My friend thinks Radiohead is great. I think Radiohead are great. Who's right?

I've never been quite sure of what the proper etiquette is for bands and "is/are." Often times I see people interchange between "is" and "are." Now logically, it seems like you would say "is" talking about the band as a whole, because if you finish the sentence, "Radiohead is a great band" seems correct, as the single unit term (a) connotes that "is" would be the proper verb form. Yet you see people say "Radiohead are a great band" and this too can be correct as you can indeed say "they are a group of steel mill workers" or something. I've heard the argument "you use 'are' when talking about the members that make up the band, like you think each member of the band is great, and 'is' when referring to the band as a whole." However, if that's true, then unless you were specifically going to pinpoint a member as an exception, what would be the point of using "are" over "is"? A conversation like what I'm about to say wouldn't usually follow:

"Radiohead are great" "You like the band, huh?" "No, I think the band sucks, but the musicians that make up the band are great... except Thom Yorke."

No one would ever say "that band is fantastic" and mean that the musicians are terrible, but the band altogether sounds good. In other words, if you like the band, you usually think the musicians have talent proportional to how much you like them (whether this assumption is true is irrelevant as this is the way most people think). I've looked it up on Google and found nothing.

So when is the proper time to use one instead of the other? I'm hoping for someone double-majoring in English and Music to answer my question or something close. :P

Ok after reading that, you're both right.....

I think you might both be right, but "is" in this sense kind of rubs me up the wrong way. The Beatles is greatBrutal_Elitegs

I'll just go ahead and say they're hard to get into, but once you get into them it's good.

First off, Radiohead are grrrreeeeeeeaaaaaat! Second, when you refer to a group, they take a singular identity so long as a singular term is used. For example, "The band is playing a song" or "The musicians are playing a song"savebattery

Correct answer

You're both wrong. They're the greatest,

[QUOTE="Brutal_Elitegs"]I think you might both be right, but "is" in this sense kind of rubs me up the wrong way. The Beatles is greatsavebattery

I think you might both be right, but "is" in this sense kind of rubs me up the wrong way. The Beatles is greatBrutal_Elitegs

That's just because the plural name makes it sound off.

First off, Radiohead is terrible. Second, when you refer to a group, they take a singular identity so long as a singular term is used. For example, "The band is playing a song" or "The musicians are playing a song"savebattery

Yet "are" is much more prevalent than "is." I'm starting to wonder if it's an "American v. English" difference, because if you wikipedia any English band "are" (Radiohead) or "were"(The Beatles) is used, yet for non-English bands it's "is"(Arcade Fire) or "was"(The Band).

Generally speaking, in English, the best way to check whether or not a statement of identity (e.g., "X is Y") is grammatically correct is to flip the order. So, if you're curious whether "Radiohead are a great band" is correct, write it like this: "A great band are Radiohead". If this doesn't work, then you know that something is wrong.

Generally speaking, in English, the best way to check whether or not a statement of identity (e.g., "X is Y") is grammatically correct is to flip the order. So, if you're curious whether "Radiohead are a great band" is correct, write it like this: "A great band are Radiohead". If this doesn't work, then you know that something is wrong.

GabuEx

I'm pretty sure it is "Radiohead are great" is the proper way to say it, but "Radiohead is great" sounds like it makes more sence.

OMG OMG OMG Radiohead is like my favorite band, like, ever!!!!11!!1!11!!!!1!1! Second, when you refer to a group, they take a singular identity so long as a singular term is used. For example, "The band is playing a song" or "The musicians are playing a song"savebattery

Nice to see we have some Radiohead fans here :D. Not as big of a fan as you though ;)

If it is a singular group then the "is" is correct. If it is pluralized then "are" is correct. (This is applies in the US. I think in Britain "are" is correct for both cases)

Radiohead is one of those bands that you really have to sit down and pay attn to everything going on and listen to that album all the way thru to really enjoy. Matter of fact you need to listen to each album multiple times to catch everything. You can't just pick out a single song from one of there LPS, listen and really love them for all they are.
What does that mean?
That they are a great band.

