Associates - Party Fears Two (TOTP 1982)

[@permaveg]

The other 'Associate', Alan Rankine died on the 3rd of January 2023. Their music lives on. RIP Alan and Billy.

[@Useaname]

I only heard a few days ago. Very sad indeed.

[@glasgowgallus247]

Aye, RIP Allan... an absolute gent...😔👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@ritmo113]

I sent Alan a message on Facebook about four years ago and he replied. I was made up. RIP chaps.

[@speedycc44]

I was 17 when this came out in 82 , now 53 I would go back to that era in a heartbeat, no hassles, great music, an easy life, Billy had an unbelievable voice and as a fellow Scot he is sadly missed. I have this song as my ring tone on my phone, just amazing, RIP Billy

[@Useaname]

Ditto

[@spankysmp]

Same here. I can't take credit for this but someone commented elsewhere on YT and said they were lucky to be born in the 60s, grew up in the 70s and went out in the 80s. I couldn't agree more with that statement.

[@clairduffy60]

Recorded off the telly.

[@Scotlanz]

I'm from Dundee originally and I'm going to make this my ringtone tomorrow! I was in Dundee in December and I heard a guy's phone with this. Cool as f*ck.

[@andrewdeans8520]

Steve Altman so sad KoKo burned down

[@colinmcgregor6384]

RIP Alan thanks for the memories. Hope you and Billy get back together & make great music in heaven.

[@robcheshire6398]

I feel sorry for the kids that are growing up with the shite manufactured bands of today.....The 80's were the best and this song was simply a masterpiece....RIP Billy........

[@jamesmarshall2256]

All fall at the feet of king billy..,...watp

[@ladytron9188]

James Marshall 👍🇬🇧👍🇬🇧👍🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@whangie1]

James Marshall What’s this got to do with politics?

[@johnlochrane5593]

He was from Dundee and had absolutely no interest in football what so ever ! Keep your bigotry to yourself idiot, fyi he also attended st Michaels secondary school in Dundee so your way off the mark with your god save the queen bullshit . R.i.p billy it’s was a pleasure to have known you x

[@johnlochrane5593]

Messages In Stone well said

[@sophiawatson1970]

This song makes the blood rush to my head! I loved The Associates as a girl and I still do... Elegant, classy pop... Billy and Martha were so cool it hurt! ♥

[@RobCLynch]

The days when bands would form in bedrooms or pub backrooms and not from a crowd of kids queueing to audition for the X-Factor. Real musicians with talent too!

[@jutjubow]

You sound like a boring boomer here. You do realise that the majority of bands or singers do not come from X-Factor now?

[@dennismcelholme3290]

So true' just like morrisey a box room casualty he once said

[@rebeccahooper7968]

Lool❤

[@nadonadia2521]

That was the eighties, the new wave era in Europe, what a grateful times i was a teenager we were living in a dream

[@themanftheworld8439]

They were new romantic not new wave.

[@jambofied]

Simply brilliant.

[@nickgodfrey1148]

Guy’s voice is almost operatic. Astonishing. Don’t think I’ve heard anything like it before or since. 👍

[@SC-jh9qp]

Bono compared Billy to Caruso.

[@nickgodfrey1148]

@@SC-jh9qp as much as I think Bono is a tosser, I can see why he said that.

[@dalfog2468]

Probably the most unique most original hypnotic amazing voice ever.

[@zzkiplington]

This song will live with me always, 1982 was without a doubt the bedrock of real songs, this being a great example. RIP Billy.You gave us great pleasure,sadly this will never be emulated by the incessant tide of dross we are met with. As said, what an era to be a teenager in.

[@vancepants7509]

What a Talent ...what a Voice...what a loss , managed to see the Associates live only three times , but now look back and im so grateful that i did

[@johnbostock8309]

After all these years I never tire of this record.. Marvelous

[@loveistheanswer1228]

The same 🌝

[@heidijohnson4837]

Me neither. X

[@PaulHales-w5j]

I love this song so much I play this in the lorry all the time I was two when this song come out!

[@janemassey8617]

Never get bored of this song can listen over and over, Billy had a amazing voice 💙

[@jonathandarwin841]

If only the world could be as happy as this

[@kayleighlmattson2392]

RIP lads. Thank you for the music.

