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.
http://foals.co.uk
Balloon
Foals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There is this thing called
We can fly balloons on this fuel called
We can fly balloons on this fueled called love
Whats the fuel called
Fair weather storms are all in your head [x2]
We fly balloons on this fuel called love [x2]
We fly balloon called
Oh there is this thing called...
There is thing a thing called [x7]
We fly balloons on this fuel called love [x2]
We can fly balloons on this fuel called
We fly balloons on this fuel called love [x3]
We can fly balloons on this fuel called
We can fly balloons on this fuel called love
The lyrics of Foals's song "Balloon" seek to convey the idea that there is a fuel that propels us to heights beyond our physical limitations, and that fuel is love. The opening lines repeat the phrase "There is a thing called" twice, signaling the beginning of a discourse about something abstract, possibly even metaphorical. The singer then proceeds to introduce the concept of love as a fuel that can power a balloon, allowing it to defy gravity and take to the skies. The repetition of the phrase "We can fly balloons on this fuel called love" drives home the idea that love is a powerful force, capable of elevating us and propelling us beyond our limitations.
The next set of lyrics, "Fair weather storms are all in your head," serve as a counterpoint to the previous lines. Here, the singer's message is that our fears and doubts may prevent us from fully embracing the power of love. However, by affirming that "We fly balloons on this fuel called love," the singer suggests that we can overcome these obstacles and experience the transformative power of love.
Overall, the song "Balloon" presents a powerful metaphor for the power of love to transform us and elevate us beyond our physical and emotional limitations.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a thing called
There exists a concept or idea
There is this thing called
There is something specific being referred to
We can fly balloons on this fuel called
It is possible to soar to great heights using a source of energy called
We can fly balloons on this fueled called love
Love is a powerful force that can enable us to achieve great things and reach new heights
Whats the fuel called
What is the name or nature of the energy source we need to fly these balloons?
Fair weather storms are all in your head [x2]
The idea of calm and turbulence is subjective and determined by one's perception
We fly balloons on this fuel called love [x2]
Love is the energy source we use to ascend and move forward
We fly balloon called
We soar high above using a specific method or vehicle
Oh there is this thing called...
Oh, there is something I want to share or express...
We fly balloons on this fuel called love [x3]
Love is the energy source that propels us to new and exhilarating experiences
We can fly balloons on this fuel called
It is possible to achieve great things using a source of energy called
We fly balloons on this fuel called love [x2]
Love is the force that enables us to accomplish feats that seem impossible
We can fly balloons on this fuel called love
Love is a powerful and limitless energy source that can take us to new and incredible heights
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EDWIN THOMAS CONGREAVE, JACK WILLIAM BEVAN, JAMES SMITH, WALTER JAMES MORRISON GERVERS, YANNIS BARNABAS EMANUEL PHILIPPAKIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@layansarayra5655
There's a thing called
There's this thing called
We fly balloons on this fuel called
We fly balloons on this fuel called love
What's a chkacha?
What's a fuel called?
Fairweather storms are in your head
Fairweather storms are in your head
We fly balloons on this fuel called love
We fly balloons on this fuel called love
We fly balloons on this fuel called
We fly balloons on this fuel called love
There's a thing called
There's a thing called
There's a thing called
There's a thing called
There's a thing called
There's a thing called
There's a thing called
There's a thing called
We fly balloons on this fuel called love
We fly balloons on this fuel called love
We fly balloons on this fuel called
We fly balloons on this fuel called love
We fly balloons on this fuel called love
We fly balloons on this fuel called love
We fly balloons on this fuel called
We fly balloons on this fuel called love
@MrFeyerwire
I am pretty sure the drummer for Foals has to be injected with speed before each performance. He is one of the fastest, most precise drummers in indie rock.
@devinhudson4905
You said what i was thinking😂😂
@paulgotik
It's posible but in metal and hard rock music, you have a lot of faster drummers.
@MaxBrilhart
+paulgotik And jazz
But yeah, this part isn't that complicated (I'm a drummer), but it's very tasteful
@okay.1336
So, we're just going to disregard Matt Tong, I see!
@MaxBrilhart
Hubba BubbaBB Matt's great, as is The Walkmen's drummer. Both are very energetic and always seem to play what sounds right. I don't know if they're the best, but they should both definitely be in the convo.
@maxcohen13
Such an underrated album.
@juanVERDE55
The best album.
@HarrowNigga
Not underrated by people who know it.
@jotadeltoro7155
exactly