Modern Way

{{infobox song

| name = Modern Way

| cover = Kaiser Chiefs Modern Way single cover.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| released = {{start date|2005|11|7|df=y}}{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=25|date=5 November 2005}} Misprinted as 00.00.05.

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length =

4:03 (album version)
3:31 (radio edit)

| label = B-Unique

| writer =

| producer = Stephen Street

| prev_title = I Predict a Riot

| prev_title2 = Sink that Ship

| prev_year = 2005

| next_title = Lap of Honour

| next_year = 2006

| misc =

}}

"Modern Way" is the fourth and final single released from English indie rock band Kaiser Chiefs' 2005 debut album, Employment, on 7 November 2005. It entered the UK Singles Chart at {{abbr|No.|Number}} 11 and became a minor hit in Ireland and the Netherlands.

Music video

The song's music video marked the directorial debut of the band's lead singer, Ricky Wilson and was co-directed by prolific video director Scott Lyon.{{cite web |date=October 3, 2005 |author1= |title=For The Record: Quick News On Paris Hilton, 50 Cent, Gwen Stefani, Buju Banton, Ryan Cabrera, Usher & More |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/bup5pj/for-the-record-quick-news-on-paris-hilton-50-cent-gwen-stefani-buju-banton-ryan-cabrera-usher-more |website=MTV News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814084157/https://www.mtv.com/news/bup5pj/for-the-record-quick-news-on-paris-hilton-50-cent-gwen-stefani-buju-banton-ryan-cabrera-usher-more |archive-date=2022-08-14 |url-status=dead }} It tells of the success of William Green, a juggler who has a unique skill for balancing tennis balls on his face, and the impact that he has made on the public.{{cite web |date=October 20, 2005 |author1=Corey-Moss |title=Kaiser Chiefs Liken Their History To Guy Who Balances Ball On His Head |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/ygbgpy/kaiser-chiefs-liken-their-history-to-guy-who-balances-ball-on-his-head |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240302040115/https://www.mtv.com/news/ygbgpy/kaiser-chiefs-liken-their-history-to-guy-who-balances-ball-on-his-head |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 March 2024 |website=MTV News }} The band appears throughout as extras, donning glasses and facial hair. During Green's climatic performance, they appear as themselves.

Track listings

UK CD1{{cite AV media notes|title=Modern Way|others=Kaiser Chiefs|year=2005|type=UK CD1 liner notes|publisher=B-Unique Records|id=BUN100CD}}

"Modern Way" – 3:31
"People Need Light" – 3:06

UK CD2{{cite AV media notes|title=Modern Way|others=Kaiser Chiefs|year=2005|type=UK CD2 liner notes|publisher=B-Unique Records|id=BUN100CDX}}

"Modern Way" – 3:31
"Moon" – 2:51
"It Ain't Easy" (demo) – 2:25
"Modern Way" (video)

UK 7-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Modern Way|others=Kaiser Chiefs|year=2005|type=UK 7-inch single sleeve|publisher=B-Unique Records|id=BUN100-7}}

:A. "Modern Way" – 3:31

:B. "Run Again" – 2:40

Reception

AllMusic called it the song "moody-yet-stylish".{{cite web |last=Phares |first=Heather |title=Employment – Kaiser Chiefs |publisher=AllMusic |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/employment-mw0000345674 |access-date=27 July 2019 }}

NME called it "sublime" comparing it to Blur's Popscene,{{cite web |date=28 October 2005 |title=Kaiser Chiefs: Modern Way |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-kaiser-chiefs-7816-312396 |website=NME }} and PlayLouder.com similarly compared it to Modern Life Is Rubbish.{{cite web |date=10 March 2005 |author=Jeremy Allen |title=Review - Employment |url=http://www.playlouder.com/review/+employment/ |website=PlayLouder.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050319024342/http://www.playlouder.com/review/+employment/ |archive-date=2005-03-19 |url-status=dead |access-date=2 March 2024 }}

Pitchfork's Joe Tangari reviewed the album and called Modern Way "the only song on the LP that is truly dynamic" praising the "fluid verses" and build up to the "towering chorus". He does concede that the song makes him imagine the band during recording asking for "More Cowbell".{{cite web |date=15 March 2005 | last=Tangari |first=Joe |title=Kaiser Chiefs: Employment |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/4595-employment/ |work=Pitchfork |access-date=3 March 2024 }}

Charts

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! Chart (2005–2006)

! Peak
position

{{single chart|Ireland3|47|artist=Kaiser Chiefs|rowheader=true|access-date=6 December 2020}}

{{single chart|Dutch100|89|artist=Kaiser Chiefs|song=Modern Way|rowheader=true|access-date=6 December 2020}}

{{single chart|Scotland|12|date=20051119|rowheader=true|access-date=6 December 2020}}

{{single chart|UK|11|date=20051119|rowheader=true|access-date=6 December 2020}}

Other versions

One of Kaiser Chiefs' contemporary bands from Yorkshire, the Cribs, covered "Modern Way" in 2005, as a B-side to their single "Mirror Kissers".{{cite video |title=Modern Way |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3_iMFfimds |website=The Cribs YouTube }}

In 2006, the song was reworked for the Buena Vista Social Club album Rhythms del Mundo.{{cite web

| publisher = All Media Guide

| title = Rhythms del Mundo: Cuba

| url = {{AllMusic|class=album|id=r931344|pure_url=yes}}

| quote= give the Kaiser Chiefs a wonderful Latin kick

| access-date = 2024-02-29

}}