Talk:Foals (band)

British or English?

There has only been a little bit of edit warring regarding the band being either a "British" or "English" band. I am opening this discussion to see if the band should be either one of the two. Pinging previous IP and editors 84.69.137.182, Jane, His Wife, and IndigoBeach. Please indicate your preference ("English" or "British") with your reasoning. HorrorLover555 (talk) 14:11, 24 October 2023 (UTC)

English: Per information in this article, the band has been consistently based in Oxford, a city in England. IP editor's logic of "It's been that way for years so don't change it" seems obviously wrong and I shouldn't have to explain why, and HorrorLover555's point that English is a subset of British is sound. Perhaps if there are sources in which the band self-refer as British, as the IP editor says, but where they specifically say they aren't English, then there's a valid counterargument, but otherwise I don't see the point in fighting this. QuietHere (talk | contributions) 04:06, 20 November 2023 (UTC)

I agree. Although, the IP insists that they are British as it says on the band's website, I do not believe that it merits enough, and while I have seen at least a few sources referring to the band as English, I would like to see the input of others. HorrorLover555 (talk) 04:35, 21 November 2023 (UTC)

English See Countries of the United Kingdom. As the band originated in England, which is a part of the United Kingdom. It makes no sense to refer to the band as British, and with use of MOS:ENGVAR: the band was formed in England, so I think it makes sense to use English, as the band are notable for being from England per MOS:NATIONALITY, with its categories noting the band as English. HorrorLover555 (talk) 04:46, 21 November 2023 (UTC)

British (Summoned by bot) - unless sources can be provided that show that this band ordinarily refer to themselves as "English". the IP insists that they are British as it says on the band's website, I do not believe that it merits enough, actually it is more than enough and suggests 'British'. That they come from Oxford is academic, so does Layla Moran and both Gordon Brown and Tony Blair come from Scotland, but are not 'Scots', whereas Humza Yousaf and Sean Connery are/were. The default position for UK subjects is that they are 'British' - their citizenship - unless they and those who write about them ordinarily describe them as Eng/Sc/We/N.Ir. Pincrete (talk) 06:02, 23 November 2023 (UTC)

Pincrete, Some published sources like Forbes twice in these sources here and here, and the New York Times, the band is referred to as English. HorrorLover555 (talk) 18:58, 23 November 2023 (UTC)

They are English, first and foremost. Oxford is in England, and that is the city of origin they are an English band. You wouldn't see other English bands referred to as British. Americans use the term 'British' often when referring to English, which stems from England - a country within the United Kingdom. In essence they are a UK/British band when talking about bands in general from the islands, but Foals formed in Oxford, so are English. Deep Purple Fan (talk) 21:47, 3 January 2024 (UTC)

I agree. HorrorLover555 (talk) 14:51, 24 January 2024 (UTC)

RFC

Should the nationality in the lead section be represented as English or British? HorrorLover555 (talk) 15:56, 5 April 2024 (UTC)

British - English may add confusion as to if it's England, or an english-speaking country. So, keep as-is. Cocobb8 (💬 talk • ✏️ contribs) 20:17, 5 April 2024 (UTC)

I think that potential confusion can be immediately removed by following up with specifically where they are from in England. This is how it starts in FAs such as "The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool" or "Joy Division were an English rock band formed in Salford", also in GAs like Blur, The Rolling Stones, Bloc Party. Since the opening sentence already says "formed in Oxford" then I don't think that anyone is going to be left wondering whether FOALS are English-from-England, or just English-speaking. Even then, even if someone really was somehow confused by that, then they are both, so no harm no Foal. ---- D'n'B-t -- 15:39, 13 April 2024 (UTC)

English - Per Countries of the United Kingdom, it makes sense to refer to them as English. If the band was to be referred to as British, would the same be said for bands like Iron Maiden and Pink Floyd for example? (Both whom are notably English bands from England, whereas Foals is from a city in England.) HorrorLover555 (talk) 14:27, 6 April 2024 (UTC)

British Like other similar articles. Abhishek0831996 (talk) 12:46, 8 April 2024 (UTC)

English as to be consistent with many band articles mentioned above.---- D'n'B-t -- 15:39, 13 April 2024 (UTC)

• English Ultimately, I don't think it matters a whole lot. But English is more specific and accurate. Being British just means that you can originate anywhere within the UK. Most of the English bands that I just looked up were designated as English, maybe 8 out of 10 searches. As stated above, the risk for confusion is low. I don't think we even need to consider that. So, in short, if they're from England, then let's be accurate and say that they're English. Seems simple enough. pillowcrow 18:25, 16 April 2024 (UTC)

I couldn't agree more, as it does make a lot of sense. And with Countries of the United Kingdom which states that the United Kingdom is made up of four different countries, it would make sense to refer to the band as "English". HorrorLover555 (talk) 15:21, 21 April 2024 (UTC)