The band was formed in 2005 by Philippakis and Bevan, both former members of math rock band The Edmund Fitzgerald, and Andrew Mears of Youthmovies. Mears left the band after their first single to focus on Youthmovies. In January 2018, it was announced that Walter Gervers was also leaving the band.
In early 2007, the band released the limited edition 7" singles Hummer and Mathletics, both produced by Gareth Parton. In the summer of 2007 Foals began working on their debut album in New York. It was produced by Dave Sitek of TV On The Radio, however, the band decided to mix the album themselves, stating that Sitek made the first master copy of the album sound like "it was recorded in the Grand Canyon". Yannis has stated multiple times during various interviews that Foals and Dave Sitek are on good terms, even though the copy by Sitek was rejected by the band.
Foals released their debut album, entitled Antidotes, on 24 March 2008 in the UK and 8 April 2008 in the US. The album was a commercial success in the United Kingdom, debuting at No. 3 in the UK Albums Charts. The album was a minor success in other countries, charting in Japan, France and the Netherlands. Non-UK versions of the album include the early Parton produced singles.
In August 2009, Foals started recording their second album at Svenska Grammofon Studion in Gothenburg, Sweden. The album, Total Life Forever, has been described by the band members as sounding like "tropical prog" and "like the dream of an eagle dying". The band have described the album as being "a lot less funk" than they had originally planned. The album was produced by Luke Smith, formerly of Clor, and its title is named after an element of Ray Kurzweil's theory of singularity. The band's frontman Yannis Philippakis has professed a long time interest in futurology, with it informing numerous songs on Total Life Forever.
On 1 March 2010, the promotional single "Spanish Sahara" was first played on Zane Lowe's show Radio 1. Foals' new website was updated that night with the release of a video for the track directed by longtime collaborator Dave Ma. On 6 March, the Total Life Forever site was officially launched. Puzzles revealed images, lyrics and sound clips of songs from the album. The last clip appeared on 12 March, and resulted with a password entry for the Foals' new website. The site was opened on 13 March and presented the whole new art concept and media including samples of songs, photos and videos. Lead single "This Orient" was released on 3 May 2010. The album was finally released on 10 May 2010. "Spanish Sahara" was later released as a full physical single in September 2010, featuring an edited remix starring the strings of London Contemporary Orchestra. The album was nominated for the 2010 Mercury Prize.
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My Number
Foals Lyrics
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We don't need each other now
We don't need the city
The creed or the culture now
'Cause I feel, well, I feel alive
I feel, well, I feel alive
I feel the streets are not pulling me down
So people of the city
I don't need your counsel now
And I don't need your good advice
'Cause you don't have my lover's touch
You don't have my number
We don't need each other now
The creed or the culture
We can move beyond it now
Now the wolves is knocking at my door
Bang, bang, it asks for more
Stand here we stand tall
We could move beyond these walls
And I don't need your counsel
And I don't need these city streets
And I don't need that good advice
'Cause we can move beyond it now
You don't have my number
We don't need any trouble now
The creed or the culture
You don't have my lover's touch
'Cause I feel, well, I feel alive
I feel, well, I feel alive
I feel the streets are not far from here
Can you even hear me?
Do you even know my name?
Can we see the ocean there?
(You don't have my lover's touch)
You don't have my number
You don't have my number now
I wonder, can you hear me? (You don't have my number)
And are you even listening now? (You don't have my number)
'Cause you don't have my number
And we don't need each other now
No, you can't steal my thunder
'Cause you don't have my lover's touch
You don't have my number
And I don't need no one now
And I don't need these city streets
The creed or the culture now
Ooh, now
Ooh
Ooh, now
Ooh
Hey
The lyrics to Foals's song My Number express a sense of independence and freedom from societal pressures and norms. The song opens with the lines "You don't have my number / We don't need each other now / We don't need the city / The creed or the culture now," which highlight a desire to break away from the expectations and constraints placed upon individuals by their environment. The verses continue with a rejection of advice and counsel from others, emphasizing a need to chart one's own path.
The chorus of the song repeats the refrain "I feel alive" several times, underscoring a sense of newfound vitality and energy that comes from embracing one's independence. The lyrics also touch on the idea of moving beyond barriers and limitations, with the lines "We can move beyond it now / Stand here we stand tall / We could move beyond these walls." The song ends with a sense of triumph and confidence, with the repeated refrain "You don't have my number / And I don't need no one now / And I don't need these city streets / The creed or the culture now."
Overall, the lyrics to Foals's My Number promote a message of individual empowerment and the pursuit of personal fulfillment despite external pressures and expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
You don't have my number
The person being addressed does not have a way to contact the singer
We don't need each other now
The singer and the person being addressed are no longer in need of each other
We don't need the city
The singer and the person being addressed do not need the city as a means of happiness or success
The creed or the culture now
The singer and the person being addressed do not follow any specific beliefs or ways of life
'Cause I feel, well, I feel alive
The singer feels alive and free from the constraints of society
I feel, well, I feel alive
The singer feels alive and free from the constraints of society
I feel the streets are not pulling me down
The singer is not weighed down by the problems of the city
So people of the city
The singer is addressing the people of the city
I don't need your counsel now
The singer does not require advice from the people of the city
And I don't need your good advice
The singer does not require advice from the people of the city
'Cause you don't have my lover's touch
The people of the city cannot provide the singer with the affection of their lover
We can move beyond it now
The singer and the person being addressed can move beyond the constraints of society
Now the wolves is knocking at my door
The singer is facing a threat or challenge
Bang, bang, it asks for more
The challenge or threat is persistent and demanding
Stand here we stand tall
The singer and the person being addressed stand strong together
We could move beyond these walls
The singer and the person being addressed can break free from societal constraints and limitations
And I don't need your counsel
The singer does not require advice from the people of the city
And I don't need these city streets
The singer does not require the city as a means of happiness or success
You don't have my lover's touch
The people of the city cannot provide the singer with the affection of their lover
We don't need any trouble now
The singer and the person being addressed do not need any additional problems or conflict
You don't have my number now
The person being addressed no longer has a way to contact the singer
I wonder, can you hear me? (You don't have my number)
The singer questions if the person being addressed is able to receive their message since they do not have a means of contact
And are you even listening now? (You don't have my number)
The singer questions if the person being addressed is paying attention to their message since they do not have a means of contact
No, you can't steal my thunder
The person being addressed cannot take credit for the singer's successes
And I don't need no one now
The singer does not require anyone else's support or assistance
Ooh, now
The singer is expressing excitement or anticipation
Ooh
The singer is conveying emotion, such as joy or excitement
Hey
A general exclamation or greeting
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: James Smith, Jack Bevan, Walter Gervers, Yannis Philippakis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind