Lyla (song)

"Lyla" is a song by the English rock band Oasis. It was released in May 2005 as the first single from their sixth studio album, Don't Believe the Truth (2005). "Lyla" was the band's first single following the departure of their long-time drummer Alan White, and replaced by Ringo Starr's son and the Who drummer Zak Starkey as an additional drummer of the band.

"Lyla"
Single by Oasis
from the album Don't Believe the Truth
B-side
  • "Eyeball Tickler"
  • "Won't Let You Down"
Released11 May 2005 (2005-05-11)
StudioWheeler End, England
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".[1]

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".[2] 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.[3]

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.[4] 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" was released in Japan on 11 May 2005 and in the United Kingdom and Australia five days later, on 16 May.[5][6][7] It became the band's seventh UK number one when it reached top spot on the UK Singles Chart during its first week of release.[8] 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 eight. It was the first Oasis song to appear on any US singles chart since 2000, when "Go Let It Out" reached number 14 on the Modern Rock Tracks 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, one of the garages outside her flat opens and she walks through into 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 the line of garages.

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". 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.[9]

Track listing
  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-inch single[13]
  1. "Lyla" (Noel Gallagher)
  2. "Eyeball Tickler" (Archer)
  1. "Lyla"
  2. "Lyla" (demo)
  3. "Can You See It Now?" (documentary)

Personnel

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[42] Gold 400,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States 11 April 2005
Epic [43]
Japan 11 May 2005 CD [5]
Australia 16 May 2005 Helter Skelter [7]
United Kingdom
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • DVD
 Big Brother [6]

References
  1. "XFM". XFM. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  2. JL (23 May 2016). "OASIS – 'Lyla' Number One in UK on 23 May 2005..." Turn Up The Volume!. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  3. "Our favourite Oasis trivia". Virgin. 14 January 2014.
  4. Archived 27 June 2005 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Oasis | Artist Information". Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Archived from the original on 7 April 2006. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  6. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 14 May 2005. p. 31.
  7. "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 16/05/2005" (PDF). ARIA. 16 May 2005. p. 29. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 May 2005. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  8. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  9. "Watch Liam Gallagher perform 'Columbia' and 'Lyla' solo for the first time". NME. 6 June 2019.
  10. "Lyla – EP". Apple Music. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  11. Lyla (UK CD single liner notes). Oasis. Big Brother Recordings. 2005. RKIDSCD29.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. Lyla (European & Australian CD single liner notes). Oasis. Helter Skelter Records. 2005. HES 675920 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. Lyla (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Oasis. Big Brother Recordings. 2005. RKID29.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. Lyla (UK DVD single liner notes). Oasis. Big Brother Recordings. 2005. RKIDSDVD29.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. "Oasis – Lyla". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  16. "Oasis – Lyla" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  17. "Oasis – Lyla" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  18. "Oasis – Lyla" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  19. "Oasis Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  20. "R&R Canada Rock Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1614. 8 July 2005. p. 57. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  21. "Oasis – Lyla". Tracklisten. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  22. "Hits of the World – Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 117, no. 23. 4 June 2005. p. 67. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  23. "Oasis: Lyla" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  24. "Oasis – Lyla" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  25. "Oasis – Lyla" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  26. "Top 50 Singles Εβδομάδα 10–17/7" (in Greek). IFPI. Archived from the original on 18 July 2005. Retrieved 4 July 2020. See Best Position column.
  27. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  28. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Lyla". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  29. "Oasis – Lyla". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  30. "Tipparade-lijst van week 25, 2005" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  31. "Oasis – Lyla" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  32. "Oasis – Lyla". VG-lista. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  33. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  34. "Oasis – Lyla" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  35. "Oasis – Lyla". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  36. "Oasis – Lyla". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  37. "Oasis Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  38. "Oasis Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  39. "Oasis Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  40. "Classifiche annuali 2005 FIMI Nielsen, dominano gli artisti italiani" (in Italian). FIMI. Archived from the original on 6 May 2006. Retrieved 15 January 2021. Click on Scarica l'allegato.
  41. "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2005". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  42. "British single certifications – Oasis – Lyla". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  43. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1601. 8 April 2005. p. 21. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
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