In October 1995, when What’s the Story Morning Glory? hit the shelves, the global music scene was split. Grunge had lost momentum after Kurt Cobain died in 1994. American MTV pop was glossy but hollow. Alternative rock was gaining traction with bands like Radiohead and Smashing Pumpkins, while hip-hop was exploding in the US thanks to Tupac, Notorious B.I.G., and Nas. But in the UK, something different was brewing: a cultural and aesthetic battle was unfolding between Blur and Oasis—two faces of what would become known as Britpop.

Britpop wasn’t just a sound—it was a declaration of identity. Regional accents weren’t hidden for the sake of international appeal; references to everyday British life, football, pubs, and poetic resignation became a badge of honor. Oasis embodied the rawest, boldest side of this phenomenon. While Blur leaned into irony and art-pop, the Gallagher brothers brought heavy guitars, emotionally ambiguous lyrics, and melodies reminiscent of the Beatles—though with a dirtier, more Manchester edge.

Released just over a year after their thunderous debut, Definitely Maybe, What’s the Story Morning Glory? didn’t just surpass its predecessor—it became the defining album of the decade for an entire generation. With more than 22 million copies sold worldwide, multiple number-one singles in the UK, and a permanent presence on radio and festival stages—including in Brazil, where the band performed three times between 2000 and 2009—its impact was massive.

The Most Iconic Tracks and What They Mean

Among the most played and celebrated songs from the album, four stand out not only for their success but for how they encapsulate the soul of Oasis:

• “Wonderwall”: The band’s most famous song, a global anthem played at parties, weddings, and gigs to this day. It’s believed Noel Gallagher wrote it for then-girlfriend Meg Mathews—though he later claimed it was “about an imaginary friend who’s gonna save you from yourself.” The title nods to a George Harrison solo album, and the Beatles‘ influence is clear. “Wonderwall” became a metaphor for idealized, redemptive, impossible love—and perhaps also for Noel’s own longing to escape his chaotic life.
  
• “Don’t Look Back in Anger”: The first Oasis track with Noel on lead vocals became a kind of mantra for difficult times. After the Manchester attacks in 2017, crowds spontaneously sang it as a symbol of resilience and unity. The piano intro is inspired by John Lennon’s “Imagine,” and the lyrics summon inner peace—a powerful irony coming from such a notoriously combative band.

• “Champagne Supernova”: The album’s psychedelic closing track, clocking in at over seven minutes, builds in intensity and mystery. The lyrics are cryptic, evoking transcendence. The title—blending a symbol of luxury (champagne) with one of cosmic collapse (supernova)—perfectly captures the spirit of Oasis: grandiose, explosive, self-destructive, and poetic.
  
• “Morning Glory”: The title track is aggressive and noisy, a tribute to hedonism and urban energy. Its iconic riff is among the band’s most powerful, and the lyrics (“All your dreams are made / When you’re chained to the mirror and the razor blade”) openly reference drug use and the alienation of fame. It’s the album’s most confrontational and provocative moment.

Other highlights include “Some Might Say”, the band’s first UK number one hit, bursting with optimism, and “Cast No Shadow”, a heartfelt tribute to Richard Ashcroft (of The Verve), capturing the quiet struggle of artists burdened by their own introspection.

A Mixed Critical Reception and Popular Triumph

Upon release, What’s the Story Morning Glory? received a lukewarm response from many music critics. Some found it repetitive, simplistic, or derivative—merely a shadow of what British rock had once been. But the public didn’t care. The album was an instant hit, propelling Oasis to global superstardom.

Over time, critical opinion shifted. In 2010, Q Magazine voted it the greatest British album of all time. In 2020, it earned a spot on Rolling Stone’s prestigious list of the 500 greatest albums ever. What was once criticized as excessive is now celebrated as essential: Morning Glory distilled the collective feeling of a generation yearning for voice, authenticity, and catharsis.

Legacy and Expectations: Why We Still Talk About It

Nearly three decades later, the album still resonates. It stands as a reminder of a time when rock ruled the cultural conversation, when bands shaped fashion, behavior, and political discourse. Oasis—rebellious, arrogant, and painfully honest—was the last truly massive band to combine overwhelming commercial success with near-religious devotion from fans.

Now, in 2025, with the band’s long-awaited reunion and a global stadium tour, the hope grows that this is more than just nostalgia. There’s speculation of a new album on the horizon. And perhaps, just perhaps, a final reconciliation between Liam and Noel Gallagher—the “quarrelsome princes” of British rock, whose turbulent relationship is almost as legendary as the music itself.

What’s the Story Morning Glory? It isn’t just an album. It’s a cultural landmark. A reminder of when rock united, provoked, and defined generations—and maybe, just maybe, can do it again.