Party Fears Two

"Party Fears Two" is a song by Scottish new wave band the Associates, written by Billy Mackenzie and Alan Rankine. It was included on their 1982 album Sulk and released as both a 7" and 12" single with the preceding track on the album, "It's Better This Way" as its B-side.

"Party Fears Two"
Single by the Associates
from the album Sulk
A-side"Party Fears Two"
B-side"It's Better This Way"
ReleasedDecember 1981
Recorded1981 at Playground Studios in London, England
Length
  • 4:05 (7" single version)
  • 4:52 (album version)
  • 5:04 (remix)
  • 5:38 (12" extended version)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Mike Hedges
The Associates singles chronology
"White Car in Germany"
(1981)		 "Party Fears Two"
(1981)		 "Club Country"
(1982)

Release

The song was originally written in 1979, around a piano riff but both Alan Rankine and Billy Mackenzie initially rejected it. Rankine stated: "This was the tail-end of punk and it was too tuneful, too pretty. It wasn't hip at that time."[1] In an interview with Smash Hits magazine Billy Mackenzie explained the origin of the song title, "My wee brother was at a party watching two girls who wanted to come in. They were smashing windows and attempting to kick the door in with their stiletto heels, which he admired, so he christened them the Party Fears Two and I pinched the title from him."[2] The lyrics begin and end with a reference to a brother but, like most of Mackenzie's lyrics, the words only seem to suggest a mood rather than give any precise meaning. Like a number of songs by Mackenzie "Party Fears Two" finds the singer anxious about appearances, and uncertain of himself. Alan Rankine recalls that Mackenzie spent two years getting the lyrics right for this song.[3] The end of the song features the sound of three cups being smashed and Billy spitting out his chewing gum.[1]

The song became their first Top 20 and best-known hit, peaking at No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart,[4] as well as charting in Ireland at No. 16.[5]

The band performed the song on the BBC television programme Top of the Pops.

Legacy

"Party Fears Two" has been covered by several artists, including The Divine Comedy, Heaven 17, King Creosote and Dan Bryk. An instrumental section was used as the theme music for the BBC Radio 4 satirical current affairs series Week Ending.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Billy Mackenzie and Alan Rankine.

Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Party Fears Two"4:05
Side B
No.TitleLength
2."It's Better This Way"3:39

Charts
Chart (1982) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[5] 16
UK Singles (OCC)[4] 9

References
  1. Doyle, Tom (2011). The Glamour Chase: The Maverick Life of Billy Mackenzie. Edinburg: Polygon.
  2. Black, Johnny (18 March 1982). "The Art of Parties". Smash Hits. 4: 6: 5.
  3. "The Glamour Chase". youtube. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  4. "Associates: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  5. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Party Fears Two". Irish Singles Chart.
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