Champagne Supernova


"Champagne Supernova" is a song by English rock band Oasis, written by Noel Gallagher. It is the closing track on the band's second studio album, Morning Glory?, and was released as the sixth and final single from the album in Australia and New Zealand on 13 May 1996 by Helter Skelter. Paul Weller appears as a guest guitarist and backing vocalist on the track. A music video for the song, directed by Nigel Dick, was released in 1996. The single was not released in the United Kingdom.
Described by Gallagher himself as “probably as psychedelic as I'll ever get", it features a dreamy, anthemic sound characterized by its expansive instrumentation and atmospheric production. The song begins with a gentle, descending guitar riff that sets a reflective mood, gradually building in intensity. As it progresses, layered guitars and a repeating melodica line create a rich soundscape, complemented by a steady drum beat that drives the song forward, accompanied with the vocals of Liam Gallagher, conveying a sense of longing and nostalgia, with lyrics that are both evocative and somewhat abstract.
Although much debate surrounds the meaning of the song, Noel Gallagher originally described how "Champagne Supernova" resonates with him depending on his mood. However, in later interviews, he has stated that he does not really know what the song means and how "it means something different" to everyone.
"Champagne Supernova" is considered by fans and music journalists alike as one of the most defining songs of Oasis and of Britpop. Alexis Petridis, the chief critic of The Guardian, called it the band's greatest song, claiming it was the "perfect epitaph for swaggering mid-90s hedonism." Upon its release, the song became a radio single in the United States, becoming the band's second No. 1 single on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. It also peaked at No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay, becoming the band's third top 40 single on that chart. The song is included on the band's greatest hits album Stop the Clocks and on the US release of Time Flies... 1994–2009. "Champagne Supernova" has also topped several ranked lists of the band's best songs, including from Consequence of Sound, Medium, Uproxx, and Variety. Supernova SN 2003fg was nicknamed "Champagne Supernova" after the song.

Background

Noel Gallagher said in 2005 that he had still not made up his mind as to what the song actually is about, having previously told an NME interviewer in 1995:
In a 2009 interview, Gallagher told the following anecdote for The Sunday Times:
Gallagher recalled his thoughts on the song in a 2020 interview for ''Sirius XM:''

Critical reception

"Champagne Supernova" has received critical acclaim since its release. Steve Baltin from Cash Box declared the song as "another guaranteed smash at all of the same outlets that took 'Wonderwall' to the top of the charts. A melodic power ballad, 'Champagne Supernova' overflows with the songwriting talents of Noel Gallagher. Oasis is proving time and time again that there isn't another rock act out there that can touch the group as a singles band." David Stubbs from Melody Maker wrote, "'Champagne Supernova' has been touted as Oasis' 'Day in the Life' with chords trailing through the water like a gondola to Avalon and the reproachful refrain, Where were you when we were getting high?." John Robinson from NME named it "a slightly peculiar epic", adding that "'Champagne Supernova' is basically 'Cigarettes and Alcohol' with a lifestyle of faster cars, better mini-bars, accompanied by the less-than-sober sense of disorientation that has seeped into this album." Andrew Harrison from Select complimented it as "a delightful, chiming tune with guest Paul Weller going totally Brian May on a hilarious bout of solo'ing. It's the spiritual cousin of 'Supersonic'". Leesa Daniels from Smash Hits gave it five out of five, writing, "Mere words are just not good enough to describe this. It starts slow and gentle, then builds until it explodes all over the place and goes completely mental. Then suddenly it slows down again. It's like having your face caressed, then punched, then stroked again. It's an epic and it'll leave you speechless and it will become known as the best Oasis track ever created."
The song has also been positively received in retrospective reviews. In addition to topping multiple ranked lists of the best Oasis songs, it was named the 4th-greatest by NME, and the 7th-greatest by Rolling Stone. In an interview with Radio X in 2024, Oasis co-founder Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs described how he "fell apart" upon hearing the song the first time, "Noel was saying, 'I'll play you a couple of songs that I've written – I think he played us the whole of the next album. The first one he did was 'Champagne Supernova', from start to finish, in the back lounge of the tour bus, at about 8 o'clock in the evening, and I just fell apart. That's the Cancerian in me. It hit me, I was a blubbering wreck on the floor. I heard it really stripped down, it was just Noel's voice and an acoustic guitar, which is not a million miles away from how it came out, but you knew it was a hit. I was that Oasis fan, hearing it for the first time. It was too much."

Music video

The accompanying music video for the song was directed by British music video and film director Nigel Dick and was filmed at Ealing Studios between 15 and 16 February 1996.

Live performances

The song was played at the majority of Oasis concerts. Noel Gallagher has stated, "I think it's the only song, since it was written, that we've played every night". During the band's Morning Glory? Tour in 1995 and 1996, and the Be Here Now Tour in 1997 and 1998, the song's ending was usually stretched out by five or so minutes, with Noel playing a long improvised guitar solo. An example of one of these performances can be seen on the DVD ...There and Then. Oasis performed the song at the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards. At Oasis' Knebworth House|Knebworth] performance, Stone Roses guitarist John Squire made a guest appearance.
After Noel's abrupt departure from Oasis in August 2009 and the band's subsequent dissolution, "Champagne Supernova" became the last original song they performed live together; the last song was a cover of "I Am the Walrus" by the Beatles, as was the case with most of their concerts. During Oasis' split, the song was performed by Noel's follow-up band Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Liam's follow-up band Beady Eye, and Liam during his solo career. During their 2025 reunion tour, it was again played as the last song on their setlist.

Alternative versions

was hired to produce an alternate mix and a remix. The alternate mix was eventually released on the Deluxe Edition of Morning Glory? while the remix was issued on the B-side on a promo-only 12" of Oasis' cover of Slade's "Cum On Feel the Noize". Known as the "Lynchmob Beats Mix", this remix has been reissued on promotional material for the band's greatest hits album Stop the Clocks.
Live versions of the track were released on ...There and Then and Familiar to Millions. A "clean" version, editing out the waves sound effects at the start of the track, was released on Assorted, a free CD issued with the January 1996 edition of Q magazine. It is also available on the Time Flies... 1994–2009 retrospective collection.
In 2024, Noel Gallagher created a six-hour, "ambient mixed" version of the song for the Zoë Law: Legends exhibition at the London's National Portrait Gallery, which includes a portrait of Gallagher himself.
A slowed-down version of the song was used in the teaser trailer for The Electric State and the trailer for Project Hail Mary.

Track listing

  • Australian CD and cassette single
  1. "Champagne Supernova" – 5:08
  2. "Champagne Supernova" – 7:31
  3. "Slide Away" – 6:29

    Personnel

Personnel are taken from Oasis Recording Information.
Oasis
Additional personnel

Weekly charts

Chart Peak
position
Japan Hot Overseas 18

Year-end charts

Certifications

Notable cover versions