Day 34 - Don’t Look Back in Anger

Oasis

1995

Disclaimer: All perspectives, opinions, and memories in this entry are mine and mine alone. Some content is rugged, raw, and - sometimes - NSFW, but it's all authentic and included with purpose. Why It’s On The List:

For the first decade or so after Oasis released “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory” in 1995, I would have told you that “Wonderwall” or “Champagne Supernova” were my favorite tracks from that album. I guess this is yet another example of how my tastes have evolved over the years because now “Don’t Look Back in Anger” is my favorite and it’s no longer even close.

I know it’s morbid but don’t know how else to say this: for whatever random reason I also think of this song as the ONLY song I care about being played at my own funeral. 

I know. I know. In the Intro, I said this project wasn’t about planning my own funeral and it’s weird and creepy to think about. BUT I’m a complete control freak and I’m terrified of my funeral being a major drag if I don’t detail my wishes in full.

So here we go!

I do NOT want my funeral to be somber or sad. I want it to be as fun and celebratory as possible. 

I’ll even go as far to say this: I want a legit late night talk show setup, complete with a host (taking nominations for this role now), comedy bits and a live band. And instead of that dreary open mic that some people do at funerals, where person after person comes out and just stands there and cries (gross), I want different “guests” that come out and talk about me/memories of me with the talk show host. Here are the segments I’m imagining:

Friend

Family/Father

Professional

Fantasy Sports (as I mentioned yesterday)

And based on this Top 40 list, I will leave it to all of you to pick and choose the other songs that are used throughout the show but “Don’t Look Back in Anger” is the closer. No questions asked. I want the band playing this song with confetti falling as people are leaving.  Damn. This sounds like an amazing show. Now I really want to be there for it.

You know what...

Let's just do this party for my 75th birthday so I'm there to enjoy it.

Hmmm.... Still feels like we have to wait a while for that... How about 50?

You know what, just to be on the safe side, let's do this next year at 41.

Ok, to recap. Doing this party next year for my 41st birthday and no funeral or memorial service when I die. Just stop by a bar and have a beer and/or go to a game in my honor.
Yeah. That feels better.

Listen to "Don't Look Back in Anger" here:

While We're Here:
I believe I've mentioned this somewhere before, but my entire life I've been writing scenes and moments for TV shows and movies in my head. If I ever had the chance to do a series finale for my own "Cheers" inspired, bar setting sitcom, I would use this song in the very last scene.

After a night of goodbyes and wrap-up of running jokes, just have the core main characters sitting up at the bar looking up at the TV, watching a game, with this song on the overhead speaker in the bar (one single shot, filmed down on the characters from the point of view of the TV they are watching).

They acknowledge the song at the beginning but have one last convo that it is fitting for them. One more bet, one more ball-bust. Then have them get quiet towards of the end of the song and just watch the game together.

Fade to black.

Favorite Line:

I’ve heard this song 8,372 times in my life and this sequence still gives me chills every. single. time. Musical interlude…

BLAZING guitar solo...

drum roll back to the chorus...
“So Sally can wait

She knows it’s too late

As she’s walking on by

Her soul slides away

But don’t look back in anger

I heard you say”