I recorded this a couple of days ago, and it's gutting to hear that Alan Rankine has passed at 64. I'm happy I got to The Associates. RIP to both he and Billy. ❤❤
I have been directed here by journalist mate of Alan. I love your reaction to this classic track.. I was Billy's A&R guy from 85 at WEA records in London and we became great friends trying to put out the Perhaps LP. Alan had left by 82 so Billy relied on collaborators like Howard Hughes and various big name producers Heaven 17 and Martin Rushent. Billy did live in his head, you are right and he told me the song was about 2 girls at a party they were afraid of.. thus Party Fears Two :)
Best record company story about Billy; IIRC correctly he'd just been dropped, and asked the record company if they could get him a taxi home....neglecting to tell them that by "home" he meant back to Dundee. From London!😂😂
This is a remarkable song. I heard it first when it was released as a single and I was blown away by its brilliance and originality. Forty years on, I still am. For me it was the best and most astonishing pop single of the 80s. You know that we live in a strange world when The Associates, and then Billy Mackenzie, didn't get the widespread recognition that their singular talents deserved. BTW, I really liked your reaction, Nick. To hear The Associates is to discover a world of endless musical possiblities. I had a very tenuous link to Billy; my ex-brother-in-law was from Dundee and was Billy's cousin. I always hoped that I'd get to meet him but sadly I never did. I only found out yesterday afternoon that Alan Rankine passed away earlier this year, and then in the evening my brother called to tell me that Sinéad O'Connor had died. All of them gone too soon.
I'm a huge Associates fan, and took a chance on your reaction video. I'm glad I did. Very interesting commentary, and I can relate to alot of your facial expressions. I shared them on first exposure to them. I mean, THAT voice. Anyway, you have a new subscriber. Thanks, Nick
True Story.. Billy kept Greyhounds and I worked in a Butcher Shop in Albert Street in Dundee and became his bones for the dogs supplier for a short while .. Great pleasant bloke .. was sad when he died and loved his music ❤
It's great - and slightly surreal - to see you reviewing an Associates track. They've always seemed to evade wide attention, which is such a shame considering their explosive creativity - especially in the early years. Some of Billy's later solo tracks - like the gorgeous, emotional 'Nocturne VII' - continued to demonstrate his astonishing effortless range.
I actually met Billy once, in a club called Fat Sams, in Dundee, in the late 1980s. We were introduced by a mutual friend. I wish I could remember it in more detail but maybe the one thing we had in common was overuse of alcohol in social situations. (Didn't seem like overuse in the Scotland of my late teens but looking back at it now... For one thing I'm amazed how much I could afford to drink as a penniless student. Different times.) The drink, coupled with my being somewhat starstruck and the noise levels in the nightclub, means that I don't remember much about the content of our chat but I came away thinking how nice/friendly he was for someone so famous, and in his hometown! He chatted away as if he was just another normal person and not an incredibly handsome and famous musical star. And he was even more cool and handsome in person than in this video, hard to believe though that might be. Also, I can't comment on one of your videos without recommending another song by the featured artist and for the Associates it has to be "The Affectionate Punch". Lastly, I have a theory on why Billy enunciated so precisely in his singing. It is probably obvious to anyone who has spent much time in his home town of Dundee as the local accent can be so difficult to decipher that it has its own adjective - oary. I grew to love the accent over the 7 years I lived there but I can understand why someone trying to appeal to anyone from outside the area might try to tone it down a bit. For an example of the local dialect in a cracking tune just search UA-cam for "Dundee Fowk" by local band The Cundeez.
I bought this single when it came out in 1982 and on the strength of it I bought the album Sulk and both were excellent. Unfortunately Billy suffered with alcoholism and depression exacerbated by his mother's death. Morrissey allegedly wrote the lyrics to William (It was really nothing) about his relationship with Billy MacKenzie. Canadian Martha Ladley played the keyboards on Party Fears Two. Alan Rankine RIP.
Iam a. Dundee lad just like Billy mackenzie I don't recall reading or hearing about Billy suffering from alcohol problems even 26 years after his demise Billy's resting place is only about a ten minute walk from my house in balgay the man was a legend way head of his time
Billy couldn’t be an alcoholic if he tried one to many and he would be in his bed for day’s so please my friend no more of this alcoholic nonsense thank you
Back in the day everyone in the UK with the slightest interest in music watched Top of the Pops on a Thursday night, and discussed what we'd seen and heard with our friends the next day at school. The Associates made their first appearance on TOTP early in 1982 with Party Fears Two, and they arrived with a BANG! Everyone thought the introductory keyboard melody was great, but not everyone liked Billy's voice. "It was great until he started singing" was a common reaction, but for me it was great AND THEN HE STARTED SINGING! Holy sh*t, what a voice! Of course I rushed out a bought Sulk (fantastic!) and their two earlier albums too (both great) and I still play them all regularly. Sulk in particular is so inventive, so strange, so ambitious, so unique!
