Oasis reunion show’s 10 biggest highlights: Fans sing along ‘Wonderwall’ in tears, Liam and Noel mock ticket controversy | Music News

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The highly anticipated Oasis reunion show finally took over Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on July 4, marking one of the biggest nights in music. Liam and Noel Gallagher, on the same stage after 16 years, left fans in tears, stunned, and completely floored. The audience present at the venue called it the “wildest night” of their lives, with a setlist packed with bangers. From classics like “Wonderwall”, “Cigarettes & Alcohol”, “Slide Away” and more, the energy was unreal. This is the first time the feuding brothers have performed together since 2009. After Cardiff, the tour hits Manchester, London, Edinburgh, Dublin, and then goes global — North America, South America, Australia, South Korea, and Japan. It’s already being called the most profitable UK tour ever. Here are the biggest highlights from the night.

The band hit the stage to the iconic “F***in’ in the Bushes,” then kicked off with “Hello”, a track they hadn’t played live since 2002. They shouted, “It’s good to be back,” and followed it up with the night’s first shocker, “Acquiesce”, one of the rarest tracks where both Liam and Noel’s vocals are featured. When the line “we need each other” blasted through the stadium, it felt like more than just lyrics, fans let out a sigh of relief, hoping the hatchet was finally buried.

Also read: Oasis reunion tour: Why are fans angry with Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing model?

Liam and Noel’s brief interaction

Despite the past beef, both Liam and Noel gave fans a moment to feel 18 again, as the brothers hugged and had a hand-in-hand moment, raising it to the sky. Though there were minimal gestures, and they never addressed each other during the show lasted for over two hours, just hearing them harmonise again pleased the fans.

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Oasis’ wildest setlist yet

The 23-song setlist was nothing short of a dream for fans, with a mix of their classics and rarities: Wonderwall, Hello, Acquiesce, Morning Glory, Some Might Say, Bring It On Down, Cigarettes & Alcohol, Fade Away, Supersonic, Roll With It, Talk Tonight (Noel vocals), Little by Little, Half the World Away (Noel vocals), D’You Know What I Mean?, Stand By Me, Cast No Shadow, Slide Away, Whatever, Live Forever, Rock ’n’ Roll Star, The Masterplan, Don’t Look Back in Anger, Champagne Supernova.

Also read: Oasis reunites: Story of the British band, why they split, and their enduring popularity

Liam and Noel poke fun at ticket controversy

“I hope it was worth £175 of anybody’s money. Sorry, £210. Sorry, £250,” Noel quipped between the sets, poking fun at the Ticketmaster ticket controversy where many fans were left disappointed by misleading prices. According to reports, ticket prices jumped mid-purchase. Some paid £350 for seats originally priced at £150. The complaints even triggered the Competition and Markets Authority to step in. Later, Liam joked, “What’s happening? You alright? Yeah, you’re having a good time, yeah? Was it worth the £40,000 you paid for a ticket?”

Noel Gallagher’s vocals

During the show, Noel commanded the lead vocals for multiple songs, including Talk Tonight, Half the World Away, and Little by Little, while also incorporating lyrics such as “Because we need each other, we believe in one another.” Guitarist Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs tried breaking the ice between the brothers from time to time with little pats on the shoulder between sets.

Fans say Liam hasn’t sounded so good since the 90s 

Some fans told the Guardian, “Liam’s voice hasn’t sounded that good since the mid-90s.” Another set of fans shared, “Lots of us cried. They’re a working-class band. No one else touched a generation like they did.” After 16 years of hiatus and Liam’s battle with the autoimmune disease that impacted his vocals, his snarling vocals didn’t go unnoticed.

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Liam Gallagher apologises for using racial slur

Hours before the show, Liam took to Twitter to apologise to fans for behaving ‘inappropriately’ and said, “Sorry if I offended anyone with my tweet before, it wasn’t intentional,” Gallagher wrote on the platform. “You know I love you all and I do not discriminate.” In a now-deleted tweet, the Oasis member had used a racist and highly offensive one-word slur towards Asians. Later, when fans told him he couldn’t say that, he replied, “Why?” and then brushed it off with “Whatever,” when fans warned he could be cancelled over this.

The Return of Original Members

Apart from the Gallagher brothers, the show also marked the return of original Oasis guitarist Paul Arthurs, along with Gem Archer and Andy Bell.

Audience sang along

All night, the concert was more like a sing-along, with fans collectively singing Noel’s guitar solos. “You sound like a load of Charlotte Churches,” Liam praised the crowd, impressed with how the songs seemed to be a part of the audience. Then the crowd went on with Wonderwall and Don’t Look Back in Anger. Tens of thousands of fans from across the globe arrived in Cardiff.

The photo ban fight over Oasis show

Another major controversy erupted on the night when major media outlets were told they could only use photos from the first show for one year, after which the rights would return to the band. This move left major photo agencies baffled and angered. The News Media Coalition called it a bad precedent. “Photography plays a role in building a band’s legacy. That doesn’t end after 365 days,” said NMC CEO Andrew Moger. The topic is still being debated.

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