Several members of the band are ardent fans of the English football team Leeds United (as the band originates from Leeds). The band are named after the South African Kaizer Chiefs Football Club, the former team of long-serving former Leeds captain Lucas Radebe.
The band's main musical influences include The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Kinks, Blur, Eric Burdon, The Jam, and other new wave bands. Andrew White (b. England; guitar), Ricky Wilson (b. Charles Richard Wilson, 17 January 1975, Keighley, West Yorkshire, England; vocals), Nick Baines (keyboards), Nick Hodgson (b. Nicholas Hodgson, 20 October 1977, England; drums) and Simon Rix (b. James Simon Rix, 18 October 1977, England; bass) formed the band in early 2003, having originally played garage rock under the Parva moniker. Their energetic brand of post-millennial guitar rock, which would have been branded "indie" in previous decades, quickly found favour on the local gig circuit. The quintet issued their debut, the XTC-soundalike Oh My God, before they had even signed a proper recording contract, teaming up with the Drowned In Sound website in May 2004 for a limited edition release. A contract with the B-Unique label followed and the band began to attract wider interest at the end of 2004 with the release of their storming I Predict A Riot. The topical lyrics, concerning alcohol-fuelled violence in small English towns, attracted as much attention as the band's anarchic update on late 70s new wave.
The band's explosion onto the global music scene in early 2005 was epitomised when they had their first single I Predict A Riot off their debut album Employment played on the radio around the world and opened Live8 in Philadelphia. Several years prior to 2003 the members of the band had been a garage rock group called Parva (before that they had been known as Runston Parva). However, after their label Mantra Records went bust in late 2002, the band went back to their roots and adopted a more britpop sound, helping the band reach their current popularity within the UK and beyond as a consequence.
The band re-released the single Oh My God on 21 February, which charted at #6. The debut album Employment was released on 7 March 2005 and entered the charts at #3 that week. Despite becoming favourite after being shortlisted, the album failed to win the 2005 Mercury Music Prize. They covered the Marvin Gaye classic, Heard it Through the Grapevine for the War Child album Help! A Day in the Life, giving a whole new slant on the song.
A DVD, entitled Enjoyment, was released in November 2005. The basis of the DVD is a (semi-false) documentary about the band narrated by Bill Nighy. It also includes all the promo videos, live performances and more.
An internet-only (so far) music video for their song Sink that Ship has been released in September 2005. The video appears on Electronic Arts' website as a promotional tool for their game Burnout Revenge but is completely unbranded.
Wilson auctioned off his red tambourine to radio show Xfm in late 2005 to raise money for the homeless charity Shelter. The winning bid was £375.00.
On February 5th, The Kaiser Chiefs Released their next single, Ruby, which was a major success reaching #1 in the singles charts.
The Kaiser Chiefs released their new album, Yours Truly, Angry Mob on February 23, 2007 in The Netherlands and Belgium, February 26, 2007 in the United Kingdom and on March 27, 2007 in North America. A double disc edition is also available, the second disc being a DVD.
It is known that three of the band members went to a school near Highroyd, Leeds. Also, Nick (drummer) announced during a gig in Newcastle Upon Tyne that his dad went to a school called St. Cuthberts in Newcastle. Other famous people from that school include Ant & Dec and Sting.
The band released their third album, Off With Their Heads, on October 20, 2008. It contains the hit single Never Miss a Beat.
Songfacts states that the band's fourth album, The Future Is Medieval was released through the band's website on June 3, 2011. In effect the world's first bespoke album, fans are able to create their own version of the record by choosing their favorite 10 tracks from the selection of 20 on offer. One-minute excerpts allow them to make their selections and each song is represented by an object.
After creating their own album, people can then share their version of the record with other fans, and earn £1 each time it is purchased by someone else.
5th album "Education, Education, Education and War!" was released on 31st March 2014 on Fiction Records, featuring the UK Top 40 single, 'Coming Home', and was their first UK number one album since 2007's 'Yours Truly, Angry Mob'.
Also on the Fiction label, their 6th album, Stay Together, was released on the 7th October 2016, with a notable shift towards dance-pop, hitting #4 on the UK Albums Chart.
