The Importance of Being Idle (song)

"The Importance of Being Idle" is a song by English rock band Oasis. It was released on 22 August 2005 in the UK as the second single from their sixth studio album, Don't Believe the Truth (2005), written, produced, and sung by lead guitarist Noel Gallagher. The song was written by Gallagher in the mid-2004, before the band made their final attempt at recording what would become Don't Believe the Truth.^{[citation needed]}

"The Importance of Being Idle"
Single by Oasis
from the album Don't Believe the Truth
B-side	"Pass Me Down the Wine" "The Quiet Ones"
Released	22 August 2005 (2005-08-22)
Studio	Wheeler End (Buckinghamshire, England)
Genre	Rock
Length	3:39
Label	Big Brother
Songwriter(s)	Noel Gallagher
Producer(s)	Noel Gallagher
Oasis singles chronology
"Lyla" (2005) "The Importance of Being Idle" (2005) "Let There Be Love" (2005)
Official video
"The Importance of Being Idle" on YouTube

The song debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart and stayed there for a week, marking the first time that Oasis had ever earned two successive number ones in the same calendar year (having also charted at number one earlier in 2005 with "Lyla"). "The Importance of Being Idle" would prove to be the band's last UK number one prior to their break-up in 2009. Noel Gallagher got the title from the book of the same name, which he found whilst cleaning out a garage.

Background

In an interview with Q magazine, Noel Gallagher stated that "The Importance of Being Idle" sounds like songs from two British bands, The Kinks and The La's. In particular, the guitar playing, as well as the sentiment expressed, is noticeably similar to The Kinks' "Sunny Afternoon" and "Dead End Street", while the rhythm is similar to that of "Clean Prophet" by the La's. He also said that the lyrics are inspired by his own laziness,^[1] stating: "Having nothing to do is such a massive job that someone had to write a song about it."^[2] Additionally, the line "I begged my doctor for one more line" may be a reference to Noel's account of how he gave up cocaine in 1998.^[1]

Critical reception

Most reviewers acclaimed the track as one of the highlights of Don't Believe the Truth, which itself was widely praised as a marked return to form. The band mentioned in interviews in June 2005 that it would become the second single. The B-sides are Liam Gallagher's "Pass Me Down the Wine" and Gem Archer's "The Quiet Ones". Q magazine readers placed the song at number one in a list of 2005's greatest tracks. The song was ranked at number 117 in Xfm's 1000 Greatest Songs of All Time list. XFM also placed it at number 48 in their "100 Best Songs of the 2000s" list.^{[citation needed]}

Music video

The promo film was directed by Dawn Shadforth, whose previous videos include Kylie Minogue's award-winning "Can't Get You Out of My Head". Shadforth's film for "The Importance of Being Idle" starred Welsh actor Rhys Ifans and pays homage to the style of early 1960s kitchen sink drama British films, and is set during preparations for a funeral procession in a northern town, with the extravagant undertakers parading the coffin at the video's climax and Ifans playing the part of a high-kicking funeral director whose own funeral it is.^[3][4]

The video is based on the film and play Billy Liar with Ifans playing the role of Billy. The Gallaghers play Shadrack & Duxbury, the owners of the funeral parlour where Billy works. The rest of the band (Gem, Andy and Zak) make brief appearances as lazy workers playing cards in the undertaker's office. The video is similar in style and concept to the black and white 1966 music video for "Dead End Street" by The Kinks. Liam Gallagher's second child, Lennon, cameos in the video.^{[citation needed]}

A short behind-the-scenes documentary of the making of the music video, which was shot partly in Greenwich, was directed by Dick Carruthers. Archer describes it as "the best video I think we've ever done".^[5]

Track listings

UK and Japanese CD single; digital download^[6]^[7]^[8] "The Importance of Being Idle" (Noel Gallagher) "Pass Me Down the Wine" (Liam Gallagher) "The Quiet Ones" (Gem Archer) UK DVD single^[9] "The Importance of Being Idle" "The Importance of Being Idle" (demo) "The Importance of Being Idle" (video) "The Making Of" (documentary)

UK 7-inch single and European CD1^[10]^[11] "The Importance of Being Idle" (N. Gallagher) "Pass Me Down the Wine" (L. Gallagher) European CD2^[12] "The Importance of Being Idle" (N. Gallagher) "Pass Me Down the Wine" (L. Gallagher) "The Quiet Ones" (Archer) "The Importance of Being Idle" (video clip)

Credits and personnel

• Noel Gallagher – vocals, lead guitar
• Andy Bell – bass
• Gem Archer – rhythm guitar, keyboards
• Zak Starkey – drums

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2005) Peak position Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[13] 4 Germany (Official German Charts)^[14] 63 Ireland (IRMA)^[15] 15 Italy (FIMI)^[16] 1 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)^[17] 15 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[18] 84 Scotland (OCC)^[19] 1 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[20] 40 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[21] 57 UK Singles (OCC)^[22] 1

Year-end charts Chart (2005) Position UK Singles (OCC)^[23] 37

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)^[24]	Gold	400,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	22 August 2005	7-inch vinyl CD DVD	Big Brother	^[25]
Japan	24 August 2005	CD	Epic	^[26]

References

1. "The Importance Of Being Idle by Oasis Songfacts". songfacts.com.
2. "What's the story? Mourning glory". Manchester Evening News. 4 July 2005.
3. "THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING IDLE NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO EXCLUSIVE". Oasisinet.com. 27 June 2005. from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
4. Price, Karen (27 June 2005). "Rhys is high-kicking attraction in Oasis video". WalesOnline. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
5. "Oasis: The Importance of Being Idle (Video 2005)". IMDb. 22 August 2005.
6. The Importance of Being Idle (UK CD single liner notes). Oasis. Big Brother Recordings. 2005. RKIDSCD 31.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
7. The Importance of Being Idle (Japanese CD single liner notes). Oasis. Epic Records. 2005. EICP 550.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
8. "The Importance of Being Idle – Single". Apple Music. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
9. The Importance of Being Idle (UK DVD single liner notes). Oasis. Big Brother Recordings. 2005. RKIDSDVD31.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
10. The Importance of Being Idle (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Oasis. Big Brother Recordings. 2005. RKID31.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
11. The Importance of Being Idle (European CD1 liner notes). Oasis. Helter Skelter. 2005. HES 676072 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
12. The Importance of Being Idle (European CD2 liner notes). Oasis. Helter Skelter. 2005. HES 676072 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
13. "Hits of the World – Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 117, no. 37. 10 September 2005. p. 89. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
14. "Oasis – The Importance of Being Idle" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
15. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Importance of Being Idle". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
16. "Oasis – The Importance of Being Idle". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
17. "Tipparade-lijst van week 40, 2005" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
18. "Oasis – The Importance of Being Idle" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
19. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
20. "Oasis – The Importance of Being Idle". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
21. "Oasis – The Importance of Being Idle". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
22. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
23. "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2005". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
24. "British single certifications – Oasis – The Importance of Being Idle". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
25. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 20 August 2005. p. 49.
26. . Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Archived from the original on 7 April 2006. Retrieved 25 August 2023.