Radiohead is one of those bands that you really have to sit down and pay attn to everything going on and listen to that album all the way thru to really enjoy. Matter of fact you need to listen to each album multiple times to catch everything. You can't just pick out a single song from one of there LPS, listen and really love them for all they are.
What does that mean?
That they are a great band.

Pariahdox

Yeah, I feel that way about Pablo Honey. It's a pretty underrated album.

Yeah, the first five songs, excluding creep, are pretty mediocre, but "Everyone Can Play Guitar" and everything else after that is great.

[QUOTE="Pariahdox"]

Radiohead is one of those bands that you really have to sit down and pay attn to everything going on and listen to that album all the way thru to really enjoy. Matter of fact you need to listen to each album multiple times to catch everything. You can't just pick out a single song from one of there LPS, listen and really love them for all they are.
What does that mean?
That they are a great band.

taj7575

Yeah, I feel that way about Pablo Honey. It's a pretty underrated album.

Yeah, the first five songs, excluding creep, are pretty mediocre, but "Everyone Can Play Guitar" and everything else after that is great.

Please don't tell me you're ignoring "You". :x

Personally the only two songs I can stand are "You" and "Anyone Can Play Guitar". I almost never listen to that album.

[QUOTE="taj7575"]

[QUOTE="Pariahdox"]

Radiohead is one of those bands that you really have to sit down and pay attn to everything going on and listen to that album all the way thru to really enjoy. Matter of fact you need to listen to each album multiple times to catch everything. You can't just pick out a single song from one of there LPS, listen and really love them for all they are.
What does that mean?
That they are a great band.

majoras_wrath

Yeah, I feel that way about Pablo Honey. It's a pretty underrated album.

Yeah, the first five songs, excluding creep, are pretty mediocre, but "Everyone Can Play Guitar" and everything else after that is great.

Please don't tell me you're ignoring "You". :x

Personally the only two songs I can stand are "You" and "Anyone Can Play Guitar". I almost never listen to that album.

Eh it's allrite.

Try listening to the album again..Especially Everyone Can Play Guitar. Give it another chance. I did, and I love it now. Vegetable, Lurgee, Blowout, etc..Are all great tracks.

Radiohead is a excellent band x

[QUOTE="majoras_wrath"]

[QUOTE="taj7575"]

Yeah, I feel that way about Pablo Honey. It's a pretty underrated album.

Yeah, the first five songs, excluding creep, are pretty mediocre, but "Everyone Can Play Guitar" and everything else after that is great.

taj7575

Please don't tell me you're ignoring "You". :x

Personally the only two songs I can stand are "You" and "Anyone Can Play Guitar". I almost never listen to that album.

Eh it's allrite.

Try listening to the album again..Especially Everyone Can Play Guitar. Give it another chance. I did, and I love it now. Vegetable, Lurgee, Blowout, etc..Are all great tracks.

[QUOTE="taj7575"]

[QUOTE="majoras_wrath"]

Please don't tell me you're ignoring "You". :x

Personally the only two songs I can stand are "You" and "Anyone Can Play Guitar". I almost never listen to that album.

majoras_wrath

Eh it's allrite.

Try listening to the album again..Especially Everyone Can Play Guitar. Give it another chance. I did, and I love it now. Vegetable, Lurgee, Blowout, etc..Are all great tracks.

Eh..I guess we're all different. I find Amnesiac to be annoying.

[QUOTE="majoras_wrath"][QUOTE="taj7575"]

Eh it's allrite.

Try listening to the album again..Especially Everyone Can Play Guitar. Give it another chance. I did, and I love it now. Vegetable, Lurgee, Blowout, etc..Are all great tracks.

taj7575

Eh..I guess we're all different. I find Amnesiac to be annoying.

:shock:

Bu..bu..but it's their most interesting and experimental other then Kid A! :(

but yeah, diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks.

