"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 second studio album Sulk (1982) and released as both a 7-inch and 12-inch single with the preceding track on the album, "It's Better This Way" as its B-side.
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."[2] 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."[3]
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.[according to whom?] 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.[4] The end of the song features the sound of three cups being smashed and Mackenzie spitting out his chewing gum.[2]
The song became their first Top 20 and best-known hit, peaking at No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart,[5] as well as charting in Ireland at No. 16.[6]
The band performed the song on the BBC television programme Top of the Pops.