[@beavisbonce]

Billy the most cheeky cherub ever RIP my angel x

[@vilepete]

How magical and thrilling when Billy starts his spectral singing right at the end of the song ! Magical singer and song....

[@paulwoodworth1207]

How could he be this cool in a raincoat, and Martha is a vision, total class no WAP required. RIP Billy and Alan, from someone who used to dance to this in the clubs in the 80s and wishes he was back there

[@yereverluvinuncleber]

Nothing like it before or since.

[@colinheaton6934]

Goosebumps song one of the best ever..RIP Billy

[@shaun30-3-mg9zs]

Brilliant song from 1982 a classic for ever. R.I.P. Billy and Alan

[@anondreamer98]

This song has haunted me for decades. It feels like dancing while your heart is breaking, my favourite ‘pop’ song.

[@LPJack02]

RIP Billy Mackenzie (March 27, 1957 - January 22, 1997), aged 39 And RIP Alan Rankine (May 17, 1958 - January 3, 2023), aged 64 You both will always be remembered as legends.

[@tonyvideos5]

Legends is understated. These two oozed talent and brought new meaning to creative uniqueness. I bought Sulk in July 1982. I regarded the album as something that came from a place we were never aware of . Sheer beauty, class and emotion

[@PamYoung-j8f]

I'm 56 and this song blew me away and still does I love it

[@shanedangers]

You didn't hear it in the 1980s?? Well.. I'm 52.. from USA (Florida) and The Associates were never popular here.. I lucked out and was browsing thru a cassette cut out bin in a Woolworth's in 1983, thought the "Sulk" cassette looked like it might be good and it was on Sire Records, and I was....surprised!.. But yeah AFAIK they never even cracked the Top 40 in the states here.. Crazy that he killed himself with an overdose of Ambien.. sad

[@PamYoung-j8f]

Oh yeah I heard it in the 80s and loved it and listened to it a few months ago and I still love it so very sad about his early death he had a fabulous voice what a shame he couldn't share it the music industry was corrupt then and probably worse now

[@Ficus_blue]

It's 2019 and this song gives me the same magical feeling listening to it as it did back in the 80's. Music at it's absolute finest.

[@gavinspiby8304]

Was just thinking same 38 years ago what happened 😎😂

[@markporter2290]

Most underrated song off the 80s

[@peterharrison5116]

Thanks for the memories Billy I know you will still be singing in heaven we love and miss you

[@chrisrovai9625]

What a banger, ahead of its time . RIP Billy mc

[@caitlinbearn873]

Who's listening in 2021...This brings back great memories A beautiful human with an outstanding voice! Billy Mackenzie gone but not forgotten!! ❤️

[@michelledigweed178]

A fabulous magical song that I always come back to even in 2022!!

[@StephenSE9]

Will 2022 do? :o)

[@fionawoodhams]

2023 now..I'm still listening Billy xxxxx

[@TheSmithsUnofficial]

William it was really nothing........ But it was. It really was

[@MarkWainforPGA]

Fantastic video, Martha is so gorgeous! RIP Billy...

[@Useaname]

Most under-rated babe of the eighties.

[@ElvarMasson]

Was she underrated ? In what sense ?

[@junior4654junior]

@@Useaname I agree. She is a great musician and artist in her own right. And part of another classic anthem in Echo Beach.

[@Useaname]

You never saw her on magazine covers, apart from a music mag with other people.

[@carlosfandango2419]

Billy Mackenzie had an amazing vocal range. I'm sure we'll not see his like again.

[@steffanhoffmann8937]

Bono said the same

[@ElvarMasson]

I didn't know you could see a vocal range

[@carlosfandango2419]

@@ElvarMasson We are not seeing his vocal range but his 'Like', another person with his talent. Shame you can only attempt pick holes in another's compliments, maybe you should try being positive, I'm sure it will make you feel better about yourself and the imprint you leave online.

[@ElvarMasson]

@@carlosfandango2419 I don't care what you're sure of

[@tyrionlannister6769]

Featuring the charming Professor Martha Ladly (ex Martha & the Muffins) walking the doggies, playing violin and keyboards...!

