These Oasis tunes could save your life

A health and safety company has revealed that dozens of Oasis songs, including Supersonic and Some Might Say, are perfectly timed for performing CPR, ahead of the band’s long awaited reunion tour.

Fans lucky enough to bag tickets to Oasis’ upcoming reunion tour may walk away with more than memories, they might leave with the rhythm to save a life.

Health and safety experts at Direct365 have analysed the Britpop giants’ back catalogue and identified 35 Oasis songs with the ideal tempo for performing CPR. Many of the tracks, such as Supersonic, Some Might Say and The Importance of Being Idle, sit between 100 and 120 beats per minute, the recommended pace for effective chest compressions during cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Karl Bantleman from Direct365 said: “While everyone at Oasis is there to have a good time, it’s important to stay aware of your surroundings and act swiftly if you witness someone having a cardiac arrest. Almost 35,000 people in England suffered an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest last year, and almost half of UK adults have never learned CPR.

“Music naturally calms the human body down, and by reciting a song while carrying out chest compressions, you can keep your stress levels stable and focus on the situation.”

Oasis’ return to the stage, which begins with a Cardiff show on 4 July, has already generated fever-pitch excitement after a 16-year hiatus. But fans may be surprised to learn that the band's most iconic songs could help guide their hands in an emergency.

The Bee Gees’ “Staying Alive” is commonly cited as the go-to CPR song, but Direct365’s list of suitable Oasis tracks includes:

• Supersonic – 104 BPM
• Some Might Say – 110 BPM
• The Importance of Being Idle – 110 BPM
• Cigarettes & Alcohol – 115 BPM
• Half the World Away – 115 BPM
• Don’t Stop – 116 BPM
• Turn Up The Sun – 120 BPM

The full list of recommended tracks along with the beats per minute.

• Columbia – 100 BPM
• Setting Sun – 100 BPM
• Fuckin’ in the Bushes – 101 BPM
• It’s Better People – 101 BPM
• Listen Up – 101 BPM
• To Be Where There’s Life – 101 BPM
• Cloudburst – 102 BPM
• Idler’s Dream – 102 BPM
• Strange Thing – 103 BPM
• Supersonic – 104 BPM
• Force of Nature – 104 BPM
• Guess God Thinks I’m Abel – 104 BPM
• The Nature of Reality – 104 BPM
• I Am The Walrus (Beatles cover) – 105 BPM
• The Quiet Ones – 106 BPM
• Going Nowhere – 107 BPM
• Some Might Say – 110 BPM
• The Importance of Being Idle – 110 BPM
• Mucky Fingers – 111 BPM
• Acquiesce – 112 BPM
• Be Here Now – 112 BPM
• Take Me Away – 112 BPM
• Thank You for the Good Times – 112 BPM
• Ain’t Got Nothin’ – 113 BPM
• Better Man – 114 BPM
• The Hindu Times – 114 BPM
• Cigarettes & Alcohol – 115 BPM
• Half the World Away – 115 BPM
• A Bell Will Ring – 115 BPM
• (Probably) All in the Mind – 115 BPM
• Don’t Stop – 116 BPM
• Heroes – 116 BPM
• Sad Song – 118 BPM
• The Turning – 120 BPM
• Turn Up The Sun – 120 BPM

How to perform CPR

According to Direct365, the basic steps for CPR are:

1. Check for response and breathing: Gently shake the person and ask if they are okay. If unresponsive and not breathing properly, assume cardiac arrest.
2. Call for help: Dial 999 and put the phone on loudspeaker. Ask for a defibrillator if one is nearby.
3. Start chest compressions: Place the heel of your hand on the centre of the chest and push down firmly and quickly to a depth of around 5cm, at a rate of 100–120 beats per minute.
4. Optional: Give rescue breaths: Tilt the head back, lift the chin and give two breaths after every 30 compressions, if you are trained and comfortable doing so.
5. Continue until help arrives: Keep going until paramedics take over.

The team at Direct365 hope the musical link will make people more confident in applying CPR when needed, especially in high-pressure situations like concerts or public gatherings.