Bernard O'Shea: Why we don't look back in anger at Oasis

30 years after Oasis burst onto the scene, their music still resonates.

I’ve always been curious about why the music from our youth feels so much more profound than anything else that comes along later in life. 

I still get goosebumps every time ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’ plays, yet barely raise an eyebrow when I hear a new chart-topper today. 

Is the fog of nostalgia clouding my judgment, or is something deeper at work here? 

Like many people who grew up in the 90s, Oasis were more than just a band — they were a soundtrack to my life.

Fast-forward 30 years, and I find myself still drawn to those same songs, despite the fact my teenage rebellion has mellowed into a mild irritation when the wifi goes down. 

This enduring connection to the music of my youth has made me wonder: What is it about these songs that keeps them so alive in our minds? Is it just sentimentality, or is there actual science behind this phenomenon?

There is a scientific reason why the music of our youth sticks with us more than any other. 

Studies have shown that the music we listen to during our teenage years is more likely to stay with us for life. 

This is partly because the adolescent brain is still developing, and the experiences we have during this period are imprinted more deeply in our memories. 

Music is particularly potent at triggering autobiographical memories, which are memories of specific events or experiences from our past. 

These memories, especially those from our teenage years, are often associated with strong emotions, making them more likely to be recalled when we hear a familiar song.

Moreover, music activates the brain’s reward system, a network of brain structures that regulate feelings of pleasure and reward. 

When we hear a song we loved as a teenager, our brain rewards us with a rush of pleasure, reinforcing our emotional connection to the music and making it more likely that we will seek out these songs in the future. 

Listening to familiar music activates multiple brain areas, including memory, attention, and emotion. 

So, when you crank up ‘Champagne Supernova’ for the millionth time, you’re not just indulging in a trip down memory lane but also giving your brain a workout, empowering you to stay mentally sharp and motivated as you age.

Adding to this, a study by researchers at University of California Berkeley has mapped the 13 key emotions triggered when we listen to music, such as joy, sadness, relaxation, and nostalgia. These emotions are not just subjective experiences, they have been universally recognised across cultures. 

This research confirms that music, whether it’s Oasis or traditional Chinese melodies, can evoke a broad range of emotions deeply rooted in our psychological and physiological makeup. 

The study revealed that our emotional responses to music are more consistent across cultures than previously thought, suggesting that the emotions we experience when

listening to our favourite songs are deeply personal and universally shared, creating a profound sense of connection and understanding.

This is why so many of us are willing to pay high prices and wait in long lines, both online and in person, to see Oasis live. 

Their music isn’t just a collection of songs; it’s a powerful link to our past, bringing back memories and emotions from when life felt more intense and straightforward. 

It’s not just nostalgia — it’s a deep emotional connection that science shows stays with us even as we age. 

Oasis represents a period in our lives, and now a new generation’s lives, when music felt like it was speaking directly to us, capturing our feelings in a way that still resonates today. 

The surge of people wanting tickets bringing them closer to the music that makes them feel connected to happier and more hopeful times is a very lucrative business. 

But is it worth the massively inflated ticket prices? Some might say it is, some might say (let’s put this politely), feck off!