Oasis' Live Forever is voted the Best British song ever

Fans of The Beatles and the Stones look away now: Oasis' Live Forever has been voted the best British song ever by Radio X listeners. The Manchester band knocked Bohemian Rhapsody off the top spot in the radio station's Best of British Top 100 chart, which is now in its third year. The Queen classic had previously topped the station’s annual Best Of British poll in 2017. Live Forever was Oasis's first top ten hit. Released in 1994, the third single from their debut album Definitely Maybe is one of the band's best-loved songs. The track was one of the songs that persuaded Alan McGee sign the band to his Creation Records label after the music mogul saw them play at King Tut’s in Glasgow in 1993. Other Oasis songs in the top 10 include Don’t Look Back In Anger (number 3), Wonderwall (6), Slide Away (7) and Champagne Supernova (9). Remarkably, no songs by The Beatles or The Rolling Stones feature in the top 10. And there’s also no space for the likes of the Sex Pistols, The Kinks, The Clash, The Who, Led Zeppelin or Radiohead, either. The indie-centric top ten was completed by The Stones Roses’ I Am The Resurrection (4), The Verve’s Bittersweet Symphony (5), The Smiths’ There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (8) and Arctic Monkeys’ I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor (10). “I have always tried to aim higher than I think is possible," said Noel Gallagher on hearing the news. "Some people try to be bigger or better than their contemporaries or their predecessors… Me? I’m just trying to be better than myself, which as we now know is virtually impossible.” Matt Deverson, managing editor of Radio X, added: “This year, we see Oasis take the number one spot in a Top 100 that features truly great British tunes from across the decades. "The release of Live Forever in 1994 heralded the arrival of an era-defining debut album from one of the country’s greatest bands – it was a hugely exciting moment for British music. "It’s a very special song and within the past year we have seen it resonate with even more poignancy as a much-loved Manchester anthem.” Radio X Best of British Top 20 Oasis - Live Forever Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody Oasis - Don't Look Back In Anger The Stone Roses - I Am The Resurrection The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony Oasis - Wonderwall Oasis - Slide Away The Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out Oasis - Champagne Supernova Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor The Stone Roses - I Wanna Be Adored David Bowie - Heroes Arctic Monkeys - A Certain Romance David Bowie - Life On Mars? Led Zeppelin - Stairway To Heaven Pulp - Common People Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here The Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter The Stone Roses - She Bangs The Drums Courteeners - Not Nineteen Forever You can see the full list at radiox.co.uk