Wall of Glass

Album: As You Were (2017)
Charted: 21
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Songfacts®:

  • This mid-tempo rocker is the first song to be released from former Oasis and Beady Eye frontman Liam Gallagher's debut solo album, As You Were. Liam premiered the tune at his May 30, 2017 homecoming gig at the O2 Ritz in Manchester, which doubled as a fundraiser for his fellow Mancunians just a week after the the terrorist attack in his home city.
  • The song was co-penned and produced by Greg Kurstin, co-writer of hits for the likes of Kelly Clarkson ("What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)" and Adele, ("Hello"). Gallagher told Radio 1's MistaJam of working with songwriters for his new record:

    "I'd never be able to write a whole album [on my own], we'd be here all year. I'm not that prolific."

    He added: "For me, it's just a rock n roll tune, guitar music. Some people try to reinvent the wheel, but I just like to give it a good shine."
  • You were sold the one direction
    I believe the resurrection is on and you were wrong


    Explaining the lyric, Gallagher told NME: "It could be about One Direction, it could not be. It could be about people that are into one f---ing mind set, who I find pretty boring. There are obviously bits that could be about Noel. And things about me mum, about me kids, about Debbie [his girlfriend]. I've come across a lot of people. It's about me and you and f---ing them."

    However, in a separate interview with Pitchfork, Gallagher denied outright that the lyric was a reference to the pop group, saying: "I may look stupid but wouldn't dare get on the wrong side of One Direction fans."
  • Asked about the lyric "And I don't mean to be unkind, but I'll see what's in your mind" and if he feels like he himself is unkind, Gallagher replied, "Probably yeah, but only for the f--king fun side of it. I welcome anyone to have a pop at me."

    He added: "It's only banter in my world, I don't mean anyone any f--king serious harm."
  • The song's dizzying video is full of mirrors and was inspired in part by James Bond and Bruce Lee films. The clip was directed by filmmaker François Rousselet who has previously worked with Snoop Dogg and Madonna. Liam told Pitchfork of the visual: "I did get to wear a gold Saint Laurent hooded jacket in one scene, which I convinced myself made me look like a modern day Elvis, as he loved to wear gold suits."
  • Asked by Noisey why he chose this song to launch his solo career, Liam Gallagher replied:

    "You gotta come out with something, innit. That was written and recorded in a day out here in LA - me, Greg Kurstin, and Andrew Wyatt [Miike Snow]. It was all really quick. We didn't have much time to sit around, pat our backs and go, "Aren't we f---in' great?" It was just f---in' do it. That's what people want. That's what I want. Loud guitars and good melodies. I go with the rock'n'roll numbers all the f---in' way."
  • The As You Were album title doubles as Gallagher's signature sign off on Twitter. The phrase was inspired in part by the singer's hero John Lennon. "A lot of people say it," the former Oasis vocalist told KROQ-FM. "I've been the one that kind of says it more than anyone else. John Lennon used to wear these T-shirts with 'You Are Here' [on them]. I've always liked that. It reminds me of (Oasis 1997 album title) Be Here Now, it's got that kind of thing."

    "I mean, it doesn't really mean anything," Gallagher continued. "Everyone's always trying to find a meaning for something, and sometimes things aren't meant to mean anything, you know what I mean?"

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