{{more citations needed|date=July 2016}} {{Infobox song | name = Party Fears Two | cover = Associates Party Fears Two cover.jpeg | alt = | type = single | artist = the Associates | album = Sulk | B-side = It's Better This Way | released = 26 February 1982 | recorded = 1981 | studio = Playground Studios (London) | genre = Pop-soul<ref name="Bradley 2014">{{cite book|title= The Alternative Jukebox|first=Larry|last=Bradley|date= November 4, 2014|chapter= The 1980s: The Associates - "Party Fears Two|page= 138|publisher=Cassell|isbn=978-1-84403-789-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w_phoAEACAAJ}}</ref> | length = * 4:05 (7-inch single version) * 4:52 (album version) * 5:04 (remix) * 5:38 (12-inch extended version) | label = * Associates<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/party-fears-two/|title = Party fears two &#124; full Official Chart History &#124; Official Charts Company| website=Official Charts }}</ref> * Beggars Banquet * WEA International <small>(Europe)</small> | writer = * Billy Mackenzie * Alan Rankine | producer = Mike Hedges | chronology = The Associates | prev_title = White Car in Germany | prev_year = 1981 | next_title = Club Country | next_year = 1982 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|KybfTKNl2NM|"Party Fears Two"}}}} }} "'''Party Fears Two'''" is a song by the Scottish post-punk and pop 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."<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=The Glamour Chase: The Maverick Life of Billy Mackenzie|last=Doyle|first=Tom|publisher=Polygon|year=2011|location=Edinburgh}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Black|first=Johnny|date=18 March 1982|title=The Art of Parties|journal=Smash Hits|volume= 4: 6|pages=5}}</ref>

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|date=January 2024}} 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnSi2MNYYRA|title=The Glamour Chase|website=YouTube|access-date=4 June 2018}}</ref> The end of the song features the sound of three cups being smashed and Mackenzie spitting out his chewing gum.<ref name=":0" />

The song became their first Top 20 and best-known hit, peaking at No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart,<ref name="OCC"/> as well as charting in Ireland at No. 16.<ref name="IRMA"/>

The band performed the song on the BBC record chart 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.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

Between May 1982 and July 1993 the track was also the theme music for BBC Radio 4's long-running comedy satire programme ''Week Ending''.<ref>{{cite book |title= 'Prime Minister, You Wanted To See Me?' – A History of Week Ending|last1 = Greaves |first1 = Ian|last2 = Lewis | first2 = Justin | publisher=Kaleidoscope Publishing |year=2008 |page=637|isbn=978-1-900203-29-6}}</ref>

== Track listing == {{Track listing | headline = Side A | all_writing = Billy Mackenzie and Alan Rankine | title1 = Party Fears Two | length1 = 4:05 }} {{Track listing | headline = Side B | title2 = It's Better This Way | length2 = 3:39 }}

== Charts == {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" ! Chart (1982) ! Peak<br/>position |- {{singlechart|Ireland2|16|song=Party Fears Two|rowheader=true|refname="IRMA"}} |- {{singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|9|artist=Associates|artistid=19454|rowheader=true|refname="OCC"}} |}

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{discogs master|type=single|72571}}

{{The Associates}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Party Fears Two}} Category:1982 songs Category:1982 singles Category:The Associates (band) songs Category:Beggars Banquet Records singles Category:Songs written by Alan Rankine Category:Song recordings produced by Mike Hedges Category:Warner Music Group singles