early nineties, Noel Gallagher claimed sole-songwriting responsibilities, and allowing little-to-no leeway from the rest of the band.[citation needed] He openly mocked the songwriting output of Liam and Bonehead[citation needed], who had been in charge of Oasis' songwriting prior to his joining and had written a handful of tracks such as "Take Me" and an acoustic number titled "Life In Vain". Liam elaborated on the situation in 1994, after the release of Definitely Maybe saying "Noel won't let me (write), but I can't really write anyway... In the future if I started writing top tunes, I still don't think he'd be up for it... I know for a fact, even if he was going dry, he wouldn't play my songs... I'm not happy with that, but that's the way it is innit?"[citation needed].
However, after Oasis' third album Be Here Now, Noel began to loosen his control and allowed Liam to contribute songs. Though his first effort, "Little James" which appeared on Standing on the Shoulder of Giants, was criticised for being too simple and childlike[citation needed] (in particular, rhyming "plasticine" with "trampoline")[citation needed], Songbird was fairly well received, despite only being based around two simple chords (G + Em7).
The song, written for Liam's long term girlfriend Nicole Appleton, was seen as a surprising break away from Liam's "Hard-Man" image[citation needed]. He explained this away saying "I like beautiful things...It's not all dark in Liam World. I take me shades off every now and again and have a look at the world and see some nice things."
The simplistic video was filmed in Regent's Park in London, and featured Liam playing an acoustic guitar under a tree, and also being chased by a dog.
CD RKIDSCD 27
"Songbird" - 2:08
"(You've Got) The Heart Of A Star" - 5:22
"Columbia" (Live) - 4:48
7" RKID 27
"Songbird" - 2:08
"(You've Got) The Heart Of A Star" - 5:22
12" RKID 27T
"Songbird" - 2:08
"(You've Got) The Heart Of A Star" - 5:22
"Columbia" (Live) - 4:48
Columbia was recorded at the Barrowlands, Glasgow, on October 13, 2001.
DVD RKIDSDVD 27
"Songbird" - 2:07
"Songbird" (demo) - 2:48
Exclusive interview and live performance footage - 13:48
Japanese CD edition
"Songbird"
"Songbird" (demo)
"Columbia" (Live)
Songbird is the shortest running Oasis single, at 2:07.
Noel Gallagher stated jokingly in an interview with Russell Brand that Liam decided to "write a song about his bird" Nicole Appleton, and states the title "Song...Bird" in a cave man like manner.
The song is included on Oasis' 2006 compilation album Stop The Clocks.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songbird_%28Oasis_song%29