[@russellshepherd6091]

I'm 57 now love country club and party fears. I play them both when ever I can just me and my headphones 🎧

[@curewish574]

unsurpassable, unfathomable Billy Mackenzie; R.I.P .....

[@keithnaylor1981]

Still totally mesmerising after all these years. This just HAS to be in a list of the top records ever made! 10.20 UK

[@michelledigweed178]

2022 and this song is still fabulous magical ❤️ love it.

[@ThePhudD]

great video of a wonderfully madly beautiful song. RIP Billy.

[@juanpablojones]

Still love this so much. Even after nearly 40 years. Brings a lump to my throat when reminded of the premature loss of Billy Mackenzie 🙁

[@kingkenny334]

As good as it gets......then you see Martha 😘

[@Useaname]

Truly a beautiful woman

[@ceased2care]

UK, in the 80s, in a nutshell. I really miss old Europe

[@LurgsHowToGuides]

Billy looked so happy singing this, a treasured memory.

[@GM-hg5iw]

Mackenzie, Rankine, Dempsey and Ladly. All different characters, but what a blend. What a wonderful line-up.

[@SC-jh9qp]

Poor drummer John Murphy got left out.

[@Useaname]

Yes. Where's John. I know he was having hassle staying in the UK due to visa issues. Maybe that's why.

[@steffanhoffmann]

Possibly, the greatest voice range; in 👉 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🇮🇪 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇬🇧 🎶 history.

[@tracyyy99]

R.I.P. Alan Rankine...Now you and billy are back together.

[@muckshiftingmaestro7598]

Billy taken far too young, what a talent, there are 8 dislikes to this video, obviously people too old or too young to appreciate one of the finest groups and singer from the 1980s, rip Billy Mckenzie.

[@michelledigweed178]

Can't believe it, it's a fabulous song, better for better than the sterile boring songs these days and it's not an age thing, the UK used to have the best music industry in the world along the US but now it's far worse than the European market. My god what a come down.

[@ElvarMasson]

He wasn't "taken far too young". It was his own decision. Sad, but true

[@sminkles]

You will never hear anything like this again. Billie's voice,and Alan's string master class will never be repeated. Along with the sheer beauty of Martha Ladly on keyboard....I feel so lucky to have experienced this in the early 80s...

[@seanjackson8274]

love the merge of totp's and the video that was made in kensington, great sound quality too. the lyrics adorned my black bedroom wall as a 14/15 year old , Billy and Alan were a massive influence and inspiration to me as a boy growing up musicaly. RIP Billy

[@zamiadams4343]

A song that transports me back to my youth, sunshine days, laughter and not a care in the world. R.I.P. Billy you are missed by millions.

[@JC-iu9ey]

Beautifully blended audio / video with clips on front and end of the first appearance TOTP video to enjoy whole song. Great job, thanks!

[@davidstretton9469]

Cracking

[@robrix9330]

40 years on this song is still so wonderfully theatrically challenging. I can't ever imagine this being played on daytime Radio 2 even now !

[@mauriceogrady4447]

This guy has an amazing voice. Shame Billy left this world so early

[@propheticwitness8624]

One of my favourite songs of the the eighties,fantastic!!!!

[@clarewebber288]

My favourite song ever. I was 8 when it was in the charts.

[@terminalglimmer]

RIP Alan!!!

[@JohnPenfold1]

Like many others, I didn't 'get it' back in the day when it was on t'radio... then I heard it again after many years and my musical horizons had broadened, but this time, the penny dropped. I loved it, and always will. A very unique sound, song and performance that refused to follow the 'standard sounds' of the 80s. This song should be used in universities, colleges and music schools to illustrate the complexities rarely found in pop music. Beautiful.

[@karllux-d6g]

a song//voice for all seasons. A song for the century, actually...

[@SiMon-bq9ej]

Can't believe they kept this song under wraps after recording it in 77/78 I believe..❤

[@nicholaslowe8286]

An absolutely brilliant album. Billy McKenzie - what a voice And the 80’s - what a period for music, youth culture, fashion, wow

[@stephenmorris9382]

An absolute one off this, sublime. Screams 80s. Martha is almost as captivating as the song.