In 2019, they moved to Polydor, and released 'Duck' on 26th July, featuring the singles 'Record Collection' and 'People Know How To Love One Another'. It peaked at #3 on the UK Albums Chart.
Performances
Kaiser Chiefs' first big festival show was at the dual-site Reading and Leeds Festival on 27 August 2004 and in the following year, on 16 May 2005, they appeared at the Pinkpop Festival in Landgraaf, The Netherlands. After that, things went fast. They were the opening act at the Philadelphia Live 8 concert on July 2nd 2005, one of only two British acts in the lineup (Def Leppard being the other). They performed I Predict a Riot, Everyday I Love You Less and Less and Oh My God. They played Reading and Leeds in 2006 before Franz Ferdinand and were extremely popular.
June 2005 saw them headline at the May Ball at Queens' College, Cambridge, supported by Anada, before an acclaimed appearance at a rain-soaked Glastonbury festival during the same month, whilst August's appearance at the V Festival featured a very enthusiastic set despite Ricky Wilson having his leg in plaster. Also more recently they embarked on their own headline UK Tour, supported by Maximo Park and The Cribs. Their first US tour (with The Cribs) ran through the summer of 2005, and they followed it by playing a few shows on the Foozer tour. This was followed up by opening for Foo Fighters during their Australian tour in December 2005. They also played to Jools Holland and his audience on December 31, 2005.
Their song Ruby, from the album Yours Truly, Angry Mob was featured as a bonus song in Guitar Hero III, and I Predict a Riot from Employment was eventually released as downloadable content for the game.
Kaiser Chiefs are set to return to the European festival scene this summer, having been booked for Switzerland's Gurten Festival.
Never Gonna Miss A Beat ft. Lily Allen
Kaiser Chiefs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I learned nothing
What did you do today?
I did nothing
What did you learn at school?
I didn't go
Why didn't you go to school?
I don't know
It's cool to know nothing
It's cool to know nothing
Television's on the blink
There's nothing on it
I really want to really big coat
With words on it
What do you want for tea?
I want crisps
Why didn't you join the team?
I just didn't
It's cool to know nothing
It's cool to know nothing
Take a look, take a look, take a look
At the kids on the street
No they never miss a beat
No they never miss a beat
Never miss a beat
Never miss a beat, beat, beat, beat
Take a look at the kids on the street
No they never miss a beat
No they never miss a beat
Never miss a beat
Never miss a
Never miss a beat
Never miss a beat
Here comes the referee
The light's flashing
Best bit of the day
Now that's living
Why don't you run away?
Are you kidding?
What is the golden rule?
You say nothing
It's cool to know nothing
It's cool to know nothing
Take a look, take a look, take a look
At the kids on the street
No they never miss a beat
No they never miss a beat
Never miss a beat
Never miss a beat, beat, beat, beat
Take a look at the kids on the street
No they never miss a beat
No they never miss a beat
Never miss a beat
Never miss a
Never miss a beat
Never miss a beat
Take a look, take a look, take a look
At the kids on the street
No they never miss a beat
No they never miss a beat
Never miss a beat
Never miss a beat, beat, beat, beat
Take a look at the kids on the street
No they never miss a beat
No they never miss a beat
Never miss a beat
Never miss a
Never miss a beat
Never miss a beat
The lyrics of Kaiser Chiefs' "Never Miss a Beat" can be interpreted as a satirical take on contemporary society's obsession with instant gratification and materialism, with a focus on youth culture. The song's chorus, "It's cool to know nothing," reflects a popular attitude that nowadays everything is available at the click of a button, rendering knowledge and education obsolete.
In the first verse, the singer dismisses the importance of school, claiming to have learned nothing and done nothing all day. The second verse adds to the sense of aimlessness as the singer expresses a desire for a coat with words on it (suggesting that they care more about image than substance), and chooses crisps over a proper meal. The bridge sarcastically presents the "golden rule" as saying nothing, again highlighting the superficiality of contemporary culture.
