Method of Modern Love

{{short description|1984 single by Daryl Hall & John Oates}} {{for|the song by Saint Etienne|Method of Modern Love (Saint Etienne song)}} {{Infobox song | name = Method of Modern Love | cover = Method of Modern Love.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Daryl Hall & John Oates | album = Big Bam Boom | B-side = Bank on Your Love | released = December 1984 | recorded = 1984 | studio = Electric Lady, New York City | venue = | genre = Soft rock<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/jazzfest/index.ssf/2013/05/hall_and_oates_alter_their_hit.html|title=Hall and Oates alter their hits just enough to entertain and satisfy at New Orleans Jazz Fest|first=Laura McKnight NOLA com |last=Times-Picayune|website=NOLA.com}}</ref> | length = 5:34 (album version) <br/>3:58 (single version) <br/>7:49 (extended mix) | label = RCA Victor | writer = Daryl Hall, Janna Allen | producer = Daryl Hall, John Oates and Bob Clearmountain | prev_title = Out of Touch | prev_year = 1984 | next_title = Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid | next_year = 1985 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|Q3F4c7E9IBU|"Method of Modern Love"}}}} }}

"'''Method of Modern Love'''" is a song by the American duo Daryl Hall & John Oates. It was released as the second single from their 1984 album, ''Big Bam Boom''. The song reached number five on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in February 1985.

''Billboard'' said that Hall & Oates "pop-r&b style renews its freshness and interest."<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|title=Reviews|date=December 22, 1984|accessdate=2023-02-10|page=72|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZSQEAAAAMBAJ}}</ref>

==Music video== The setting and the mood of the music video are surreal, almost dream-like. At the beginning, Hall and Oates are discovered in their cozy apartment by someone on the roof looking through a skylight. G. E. Smith throws a V-style guitar through the window, as if it were a spear. The guitar sticks into the floor and begins to glow. This incites Hall and Oates to go up to the roof to investigate. There, they become mesmerized by a four-man band, and then all the men perform a choreography. While performing, Hall falls from the roof, and the other men rush to see what became of him. They see him dancing on the clouds next to the moon, and upon Hall's beckoning, they dive off the roof in an attempt to walk on the clouds. At the end, they swim and dance in the clouds with neon signs flashing the letters of the song title.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x20bqd|title=Hall & Oates - Method Of Modern Love - video dailymotion|website=Dailymotion|date=18 May 2007 }}</ref>

The version of the song used in the video is a special edit, which incorporates both the album version and the 12" remix version.

==Chart performance== The song entered the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 when "Out of Touch" was still on the top of the chart; it debuted at #50 for the week ending December 15. After eight weeks it peaked at #5 staying there for a week; the single remained on the chart for 19 weeks.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1984-12-15|title=Music: Top 100 Songs {{!}} Billboard Hot 100 Chart|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2017-06-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1985-02-16|title=Music: Top 100 Songs {{!}} Billboard Hot 100 Chart|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2017-06-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/300339/daryl-hall-john-oates/chart|title=Daryl Hall & John Oates - Chart history {{!}} Billboard|website=www.billboard.com|language=en|access-date=2017-06-02}}</ref> Curiously, on the January 19, 1985, issue, the song was at #21 while Out of Touch was at #22.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1985-01-19|title=Music: Top 100 Songs {{!}} Billboard Hot 100 Chart|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2017-06-02}}</ref>

The song debuted at #38 on the December 14, 1984, issue of the ''Radio & Records'' airplay chart; after four weeks it peaked at #5, staying there for two weeks. The song was on the top 10 of the chart for five weeks and remained on the chart for 10 weeks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wweb.uta.edu/faculty/gghunt/charts/Songruns/H/HallandOates/method_of_modern_love.htm|title=Method of modern love|website=wweb.uta.edu|access-date=2017-06-02}}</ref>

==Chart positions== {|class="wikitable sortable" !Chart (1984–1985) !Peak<br>position |- | Canadian ''RPM'' Singles Chart<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.9611.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - March 2, 1985}}</ref> |align="center"|7 |- | Canadian ''The Record'' Singles Chart<ref>"Canadian Singles Chart from Nanda Lwin; ''Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide'' (2000)"</ref> |align="center"|6 |- |{{singlechart|Ireland2|27|song=Method of Modern Love|accessdate=August 11, 2019}} |- {{singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|21|artist=Daryl Hall & John Oates|song=Method Of Modern Love|accessdate=June 1, 2017}} |- {{singlechart|Billboardhot100|5|artist=Daryl Hall John Oates|accessdate=June 1, 2017}} |- |US ''Radio & Records'' CHR/Pop Airplay Chart<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wweb.uta.edu/faculty/gghunt/charts/halloates.html|title=Hall + Oates|website=wweb.uta.edu}}</ref> |align="center"|5 |- {{singlechart|Billboardadultcontemporary|18|artist=Daryl Hall John Oates|accessdate=March 30, 2017}} |- {{singlechart|Billboardrandbhiphop|21|artist=Daryl Hall John Oates|accessdate=March 30, 2017}} |- {{singlechart|Billboarddanceclubplay|15|artist=Daryl Hall John Oates|accessdate=March 30, 2017}} |- {{singlechart|Billboardmainstreamrock|42|artist=Daryl Hall John Oates|accessdate=June 1, 2017}} |- |{{single chart|West Germany|45|song=Method of Modern Love|songid=88466|artist=Daryl Hall & John Oates|access-date=3 August 2023|rowheader=true}} |- |} {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year-end chart (1985) !! Rank |- |US Top Pop Singles (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|date=December 28, 1985 |title=1985 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles |page=T-21 |magazine=Billboard |volume=97 |issue=52 }}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|83 |}

==In popular culture== *In 1985, "Weird Al" Yankovic included the song in his polka medley "Hooked on Polkas" from his album ''Dare to Be Stupid''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Squeezebox: The Complete Works of "Weird Al" Yankovic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/squeezebox-the-complete-works-of-weird-al-yankovic-mw0003129434 |website=AllMusic |accessdate=February 6, 2023}}</ref> *In 1993, rapper Method Man interpolated the hook on the song "Method Man".<ref>{{cite web |first=Insanul |last=Ahmed |title=Method Man Breaks Down His 25 Most Essential Songs |url=https://www.complex.com/music/2011/10/method-man-25-essential-songs |website=Complex|date=October 19, 2011 |accessdate=February 6, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Mitch |last=Findlay |title=Method Man Breaks Down How 'M.E.T.H.O.D. Man' Was Made |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/303701-method-man-breaks-down-how-method-man-was-made-news |website=HotNewHipHop |date=June 26, 2020 |accessdate=February 6, 2023}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:1984 songs Category:1985 singles Category:Hall & Oates songs Category:Songs written by Daryl Hall Category:Songs written by Janna Allen Category:Song recordings produced by Bob Clearmountain Category:RCA Victor singles