Richard Ashcroft Reacts After Oasis Fan Shazams ‘Bittersweet Symphony’ in Cardiff

Imagine hearing Bittersweet Symphony live at a sold-out Oasis show, no less and pulling out your phone to Shazam it. I mean the cheek of it.

One fan did exactly that in Cardiff last week, and naturally, the internet lost its mind.

The now-viral moment was filmed during Richard Ashcroft’s support slot at Oasis’ reunion gig at the Principality Stadium on July 4. As the unmistakable opening string loop of Bittersweet Symphony rang out, someone in the crowd quietly launched the Shazam app, hoping to ID the song.

“Did they just Shazam the national anthem?” read the caption from the onlooker who caught it on camera. Another repost quipped: “This melon is on Shazam trying to find out what it’s called.” The backlash was immediate—some joked the fan should’ve been “escorted off the premises,” while others were more forgiving, suggesting maybe they were just adding it to a playlist.

But the best response came from Ashcroft himself. Posting to Instagram the next day, he laughed it off with class: “If you don’t know it, Shazam it. All new fans welcome!” He went on to thank the Cardiff crowd for the “beautiful support” and gave a shoutout to Liam Gallagher for playing Cast No Shadow, calling it “what a tune!”

Let’s be real – yes, it’s a bit wild not to recognise one of the most iconic songs of the ’90s in a crowd full of Britpop lifers. But Ashcroft’s response proved he is a total pro. No gatekeeping, no shade—just an open invitation to the next generation to come and feel it.

Ashcroft’s set in Cardiff was a reminder of his legacy. Seven songs, all killer, capped off by Bittersweet Symphony—the kind of track that makes grown men cry and apparently makes Gen Z whip out Shazam.

So maybe don’t crucify the kid. They’re not clueless, they’re curious. And if the worst thing that happens at an Oasis gig is someone discovering The Verve a little late… music’s still doing its job.