[@rogerbillings5081]

Vaguely remember this from Friday night Radio 4 satirical news show Weekending! Am I right? Cracking tune anyway, brilliant band.

[@sadduck28]

fabulous fabulous FABULOUS

[@patricksullivan7854]

Very unusual band to be popular even then. Like a Bowie thing.

[@jenniferdunstan5065]

R.I.P. Alan Rankine - I used to sit up front in the car with my Dad blasting this out as a kid and we’d both be singing our heads off, oddly all through the synth solo too, but I’m sure we weren’t the only ones. Thoughts are with Alan’s family and friends at this difficult time ❤

[@amandanixon7819]

This song was played non-stop on a school trip to Paris in 1981 on the bus! Great memories!

[@enzodisciullo2557]

Shivers down the spine, from the first bar to the last.

[@kevinwhitaker119]

Yeah it's sad to hear of Billy's passing ☹️ ..I was 15 yrs old when this first came out, and I fell in love with this song ,and listening today it all came back to me...it was great to grow up in the 70"s and 80"s such brilliant music, like this, and PUNK ROCK, REGGAE, SKA, and the new romantic stuff, even HEAVY METAL, such great memories...P.S. I'm still a punk rocker today at 53yrs old....!!!😊 R.I.P. billy thanks for the great music ☮️☯️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@binniemod]

Really sad to hear that Alan has passed away today, he will now be with Billy causing mischief, rest Easy Alan.

[@thfcberba]

Martha Ladly has that haughty smirk down pat !! Beautiful lady.. And now Alan Rankine has gone now too.. RIP

[@Studmuffin666]

beautiful song, 16 years old and had the privilege to grow with music from the 80s

[@geriatriccarper2842]

I was lucky enough to have my favourite tunes played on Steve Wrights radio 2 big show, this was the first one that was played It did me 😢 crying like a baby

[@mankin49]

I remember that, you have excellent taste.

[@MB-ys1uw]

A beautiful band with beautiful music the 12 inch version of this is just off the scale RIP❤️

[@leejt101]

2022 and sounds more Awesome than ever! "What's wrong's the wrong that's always in wrong"..There's really nothing like it! Full on electronic glory! Billy is a legend!

[@katastrophenschutzwa]

1982 was THE year. This song is perfection. 🕶🕶

[@ebbhead20]

An angel cried tears of diamonds, he ripped out his heart of gold, and forged it into the perfect pop song for all the jilted lovers and dreamers of the world. And as the angel ceased to be, he knew he had created true beauty for generations to come..

[@goonerbeau]

"Party Fears Two" and for me one of the most exciting singles of the 80s. A track that offers melodic overdrive, an iresistible piano hook, rococo lyrics and a vocal performance that reaches a pinnacle of dizzying impenetrability

[@skooshy621]

Yess. You nailed it. 'Rococo lyrics' . . . indeed. Billy Mackenzie's voice sounds spectral --- a delicious, intoxicating haunting thing.

[@lyndaframe1986]

@goonerbeau amazing writing so where is your work available?? Wow 👌

[@barrypoupard7009]

A child of the 60s I came of age in the 70s and at the time rejected the whole of the 80s, new wave and everything else but now as I approach 60 I feel very nostalgic when I 80s classics like this.

[@yereverluvinuncleber]

What a mistake! A child of the sixties myself, the eighties were a great time to embrace. You missed out. Punk, New Wave, New Romantics, the followed seamlessly from one to the other, each spawning the next.

[@barrypoupard7009]

I was dogged in my rejection being a smart-arsed 20 something but I must've taken it all in, in spite of myself o'wise why would I feel so nostalgic now for something I was certain I rejected at the time?

[@yereverluvinuncleber]

Smart-arsed twenty-year olds are hard to counter. I was a punk and initially rejected the 'positive' sounds of the 80s but was soon swept up on the undeniable wave of power and positivity. Sounds from the Cure and like-minded bands were all a development of punk and the New Wave but with a completely unique musical direction. I was able to absorb all those British bands, very few worth listening to from the rest of the world in the same genre. In the UK we were so lucky... You should have stepped down from that prog.rock pedestal and enjoyed the perfect storm of music that was emanating from the UK, you could have been part of it instead of setting yourself apart.

