MAYBE it was tempting fate; pushing things a bit too far. Maybe
Mancunian rapscallions Oasis should have been content last night with
their work during the past nine months in having re-established a truth
which most of an unknowing universe seems to have forgotten: ie, that
Manchester City are the hippest football team in humankind's history.
It ought perhaps to have been sufficient for the band that they've
succeeded in inspiring their fans to shell out #13 for sky-blue replica
City shirts, with ''Oasis'' on the front where City's sponsors, Brother,
usually have their name. But when your luck's been in -- with your fab
debut album going straight to number 1 -- you can start to take things
for granted.
And that was why guitarist Noel Gallagher couldn't resist bounding on
stage with a joyous announcement: ''United have been knocked out of
Europe!'' We rejoiced at the Red Devils' demise.
After three-and-a-bit songs there was sudden retribution . . .
infernal, surely, rather than divine? Vocalist Liam Gallagher, Noel's
brother, croaked to a halt, cuffing his mike angrily. He exited. The
rest of the band looked baffled.
''Give us a minute,'' said Noel to scattered boos from the
groundlings. Liam returned. His voice didn't. He exited again. The three
other band members went, too.
Whereupon Noel assumed an acoustic guitar and bravely stood his
ground, largely stilling the restless natives with seven melodic
examples of Oasis's Beatles-derived northern folk songs. Back popped the
band for some chunky T Rex-style riffs. And so, after having seemed to
snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in true Manchester City fashion,
Oasis got a result in extra time.
Oh, and Manchester United have been knocked out of Europe. Fraternal
greetings to them. May they one day be forever silenced.
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