“Cigarettes and Alcohol” is the 8th Track on Oasis debut album, Definitely Maybe. It was written by Noel Gallagher, and released as the band’s fourth Single. It was Oasis’ second Single to enter the UK Top Ten. It peaked at #7, three places higher than “Live Forever” did at the time.
In April of 2017, 23 years after its original release, “Cigarettes and Alcohol” was certified gold, indicating 400,000 sales.
“Cigarettes and Alcohol” by Oasis
from the album, Definitely Maybe (1994)
“Cigarettes and Alcohol” was the first Oasis Single to show off the rougher musical attitude that Oasis had in them. The Song touts the appeal of smoking, alcohol, and drug taking to combat the futile, nowhere nature of the working class life. This showcased in Music the disenchantment that was pervasive with the working class in the mid-nineties.
Alan McGee, who discovered Oasis, and has worked with other bit UK bands such as The Libertines, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Primal Scream, and My Bloody Valentine, declared this Song one of the greatest social statements anyone had made in the past 25 years (said in 1994).
In the second case of plagiarism accusations, “Cigarettes and Alcohol” was pointed out to share the main riff of the Song “Get It On” by T-Rex, as well as “Little Queenie” by Chuck Berry. Its also been said that the Song shares a similarity with the opening to “C’mon Everybody” by Humble Pie.
Let’s have a listen, shall we?
“Get It On” by T-Rex
“Little Queenie” by Chuck Berry
“C’mon Everybody” by Humble Pie
I definitely can hear the similarity between the start of “Cigarettes and Alcohol” and the start of “C’mon Everybody”. Despite the possible copying, this is one of my favorite Oasis Tracks. It is easily in my Top 5.
What do you think?
“Cigarettes and Alcohol” (live in Manchester)
