Noel Gallagher's 'escape' songs
30 October 2025

Noel Gallagher's 'escape' songs

Take 5

About

Oasis are undoubtedly the biggest band to rise out of Brit Pop. And it’s hard to describe how massive their return is. For years, the public fighting between the Gallagher brothers suggested they’d never come back. And one day, they did.

Oasis have been playing all over the world to stadiums of screaming fans, young and old. And as they finally return to Australia, we’re celebrating by sharing a Take 5 for the ages from the archives.

A couple of years ago Zan Rowe sat down with Noel Gallagher in his own studio, in Kings Cross, London. At this stage, the reformation tour was not on. He was recording and touring with his band the High Flying Birds, and had just released an album called Council Skies. Noel’s history is everywhere in his songs. And the songs he loves, too. You'll hear songs you're expecting, but it's the ones you're not that'll pack a real punch. And the stories? All time.

Noel Gallagher's song choices:

    1.Pink Floyd – 'Nobody Home'2.The Smiths – 'Asleep'3.Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass – 'This Guy's In Love With You'4.Air – 'All I Need'5.The Beatles – 'I Am The Walrus'

00:00 Introduction and Oasis' Impact

00:57 Noel Gallagher's Studio and memorabilia from The Haçienda nightclub

02:11 SONG 1: Pink Floyd – 'Nobody Home'

07:35 Reflecting on life as a rock star & post-fame

09:45 SONG 2: The Smiths – 'Asleep'

14:55 Growing up in Manchester

17:02 SONG 3: Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass – 'This Guy's In Love With You'

17:11 A Memorable Encounter with Burt Bacharach

24:09 Remembering Burt Bacharach

25:38 SONG 4: Air – 'All I Need'

30:52 The Shift to Digital Music

31:30 Wild Times with Oasis

35:09 Transition to a Calmer Life

36:33 SONG 5: The Beatles – 'I Am The Walrus'

39:48 The Night That Changed Everything for Oasis

41:37 Reflecting on Oasis' Final Tour

42:55 The Joy of Songwriting

44:25 Closing Thoughts and Future Guests

Watch Take 5 on ABC iview:

https://iview.abc.net.au/show/take-5-with-zan-rowe

Contains strong language. This episode was originally broadcast in 2023.