Oasis’ ‘Live Forever’ Crowned the Best British Song of All Time

• 30 years after its release, ‘Live Forever’ retains its place as the ultimate British song

• After a breakthrough year, BRIT Award ‘Rising Star’ winners The Last Dinner Party feature in this year’s Best of British top 100

• Manchester is most represented city on the list ahead of London

On this bank holiday Monday (1st April 2024), Radio X listeners have named Oasis’ seminal 1994 hit ‘Live Forever’ as the best British song of all time, 30 years after its release. Voted for by listeners in Radio X’s annual Best Of British poll – and topping the list for the second year in a row – ‘Live Forever’ is one of four Oasis tracks making up the top 10, alongside ‘Slide Away,’ ‘Champagne Supernova,’ and ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger.’

Coming in second is Queen’s 1975 anthem ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ which moves up one place from last year’s poll. New to the list this year, Nothing But Thieves’ 2023 single ‘Overcome’ comes third, and The Stone Roses’ ‘I Am The Resurrection’ moves up one place to fifth. Arctic Monkeys’ ‘505’ and the Rolling Stones’ ‘Gimme Shelter’ place at sixth and seventh respectively.

Having burst onto the scene in 2023, The Last Dinner Party make their debut in the Radio X Best of British chart with their viral hit ‘Nothing Matters‘. Last year’s breakthrough artist, Wet Leg, make the list again with their hit ‘Wet Dream.’

Also this year, Sam Fender’s ‘Seventeen Going Under’ falls out of the top 10, down seven places to 12th place. David Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ moves up seven places to 11th, and Pink Floyd move up 12 places with ‘Wish You Were Here.’ Tracks from Joy Division, Courteeners, Stereophonics, Paolo Nutini and Skunk Anansie all make the top 20.

Based on votes cast by Radio X listeners, Oasis dominated the top 100 list this year, with 14 songs featured in total. Arctic Monkeys have 11 tracks included in the chart, while The Stone Roses are represented eight times. Nothing But Thieves and David Bowie both have five songs each included, and Welsh rock outfit Stereophonics make the cut with four songs.

As a city famed for its musical heritage, Manchester was the most represented city on the list, with 35 songs from 11 different bands, including tracks from New Order, Blossoms, The Stone Roses, Elbow and The Smiths. ‘Come Together’ is the only track by Liverpool band The Beatles to make the chart this year. A total of 25 songs from 15 different bands on the list originate from London, with artists like Blur, David Bowie, Florence and the Machine, The Who, and The Libertines all making the top 100.

Rock and indie weren’t the only prominent genres to feature in this year’s list, with dance classics like Faithless’ ‘Insomnia’ and The Prodigy’s ‘Breathe’ making the cut. With a feature film biopic of her life due to be released later this year, there was also a place for Amy Winehouse’s ‘Back To Black,’ coming in at 63rd place.

“Thirty years after its release, it is fitting to see ‘Live Forever’ retain top spot in this year’s list of the best tunes Britain has to offer. While Radio X listeners have given nostalgia a nod, it is also exciting to see contemporary artists like Nothing But Thieves, Wet Leg and The Last Dinner Party come into the fold after another fascinating year in music.” – MATT DEVERSON, MANAGING EDITOR OF RADIO X

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