I find radioheads songs are always better in the car. Pablo Honeys a good album. Just put it in your CD player in your car one day and play it front to back over the course of driving that day or the next couple days without skipping a song.

I find radioheads songs are always better in the car. Pablo Honeys a good album. Just put it in your CD player in your car one day and play it front to back over the course of driving that day or the next couple days without skipping a song.

Pariahdox

I find radioheads songs are always better in the car. Pablo Honeys a good album. Just put it in your CD player in your car one day and play it front to back over the course of driving that day or the next couple days without skipping a song.

Pariahdox

I'm not gonna lie dude..I thought I was the only one.

I always have Radiohead in my car whe I'm driving. I absolutely love it. I was in the car last week and I put in Pablo Honey. Oddly enough, he likes it too, so we just spent the whole ride singing the songs :lol:. Great time.

[QUOTE="Pariahdox"]

I find radioheads songs are always better in the car. Pablo Honeys a good album. Just put it in your CD player in your car one day and play it front to back over the course of driving that day or the next couple days without skipping a song.

majoras_wrath

[QUOTE="majoras_wrath"][QUOTE="Pariahdox"]

I find radioheads songs are always better in the car. Pablo Honeys a good album. Just put it in your CD player in your car one day and play it front to back over the course of driving that day or the next couple days without skipping a song.

homegirl2180

[QUOTE="Pariahdox"]

I find radioheads songs are always better in the car. Pablo Honeys a good album. Just put it in your CD player in your car one day and play it front to back over the course of driving that day or the next couple days without skipping a song.

taj7575

I'm not gonna lie dude..I thought I was the only one.

I always have Radiohead in my car whe I'm driving. I absolutely love it. I was in the car last week and I put in Pablo Honey. Oddly enough, he likes it too, so we just spent the whole ride singing the songs :lol:. Great time.

[QUOTE="taj7575"]

[QUOTE="Pariahdox"]

I find radioheads songs are always better in the car. Pablo Honeys a good album. Just put it in your CD player in your car one day and play it front to back over the course of driving that day or the next couple days without skipping a song.

Pariahdox

I'm not gonna lie dude..I thought I was the only one.

I always have Radiohead in my car whe I'm driving. I absolutely love it. I was in the car last week and I put in Pablo Honey. Oddly enough, he likes it too, so we just spent the whole ride singing the songs :lol:. Great time.

Well, just never open up the windows :P

[QUOTE="Pariahdox"]

[QUOTE="taj7575"]

I'm not gonna lie dude..I thought I was the only one.

I always have Radiohead in my car whe I'm driving. I absolutely love it. I was in the car last week and I put in Pablo Honey. Oddly enough, he likes it too, so we just spent the whole ride singing the songs :lol:. Great time.

taj7575

Well, just never open up the windows :P

"Is" is correct I believe.......

no it's not :|

Pablo Honeys a good album.

Pariahdox

Really?

Nah, It's "ok". But in direct comparison to radioheads other work the album stands out as a poor debut.

I'll just go ahead and say they're hard to get into, but once you get into them it's good.

CBR600-RR

Some opinion. Radiohead is a great band, but I don't really listen to them. They are talented, in fact they even have got their own sound. They defined it. So I think both "is" and "are" are correct

I'm listening to radiohead right now. But I don't like all their songs are good but I like them.

I can't believeso many people are saying'Radiohead is great!' is the correct way.

I'm quite sure it's 'Radiohead are great!'. Seeing as 'Radiohead' refers toa band, thus plural.

I feel like I'm taking crazy pills here! Am I the only one?! :P

I think you might both be right, but "is" in this sense kind of rubs me up the wrong way. The Beatles is greatBrutal_Elitegs

Is is the correct term.....but I don't think great is the correct adjective.:oLJS9502_basic

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]Is is the correct term.....but I don't think great is the correct adjective.:oGuppy507

[QUOTE="Guppy507"][QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]Is is the correct term.....but I don't think great is the correct adjective.:oLJS9502_basic