"Modern Girl" is the debut single by Scottish pop singer Sheena Easton. The song was originally released in February 1980, reaching #56 in the UK charts, before being re-released to top ten success in August of the same year. The song would also go on to reach the US top 20, when it was released in 1981 as her second single, following the #1 hit "Morning Train (9 to 5)".
Background Exposure on the BBC television production The Big Time not only resulted in a record deal with EMI, but also pushed Easton's 1980 debut singles, "Modern Girl" and " 9 to 5", into the UK top ten. Her debut LP, Take My Time, followed in January 1981. In the US, "9 to 5" was released in February 1981 under the title "Morning Train", to avoid confusion with Dolly Parton's recent hit of the same name; regardless, the single topped the U.S. pop charts. "Modern Girl" was then released as the second US single in May and peaked at #18 in July.
In 1997 Easton re-recorded this song for her album Freedom for the Japanese market and released it as the first single.[ Freedom at Allmusic]
Cover versions Mona Carita recorded "Modern Girl" in Finnish as "Nykyaikainen" as the title cut for her 1981 album.
"Modern Girl" was covered by Japanese pop group Sonia on their 1995 album, Tenchi Muyo!. This version used the chorus and the first verse, but changed the second and third verses to Japanese lyrics. "Modern Girl" was covered by the UK's Camera Obscura for the Q Magazine disc, Q Covered the Eighties in 2005.
In popular culture
"Modern Girl" is included in the arcade game Dance Dance Revolution SuperNova worldwide, and in that game's PlayStation 2 version in Japan. In the arcade sequel, Dance Dance Revolution SuperNova 2, it is the default song in Beginner mode. "Modern Girl" makes a final arcade appearance in Dance Dance Revolution X before being removed from the series. "Modern Girl" was used in the 2015 KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) new Rice box campaign commercials in the UK.
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1980–81) Peakposition Canadian Singles Chart19 Ireland Singles ChartIrish singles charts - Sheena Easton10 Japan Oricon Singles Chart18 Luxembourg (Radio Luxembourg)3 UK Singles Chart8 US Billboard Hot 10018 US Cash Box Top 10015 UK Record Mirror/RM Pop Dance Chart2 US Billboard Adult Contemporary 13
Year-end charts Chart (1981) RankUS Billboard Hot 10095
References