One of my favourite singles of the 80s and Vocalists. I bought their Album "Sulk" plus their back catalogue ("The Affectionate Punch" & "Fourth Drawer Down") after hearing this. All fantastic albums which i highly recommend.
I think Martha Ladly from Martha And The Muffins played keyboards on this. I remember seeing them do this track in early 1982.A very dramatic, melodic track.
She’s a University Lecturer these days. In the 1980s she was the girlfriend of Peter Saville who designed Joy Division album covers. She was also the person who suggested the title Architecture & Morality to OMD.
@@SK-sm9mn University professor, also worked on Peter Gabriels Secret World tour. She also appears with the Associates drummer on a video recording of Avalon.
The very tragic Billy Mackenzie. I could never get used to his singing style but he was a breath of fresh air. Siouxsie Sioux penned the lyrics 'say' about Billy. Great reaction 👍 Edit: I've just read in the comments here that Alan Rankine has died. Everyone has to leave in the end 😒
William it was really nothing, by the Smiths apparently is about Billy Mackenzie, The Associates came back with a track called Stephen it was really something, never realised until years later on rare tracks compilation. The guy playing the guitar in the video actually plays all the music on this track
oh my, just watched this, got goosepimples, then saw the news about Alan. I remember going to the inevitable student disco on a Friday night, Teviot, Edinburgh. 1982 This song EXPLODED into the hall. It sounded like nothing else. The next day, I bought the 12". I recommend you listen to the 12" Thanks B&A
Amazing band, You should check out their video's: Club Country (Remastered Promo). Skipping. 18 Carat Love Affair (TOTP). White Car in Germany. RIP Alan & Billy
I became aware of this song from the Divine Comedy, who did a rare cover on an album. Can't beat the original, though. An excellent song. The piano riff, the subject matter, that vocal. Unique.
A great band and part of the New Romantic movement which was very big in early 80s UK. Little known fact - The keyboard player is Martha, from Martha & the Muffins (Echo Beach etc)
Another fabulous Scottish singer taken from us too soon. Maybe have a look at the Blue Nile. Another Scottish band noted for a stellar singer in Paul Buchanan and great atmospheric soundscapes. Walk Across the Rooftops and Hats were two of their seminal 80's albums.
Yeah that was some pitch with a nutz piano shuffle. He couldn't go higher. Those strange lyrics. More like a German choir. The absolute limit of vocal phrasing. Insane.
Iconic opening to the song and at intervals and with the vocals just makes it unique. Gloomy Sunday live version is another one worth checking out from them.
Billy Mackenzie, Alan Rankine R.I.P... If you like The Associates (check out _'Club Country'_ as well), check out these other artists and songs: Gavin Friday - _'Eden'_ The Blue Nile - _'Tinseltown In The Rain'_ Kitchens Of Distinction - _'Blue Pedal'_ Heaven 17 - _'Let Me Go'_ Ian McCulloch - _'Lover Lover Lover (Indian Dawn US Remix)'_
Great band fab song, Lol Tolhurst of The Cure spoke fondly of Billy in his book Cured, now Alan Rankine has passed, this talented generation is getting older
I had never heard The Associates music until last year. I had heard Billy Mackenzie's name from the mouths of Marc Almond and others but had never heard his voice until last year with "Party Fears Two" and other of their songs. And, while his voice is spectacular, it seems to me that on songs like "Party Fears Two", his voice seems all over the place and not focused enough. His pitch is fantastic and his range is wonderful. I just feel on this song, his voice isn't reigned in and controlled enough and for me, it hurts the vocals and the song. No other singer on the planet I can say that about. Billy definitely stands alone.
another great scottish singerwho ended his own life,i took a sharp intake of breath when it came on scottish tv news on a rainy morning a long time ago.
Nick, glad you have found the Associates...4 and half octave voice I believe on Billy!! So sad that both Billy and Alan are no longer here, they were the sound of the 80's for me. You need to check out APOLLO 440's "Pain in any langauge" that was his last vocal. He should have been given a James Bond theme to sing. Best singing voice I've ever heard.
You should try The Divine Comedy, they covered this, they (neil Hannon) had a few pop hits in the 90’s, a great band, all of their songs are great. He’s a great lyricalist. Try Gin soaked Boy.
Billy also collaborated with a swiss band Yello- 'Moon on ice' to name one, as well as writing the Rhythm Divine as sung by Shirley Bassey. Check, Appollo 440 - 'pain in any language' is quite Moody track.
@@EddieG1888 Oh wow! I am so jealous now :) That's the kind of thing I wish I had had the chance to do in life even though I can make music but can't engineer anything at all. Thanks, Eddie!
