Party Fears Two
| "Party Fears Two" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Associates | ||||
| from the album Sulk | ||||
| A-side | "Party Fears Two" | |||
| B-side | "It's Better This Way" | |||
| Released | 1982 | |||
| Format | 7", 12" | |||
| Recorded | 1981 at Playground Studios in London, England | |||
| Length |
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| Label |
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| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Mike Hedges | |||
| The Associates singles chronology | ||||
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"Party Fears Two" is a 1982 single by Scottish band Associates, released from their second studio (and third album in total) Sulk.
Release
The song was written in 1979, around a piano riff, and 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 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 number 9 on the UK Singles Chart.[4] The song also charted in Irish Singles Chart at number 16.
The band performed the song on the BBC television show 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.
Charts
| Chart | Position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company) | 9[4] |
| Ireland (Irish Singles Chart) | 16 |
Track listing
All tracks written by Billy Mackenzie and Alan Rankine.
| Side A | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 1. | "Party Fears Two" | 4:05 |
| side two | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 2. | "It's Better This Way" | 3:39 |
References
- 1 2 Doyle, Tom (2011). The Glamour Chase: The Maverick Life of Billy Mackenzie. Edinburg: Polygon.
- ↑ Black, Johnny (18 March 1982). "The Art of Parties". Smash Hits. 4: 6: 5.
- ↑ "The Glamour Chase". youtube. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
- 1 2 "ASSOCIATES|full Official Chart History|Official Charts Company". Retrieved 2016-06-03.
External links
- "Party Fears Two" at Discogs