I Predict a Riot

"I Predict a Riot" is a song by English indie rock band Kaiser Chiefs, appearing on their debut album, Employment (2005). It was originally released as their second single on 1 November 2004 and was the band's first release on the B-Unique label. It entered at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart. When re-released in 2005 as a double A-side with "Sink That Ship", it peaked at number nine on the UK chart.

For the album by Hezekiah, see I Predict a Riot (album).

"I Predict a Riot"
Single by Kaiser Chiefs
from the album Employment
B-side"Take My Temperature"
Released1 November 2004 (2004-11-01)
StudioChapel
Genre
Length3:52
LabelB-Unique
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Stephen Street
Kaiser Chiefs singles chronology
"Oh My God"
(2004)		 "I Predict a Riot"
(2004)		 "Oh My God"
(2005)
"Everyday I Love You Less and Less"
(2005)
"I Predict a Riot" / "Sink That Ship"
(2005)
"Modern Way"
(2005)

Inspiration

Drummer Nick Hodgson used to DJ at a club in Leeds called the Cockpit. He would often drive home past another nightclub called Majestyk's which often had people and police fighting each other, and sometimes drunk clubgoers would even bang on the windows of his car at 3 am.[3][4] He took inspiration from this one night and wrote a riff on the piano when he got home. The "friend of a friend who got beaten" was a friend of a fellow DJ at the Cockpit. The title came from an event Hodgson DJed at a different club called Pigs, where a band called Black Wire was playing. The crowd was so chaotic that he said to the club's boss, "I predict a riot".[3]

Background

Portraying a rowdy night out in their native Leeds with members from the former band Black Wire, "I Predict a Riot" is one of the group's signature songs. It is one of the three tracks the band played when they opened Live 8 in Philadelphia, alongside "Everyday I Love You Less and Less" and "Oh My God".

The song makes a reference to John Smeaton ("an old Leodensian"), a Civil Engineer, born in Austhorpe, Leeds. Singer Ricky Wilson's school house was named after him. The song thrives on its Yorkshire heritage with the use of pronouns such as "thee", a nod to the band's origins, for "thee" and "thou" survived in Yorkshire dialect and are still used to an extent today. "Take My Temperature", a B-side on the initial release, is a live favourite, notably at earlier gigs. Also, the guitar riff after "who doesn't want to be out there" is overdubbed with Hammond organ, played by Peanut. In live performances, the song begins with a drum solo played by Nick and Ricky around the same kit.

The song's lyrics were criticised by Owen Jones for expressing "pure class bile" and reproducing "the caricature of the undignified, 'slapper' chav girl".[5]

Music videos

There have been two videos produced for "I Predict a Riot". The first, made for the original release, was directed by Charlie Paul, and features the band performing in front of a crowded audience, who appear to start a "pillow fight". The video contains Ricky Wilson wearing a Nevile house tie from the Leeds Grammar School.

The second video, directed by Swedish collective StyleWar, gained more airplay. The main plot is the band wandering and performing in an Edwardian town, catching the attention of a mysterious freak show owner. The climax of the features the band performing on the stage of a crowded replica of The Globe Theatre.

Track listings

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[25] 2× Platinum 1,200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Region Version Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom "I Predict a Riot" 1 November 2004 CD B-Unique [26]
United States 31 January 2005 Alternative radio [27]
23 May 2005
[28]
Australia CD [29]
United Kingdom "I Predict a Riot" / "Sink That Ship" 22 August 2005
[30]

When Liz Truss gave her farewell speech on 25 October 2022, the song was heard playing in the background. The incident was orchestrated by activist Steve Bray.[31]

References
  1. Sutton, Michael. "Kaiser Chiefs | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  2. "Ellie Goulding backs Dalton Harris to win X Factor final". The Irish News. 2 December 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  3. Lynskey, Dorian and Dave Simpson (24 February 2006). "'Born Slippy was a greyhound we bet on'". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  4. "Kaiser Chiefs Interview: The Story Of 'I Predict A Riot' - NME Song Stories". YouTube. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  5. Jones, Owen (2011): Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class. 2020 edition: Verso, London and New York, pp. 134
  6. I Predict a Riot (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Kaiser Chiefs. B-Unique Records. 2004. BUN088-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. I Predict a Riot (UK CD single liner notes). Kaiser Chiefs. B-Unique Records. 2004. BUN088CD.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. I Predict a Riot (Australian CD single liner notes). Kaiser Chiefs. B-Unique Records. 2005. 9882095.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. I Predict a Riot / Sink That Ship (UK CD1 liner notes). Kaiser Chiefs. B-Unique Records, Polydor Records. 2005. BUN096CD.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. I Predict a Riot / Sink That Ship (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Kaiser Chiefs. B-Unique Records, Polydor Records. 2005. BUN096-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. I Predict a Riot (UK CD2 liner notes). Kaiser Chiefs. B-Unique Records, Polydor Records. 2005. BUN096CDX.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  13. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  14. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  15. "The ARIA Report: ARIA Hitseekers – Week Commencing 6th June 2005" (PDF). ARIA. 6 June 2005. p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2005. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  16. "Kaiser Chiefs – I Predict a Riot" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  17. "Kaiser Chiefs – I Predict a Riot" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  18. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I Predict a Riot / Sink That Ship". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  19. "Kaiser Chiefs – I Predict a Riot" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  20. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  21. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  22. "Kaiser Chiefs Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  23. "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2005". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  24. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2006" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  25. "British single certifications – Kaiser Chiefs – I Predict a Riot". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  26. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 30 October 2004. p. 23.
  27. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1591. 28 January 2005. p. 25. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  28. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1607. 20 May 2005. p. 23. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  29. "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 23rd May 2005" (PDF). ARIA. 23 May 2005. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2005. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  30. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 20 August 2005. p. 49.
  31. Waters, Lowenna (26 October 2022). "'I Predict a Riot' by the Kaiser Chiefs blasted behind Downing Street as Liz Truss gives final speech as PM". Evening Standard. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
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