I saw in my newsfeed that Alan Rankine had died, just hours before this video was posted. I must admit that I missed Party Fears Two when it first came out, but I did catch the Associates track Club Country on its release just a few months later. There does seem to be a certain Abba influence on this and some other of their tracks!
There is something about this song, I watched an interview with Alan Rankine and he said it was magic, like it just dropped out of the sky for them. Some years back I could remember the last part of the song with the wild vocals but couldn't remember the name of the band. It took AGES to find the song. Bearing in mind I was 9 years old when this was released. Martha looks really sexy in this video. Very haughty. No wonder she didn't last long, I think she was brought in for the TV appearances. Billy wouldn't have liked competing for attention. I just think the lyrics are fanstastic. Easily on a par with anything Bowie wrote. So sad that they didn't carry on together and write more brilliant music. It all went very wrong. This and Country Club were the best of all their songs. There is some earlier stuff which is OK but nothing like this very special song.
their sulk album is still my favourite album of all time-it was quite avant garde in parts and i have never really like avant garde music but i have always loved the album his singing is amazing, the lyrics are crazy but make sense, the playing by alan is great- the album was recorded to sound as if it was recorded underwater! sums up the inspired madness of the associates
I was 13 when I first heard this and it stopped me in my tracks, been a fan ever since. Growing up in Scotland in the 80’s was a musical buzz and I am so proud of our contribution to the music scene at that time. I really enjoy your reviews and insights. ❤
Good reaction I like this song lol the album has a kind of weird feel to it. Cutest sleepy dog at the end too hope he or she enjoys listening to music.
Sweet video.....there's a great "live version" from the UK show Top Of The Pops...it has a banjo! "This Party" here = this person....like a lawyer would say. So it's kinda "I'm afraid of relationships/love" Billy McKenzie was Boy George's boyfriend for a bit....
Ooops...sorry, I should have watched the whole thing first! If you're looking for recomendations for stuff to listen to, try the brazilian band Legiao Urbana....There was a movie made about them....they have been described as the Brazilian Smiths.... great songs include Quase Sem Querer, Sera, ando cido.....cool stuff. Also out of Brazil....Os Mutantes.
The Cure song ‘Cur Here’ is about Billy’s suicide & Robert Smith’s regrets about not making more time for him before he died. The song ‘Say’ by The Creatures (Siouxsie Sioux & Budgie) is also about that suicide.
@@alexmackenzie9903 I'm sure I've read something about some classical training (many years ago in a rock music mag) - after a bit of search I can't find any suggestion so you are probably right - then it might be some private tutorials he received...but their music has a lot of classical influences (certainly not blues or jazz).
I remember that there was some speculation as to whether Billy inhaled helium in the studio in order to achieve some of the high notes with his voice. Personally, I think that's unlikely but I can see why it might occur to new listeners.
I think I might have read somewhere that they used drums filled with urine to achieve a certain sound (or maybe I imagined that). Certainly they were willing to experiment to achieve their sound.
@@jonathancole833 They did try it but unsurprisingly it failed.On the instrumental track The Associate you can hear whoops and screams where they were smashing tea cups over their heads.Some of their early stuff is absolutely fucking mental but brilliant.
Looking at your posters on your wall, I'm not going to patronise you. You are fully aware seemingly, that the decade 1980s 🇬🇧 was a world away from 🇺🇸. Innovative, cutting edge 🎶 ...but of course 🇺🇸 did also, but not in such great numbers. An admirable accolade and analysis 👉 you. Thanks 🇬🇧 🤝 🇺🇸
Ojala te guste ' Party Fears two'..( sino...da igual).... Pero Nirvana, Doors, Smiths....!! K horrorr!!!. Perdoname.....sobre gustos no hay nada escrito,...Me gustan Rolling Stones, Bowie, Yes, Soft Cell, la musica electronica, Led Zepp, ' HORSES' d Patti Smith, David Cassidy, Sinatra.....el grunge, el hip-hop, Queen, Metallica, Red Hot Chili....Guns and Roses....no me hacen daño, son INOFENSIVOS....como Bon Jovi, Kiss.....es musica que aburre a las ovejas y a mi.......!FELIZ 2023!!
I recorded this a couple of days ago, and it's gutting to hear that Alan Rankine has passed at 64. I'm happy I got to The Associates. RIP to both he and Billy. ❤❤
Wow, I didn't know about Alan. So sad. This song (and others) was part of my teenage/young adult experiences in the 1980's
I still love it.
I have been directed here by journalist mate of Alan. I love your reaction to this classic track.. I was Billy's A&R guy from 85 at WEA records in London and we became great friends trying to put out the Perhaps LP. Alan had left by 82 so Billy relied on collaborators like Howard Hughes and various big name producers Heaven 17 and Martin Rushent. Billy did live in his head, you are right and he told me the song was about 2 girls at a party they were afraid of.. thus Party Fears Two :)
Best record company story about Billy; IIRC correctly he'd just been dropped, and asked the record company if they could get him a taxi home....neglecting to tell them that by "home" he meant back to Dundee.
