THE ASSOCIATES - PARTY FEARS TWO

Released: 26 February 1982

Charts: UK: #9 

"Party Fears Two" is a song by Scottish new wave band the Associates, written by band members Billy Mackenzie and Alan Rankine. Released as both a 7-inch and 12-inch single, it appeared on their 1982 album “Sulk”. 

Originally written in 1979 around a piano riff, "Party Fears Two" was initially set aside by band members Billy Mackenzie and Alan Rankine for being "too tuneful" during the tail-end of punk. "Party Fears Two" addresses themes of alcoholism and the tension between individualism and conformity. The song’s title came from a story about Mackenzie’s brother observing two girls trying to break into a party, whom he dubbed the "Party Fears Two." The lyrics reflect Mackenzie’s typical style, setting a mood of introspective anxiety rather than conveying a clear narrative. After two years spent refining the lyrics, the song was released in 1982 and became their most successful hit, reaching No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 16 in Ireland. 

Alan Rankine, co-writer of "Party Fears Two," sees the song as reflecting a deeper sense of alienation rather than a specific event. He explained that both he and Billy Mackenzie often felt like outsiders who didn’t belong, even when they managed to gain access to social circles or parties. Rankine described this feeling of being “impostors,” as if they were only there with “forged papers.” The song conveys their sense of disconnection and the impression that others seemed to navigate social situations effortlessly.

The song was largely written in 1977 but was delayed until 1982, as the band felt the art pop tune was too ahead of its time for the punk and new wave era. Co-writer Alan Rankine reflected that releasing it earlier would have been a “waste,” and even in 1982, its unusual sound and slightly unsettling quality made it distinct. 

The song ends with frontman Billy Mackenzie smashing cups and spitting out gum, sounds captured in a recording experiment with bassist Michael Dempsey, symbolizing Mackenzie’s disconnect from the world around him.