"Millionaire" is a single from English band Beady Eye, released on 2 May 2011. The song appears on the band's 2011 debut album Different Gear, Still Speeding and was issued as the second commercial single from the record, backed by "Man of Misery".
In NMEs track-by-track preview of Different Gear, Still Speeding, "Millionaire" was identified as an Andy Bell composition and described as the song that had originally been lined up to introduce Beady Eye as their first free-download release before "Bring the Light" was chosen instead; the same piece also said that, according to a Japanese interview, it was Liam Gallagher's favourite song on the album.
Critics frequently singled out the song's lighter, more melodic character within the album. The Guardian called it "breezily melodic", while The Independent wrote that its jangly 12-string guitar and wheedling vocal placed the band in Teenage Fanclub territory. Slant Magazine described the track as "especially impressive", praising its slide-guitar riff and "psychedelic-folk twang".
Beady Eye announced in March 2011 that "Millionaire" would be released on 2 May as the next single from Different Gear, Still Speeding, issued both as a download and as a 7-inch single. The band's official website described "Man of Misery" as the B-side and as a "live favourite".
All songs written by Liam Gallagher, Gem Archer, and Andy Bell.
"Man of Misery" was originally used, in demo form, in a promotional video for the Liam Gallagher-run clothing line Pretty Green, and was originally credited as a Liam Gallagher solo song. The song was originally available as an iTunes exclusive for those who downloaded the album.
The accompanying promotional music video, directed by Charlie Lightening, was shot while the band were touring in Spain. In it, all four members of the band â plus live bassist, Jeff Wootton â drive through the Spanish countryside and along the coast, before ending up at a pub. The band's official materials said that the clip was premiered online on 8 April 2011.
"Millionaire" drew a generally positive but mixed critical response, with several reviews treating it as one of the more melodic songs on Different Gear, Still Speeding. In an album review, The Guardian called it "fantastic", while The Observer wrote that Liam Gallagher was in "a lovely mood" on the song, with his "Lennon sneer playful rather than hoarse" over a "mantric slide guitar riff". Slant Magazine similarly highlighted the song as "especially impressive", praising its "superb slide guitar riff" and "wonderfully authentic psychedelic-folk twang".
Other critics were less enthusiastic. PopMatters wrote that the song "sounds more like the Charlatans than the Charlatans themselves have sounded in ages", while The Independent described it in more flattering terms as a Teenage Fanclub-like performance built around jangling guitar and a lighter vocal approach. Reviewing the single on release, guest critic Josh Groban in The Guardian praised its "interesting, strummy chord changes" and concluded: "great song".
The single reached number 71 on the UK Singles Chart and number 1 on the Official Physical Singles Chart. In the Official Charts Company's year-end summaries for 2011, "Millionaire" ranked as the second best-selling vinyl single and the second best-selling 7-inch single of the year in the United Kingdom.