In contrast, the song's outro celebrates the energy and creativity of young people, who "never miss a beat" and always seem to be moving forward. This can be seen as a critique of older generations who dismiss youth culture as frivolous or nihilistic, without appreciating the resilience and determination of today's youth. Overall, "Never Miss a Beat" is a sharp commentary on the values and priorities of contemporary society, presented through catchy and upbeat rock music.
Line by Line Meaning
What did you learn today?
Asking someone about their day and their learnings
I learned nothing
Replying that they learned nothing, indicating lack of interest or boredom
What did you do today?
Asking someone about their daily activities
I did nothing
Replying that they did nothing, indicating laziness or idleness
What did you learn at school?
Asking someone about their educational learnings
I didn't go
Replying that they didn't attend school, indicating truancy or disinterest in education
Why didn't you go to school?
Asking the reason for not attending school
I don't know
Replying with uncertainty or lack of explanation for their actions
It's cool to know nothing
Stating that being ignorant or clueless is acceptable or even admirable
Television's on the blink
Referring to a malfunctioning television
There's nothing on it
Saying that the television has no worthwhile content or entertainment
I really want to really big coat
Expressing a desire for a large or flashy piece of clothing
With words on it
Stating that the desired coat should have text or a message on it
What do you want for tea?
Asking someone about their desired meal or snack
I want crisps
Stating a preference for potato chips as a food choice
Why didn't you join the team?
Asking someone why they did not become part of a group or team
I just didn't
Replying with a lack of motivation or interest in the group or activity
Take a look, take a look, take a look
Encouraging someone to observe or pay attention to something
At the kids on the street
Referring to the young people outside
No they never miss a beat
Stating that the children are always on rhythm or performing well
Never miss a beat
Repeating the previous observation
Here comes the referee
Referring to an official or authority figure approaching
The light's flashing
Referring to the presence of flashing lights, potentially indicating excitement or a moment of thrill
Best bit of the day
Referring to the most enjoyable or memorable part of the day
Now that's living
Saying that the experience or moment is something worthwhile or exciting
Why don't you run away?
Asking why someone doesn't choose to flee or escape from a situation
Are you kidding?
Replying with incredulity or disbelief, as if the idea of leaving is ridiculous
What is the golden rule?
Asking for clarification or understanding of a significant or important standard
You say nothing
Repeating that silence or lack of response is a valid or valuable option
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW ROBERT WHITE, CHARLES RICHARD WILSON, JAMES RIX, NICHOLAS BAINES, NICHOLAS HODGSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alexgeorgiou3926
What did you learn today?
I learnt nothing
What did you do today?
I did nothing
What did you learn at school?
I didn't go
Why didn't you go to school?
I don't know
It's cool to know nothing
It's cool to know nothing
Televisions on the blink
There's nothing on it
I really want a really big coat
With words on it
What do you want for tea?
I want crisps
Why don't you join the team?
I just did
Take a look, take a look, take a look.
Take a look at the kids on the street
No they never miss a beat
No they never miss a beat
Never miss a beat
Never miss a
Never miss a beat
Never miss a beat
Here comes the referee
With lights flashing
Best bit of the day
Now that's living
Why don't you run away?
Are you kidding?
What is the golden rule?
Say nothing
@Punkwithshades
“What do you want for tea?” “I want crisps“ is one of the most British things I’ve ever heard 😂
@danjackson1016
I literally can't think of a more British band lol.
@brianboru7684
@@danjackson1016 The Jam
@TripleDes1
Crisps in a roll
@SunbeltChemicalsCorporation
Yeah and it's a quote from me, MC Haley as a child in Stoke-on-Trent and the song is written by my arch nemesis Esme Dee Hand Halford or Orielles non-fame
@jamescorlett5272
F it yeah great line
@purplemelon4115
Am I the only one that just loves how British this is xD
@user-yb2qb1re4w
+purplemelon4115 No your'e not. It is understandable almost everything that is British is amazing, except food and weather. Thankfully I am a Brit.
@e.a.u.g9362
me 2
@manutdvp
I'm an American but all my friends say they could see me being a Brit haha