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.

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.

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.

Mona Carita recorded "Modern Girl" in Finnish as "Nykyaikainen" as the title cut for her 1981 album.

"Modern Girl" was used in the 2015 KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) new Rice box campaign commercials in the UK.