Oasis’ “Shakermaker” Meaning and Facts
“Shakermaker” by Oasis
- Release Date: 13 June 1994
- Album: Definitely Maybe
- Writers: Noel Gallagher
- Interesting Fact: The song borrows a melody from The New Seekers’ “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing”, leading to legal issues.
- Meaning: The song captures the spirit of youth and nostalgia, with somewhat abstract lyrics.
Inspiration from Coca-Cola: The song’s melody in the chorus is notably similar to the melody from “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)”, a song that gained popularity from its use in a Coca-Cola advertisement. Because of this resemblance, Oasis faced legal issues and eventually had to pay a sum for unauthorized usage of the melody.
Song Title’s Origin: The name “Shakermaker” is believed to be derived from a toy Noel Gallagher had as a child, called “Shaker Maker”, which allowed children to create figures by pouring powder into molds and adding water.
Eclectic References: The song’s lyrics reference a number of disparate elements, from Mr. Soft (a character from Trebor soft mints adverts in the UK) to Mr. Clean (a popular household cleaning product) to the character Mr. Benn from a British children’s show.
Release and Chart Performance: “Shakermaker” was the second single from Oasis’ debut album, “Definitely Maybe”, and was released in June 1994. The song reached number 11 on the UK Singles Chart, helping to solidify Oasis’ emerging presence in the British music scene.
Official Music Video: The music video for “Shakermaker” is a blend of band performances and scenes featuring the members in various surreal and playful settings, embodying the youthful and chaotic spirit of the early days of Oasis.
First TV Performance: Oasis’ performance of “Shakermaker” on the British music program “The Word” in March 1994 marked one of their earliest TV appearances. This performance began to cement their reputation for their raw energy and swagger.
Noel’s Thoughts on the Song: In the documentary “Live Forever: The Rise and Fall of Brit Pop”, Noel Gallagher reflected on “Shakermaker” and its nonsensical lyrics, suggesting that, in retrospect, he would’ve approached the songwriting differently. However, its whimsical and somewhat nonsensical nature has its charm and is part of what made it memorable for fans.
