Oasis, ‘I Am the Walrus’ – Terrible Classic Rock Covers

Britpop sensations Oasis owned the 1990s with their sneering and searing brand of Union Jack-wrapped rock 'n' roll. There was just something so cool and, like, British, about them -- sorta the way we feel about the Who and the Rolling Stones.

It's well known among anyone who knows anything about '90s-era rock 'n' roll that Oasis caught a lot of flack for nicking the Beatles, as well as pretty much every other classic rock band you can think of. See ‘(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?,’ which shares the exact same rhythm guitar line as R.E.M.’s ‘The One I Love,’ and ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger,’ which borrows the intro to John Lennon’s ‘Imagine.’

So these cheeky Brits, having some fun with their reputation, installed their own live cover version of the 1967 Beatles classic ‘I Am the Walrus’ as a B-side to one of their singles in 1994. For the record, the A-side, ‘Cigarettes & Alcohol,’ lifts the opening guitar lick of T. Rex’s ‘Bang a Gong (Get It On),’ or the Hollies’ ‘Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress,’ take your pick.

The band had been covering 'I Am the Walrus' for years, but the main problem with Oasis’ version of the song is that it sounds somewhat angry, like they're using it as a kiss-off to critics. There's an attitude to it that you don’t really pick up in the original. And it really seems out of place.

Oasis were often a great group. Despite getting shelled for being less-than-humble mimics, they produced some of the greatest songs of the ’90s. But as a cover band, they were sloppy eggmen who fell way short of delivering a perfect dozen.

Listen to the Beatles' 'I Am the Walrus'