[@jermainewilliams7108]

Amazing song 🎶 and a top class singer 👩‍🎤 R.I.P Prince🤴 Billy

[@timmcmahon77]

Am 67 now but will never get 80's out of my head - this song one of the best ever

[@lyndaframe1986]

Pure art this music ❤🎶🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💃

[@captainbimble]

Billy had a crazy voice. That note he hits at the end is amazing!

[@yvonnechambers6635]

Billy Mackenzie an unbelievable talent sadly missed ❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿😢

[@arthurlee3627]

If the Associates made a better record let me know I’m here today because I’ve just heard the live version of this track on Billy McKenzie & The Associates in Concert ( 1985 to 1990). It is sublime. To think when it was released on vinyl I sold it to a work colleague because it didn’t make sense at the time.

[@gbc7344]

Listen to ‘Breakfast’ by them…best vocals ever

[@barrypotter5751]

I like the way you put this together the other footage of Billy and the band in the mist was filmed on Kensington roof gardens

[@CoolmoreLogistics]

rip Alan Rankine Jan 3 2023

[@iangardiner8303]

Fekin Sublime stands the test of time thanks Billy

[@Bananadiva1]

A masterpiece! No other word to describe this.

[@shellydrew100]

i'm in my late 50's and this is just as brilliant as the 1st time i heard it...i thought it was David Bowie !...Billy really did have a unique voice :) Xx

[@gavvino1]

if Bowie covered this in a lower tenor It would have been cool...

[@ryanorr8104]

An incredible singer that left us far far too early, Billy Mackenzie was a flaud genius, didnt listen to The Associates till after they split, but certainly a band that i love now and shaped my musical journey, thanks Billy ❤❤

[@ouime1635]

Words cannot express how much I love this fcuking tune..! I bought the 7” and the 12” and played it to death when it came out

[@p28-e7j]

We will always get to hear this stunning song coloured by the amazing Billy. Just Great! Just brilliant. RIP

[@andywynn8849]

Alan ranking of associates R I P

[@philipbonner6486]

Most probably the best song to come out in the 80's.

[@alysonmurphy6194]

Most Definitely

[@ladytron1724]

Agree 100%

[@timrussell4961]

Music to make my heart beat faster, oh Billy, you were fantastic. RIP

[@SmartCookie2022]

I can still remember hearing this for the very first time back in 82 and thinking how fresh and innovative this sounded. Some might cite Bowie as an obvious influence, but Bowie never sounded anything like this! To then follow this up with Club Country and 18 Carat Love Affair, which both sounded equally unique, was an incredible achievement. Just listen to "Skipping" to hear how avant-garde they were. It's a shame Billy soon lost interest with the whole music scene, leading to the eventual split with co-founder and guitarist Alan Rankine just before their Sulk Tour. If only Rankine and MacKenzie had stayed together throughout the 80s. I know they reunited briefly in 1993, but the damage had already been done to the Associates brand by then.

[@stephenroche5107]

Please don't use the word brand as it sounds so corporate.

[@anthonylawrence60]

this made bowie sound rather mundane if anything

[@littlenige]

The most inventive decade by far for my money based on tunes like this. I'm so grateful that I was around when this came out - they were joyous days.

[@BLITZY261]

Thirty bloody nine, that has to be a crime, for one as beautiful as Billy, to to pass beyond the line of time, and one so very very young has so sadly...moved on and gone away in song.

[@meisterlymanu5214]

as a 12 yr old, i used to list my top 10 each week, and this made it into the precious top 10 for a few weeks. I loved the keyboard rift, but thought the verses were so way off field, i assumed they were from central Europe. No idea until tonight, 40 yrs later they were scottish. They only had 1 hit in UK, as i remember. In Europe they were more successful. No idea mackenzie died either at 39. I suppose the verses were enough to push him over the edge. and why not. tremendous legacy left.

[@deanodeano8604]

An absolute classic. He was a talent way ahead of his time. Sorely misunderstood but now appreciated more. This song just rocks, even 39 years later!

[@franciscocarvalho172]

eterna voz de Billy Mackenzie