Album: Who Built The Moon? (2017)
Charted: 31
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This peppy wall of sound is the lead single from Noel Gallagher's third album Who Built The Moon? The record was written by Gallagher entirely in the studio with Northern Ireland electronica composer and producer David Holmes.

    "It was one of the first things David and I did on the first week of working together. I knew instantly that it was going to be the first single," Gallagher said. "There's so much joy in it. Until the day I die, it will be one of my favorite pieces of music that I've ever written. It sounds great live. My kids love it, my friends' kids all love it and I am sure 'the kids' will love it."
  • The song shares its title with Alejandro Jodorowsky's famous 1973 Mexican surrealist fantasy film The Holy Mountain.
  • Noel Gallagher's pal, Paul Weller, plays the organ on this track.
  • This upbeat slice of distorted glam-rock is built around a tin fly whistle sample and brass sections. Gallagher told Chris Moyles on Radio X:

    "How it came about was, one of the first sessions we did, the hook line, the tin whistle thing that is like one of the most catchiest things in the world, is a sample from a track by a brilliantly titled band from the 70s called The Ice Cream, and a track called Chewing Gum Kid, don't try and Google it, it's beyond obscure, you'll never find it… So, we listened to that track, and he said, 'D'you like this?' And I was like, 'Wow! Why have I never heard that before?' So, we sampled that bit, and the thing, dee, do, do, do… that just went round and round. I worked out the chords, did a bit of jamming on it and we put a drum machine on it."
  • Noel Gallagher played the song for the first time live during his set at Estadio Unico de la Plata in La Plata, Argentina on October 10, 2017.
  • Some fans have compared the song to Ricky Martin's 2000 hit tune "She Bangs." Speaking to Radio X's John Kennedy about the comparisons, Noel Gallagher said:

    "The only similarity, his tune goes – as I remember it – 'She bangs! She bangs!' So it's the phrasing of the words. That's it. I understand people have mundane jobs and they've got nothing better to do, so they can comment on stuff."
  • Noel's brother Liam is not a fan of the track. Speaking to Vulture.com, he said:

    "Obviously you know what I'm going to say, but it's not for me."

    "Musically, I find it a bit annoying," he added. "I think there are too many notes in it, and it's just a bit not risky. It's not for me."
  • Speaking to Sky News about his process for writing the track alongside Northern Irish producer David Holmes, Gallagher said: "David played me the sample, so I worked out the chords and we demoed just a few short minutes of it, taking it away on tour and playing with it. When it became a song back in Belfast it was so joyous, I just had to do it justice. What's more joyous than being in love, baby?"

    He added: "I wrote a song about love and it's one of the best things that I've ever done."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Joe Ely

Joe ElySongwriter Interviews

The renown Texas songwriter has been at it for 40 years, with tales to tell about The Flatlanders and The Clash - that's Joe's Tex-Mex on "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"

Gene Simmons of Kiss

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."

Amy Grant

Amy GrantSongwriter Interviews

The top Contemporary Christian artist of all time on song inspirations and what she learned from Johnny Carson.

Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go's

Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go'sSongwriter Interviews

Charlotte was established in the LA punk scene when a freaky girl named Belinda approached her wearing a garbage bag.

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About Transgenderism

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About TransgenderismSong Writing

A history of songs dealing with transgender issues, featuring Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Morrissey and Green Day.

Chris Squire of Yes

Chris Squire of YesSongwriter Interviews

One of the most dynamic bass player/songwriters of his time, Chris is the only member of Yes who has been with the band since they formed in 1968.