From London!😂😂
This is a remarkable song. I heard it first when it was released as a single and I was blown away by its brilliance and originality. Forty years on, I still am. For me it was the best and most astonishing pop single of the 80s. You know that we live in a strange world when The Associates, and then Billy Mackenzie, didn't get the widespread recognition that their singular talents deserved. BTW, I really liked your reaction, Nick. To hear The Associates is to discover a world of endless musical possiblities.
I had a very tenuous link to Billy; my ex-brother-in-law was from Dundee and was Billy's cousin. I always hoped that I'd get to meet him but sadly I never did. I only found out yesterday afternoon that Alan Rankine passed away earlier this year, and then in the evening my brother called to tell me that Sinéad O'Connor had died. All of them gone too soon.
I'm a huge Associates fan, and took a chance on your reaction video. I'm glad I did. Very interesting commentary, and I can relate to alot of your facial expressions. I shared them on first exposure to them. I mean, THAT voice. Anyway, you have a new subscriber. Thanks, Nick
Billy one of the best vocalist..RIP..
Both gone too soon, both brilliant. RIP Alan and Billy. Genius.
The bassist on this track was Michael Dempsey who was the original bassist of The Cure
He plays on Killing of an Arab, by the Cure. They will never play that song on the BBC, Hahaha!
Effing love this tune
True Story.. Billy kept Greyhounds and I worked in a Butcher Shop in Albert Street in Dundee and became his bones for the dogs supplier for a short while .. Great pleasant bloke .. was sad when he died and loved his music ❤
Billy had whippets, not greyhounds. He loved them.
@@mairir9993wee greyhounds
It's great - and slightly surreal - to see you reviewing an Associates track. They've always seemed to evade wide attention, which is such a shame considering their explosive creativity - especially in the early years. Some of Billy's later solo tracks - like the gorgeous, emotional 'Nocturne VII' - continued to demonstrate his astonishing effortless range.
Billy Mackenzie's solo work is awesome too .
There’s a rumour that ‘William it was really nothing’ was written about Billy McKenzie.
It's not a rumour. Apparently Billy had written the lyrics for a song called "Stephen it was really something".
I actually met Billy once, in a club called Fat Sams, in Dundee, in the late 1980s. We were introduced by a mutual friend. I wish I could remember it in more detail but maybe the one thing we had in common was overuse of alcohol in social situations.
(Didn't seem like overuse in the Scotland of my late teens but looking back at it now... For one thing I'm amazed how much I could afford to drink as a penniless student. Different times.)
The drink, coupled with my being somewhat starstruck and the noise levels in the nightclub, means that I don't remember much about the content of our chat but I came away thinking how nice/friendly he was for someone so famous, and in his hometown! He chatted away as if he was just another normal person and not an incredibly handsome and famous musical star. And he was even more cool and handsome in person than in this video, hard to believe though that might be.
Also, I can't comment on one of your videos without recommending another song by the featured artist and for the Associates it has to be "The Affectionate Punch".
Lastly, I have a theory on why Billy enunciated so precisely in his singing. It is probably obvious to anyone who has spent much time in his home town of Dundee as the local accent can be so difficult to decipher that it has its own adjective - oary. I grew to love the accent over the 7 years I lived there but I can understand why someone trying to appeal to anyone from outside the area might try to tone it down a bit. For an example of the local dialect in a cracking tune just search UA-cam for "Dundee Fowk" by local band The Cundeez.
I find some voices to be entirely unique, and Billy MacKenzie's is no exception.
The very definition of 'overwrought delivery'... and it is magnificent!
Very apt after the news just issued , RIP Alan. travel well.
I bought this single when it came out in 1982 and on the strength of it I bought the album Sulk and both were excellent. Unfortunately Billy suffered with alcoholism and depression exacerbated by his mother's death. Morrissey allegedly wrote the lyrics to William (It was really nothing) about his relationship with Billy MacKenzie. Canadian Martha Ladley played the keyboards on Party Fears Two. Alan Rankine RIP.
Iam a. Dundee lad just like Billy mackenzie I don't recall reading or hearing about Billy suffering from alcohol problems even 26 years after his demise Billy's resting place is only about a ten minute walk from my house in balgay the man was a legend way head of his time
Billy couldn’t be an alcoholic if he tried one to many and he would be in his bed for day’s so please my friend no more of this alcoholic nonsense thank you
Back in the day everyone in the UK with the slightest interest in music watched Top of the Pops on a Thursday night, and discussed what we'd seen and heard with our friends the next day at school. The Associates made their first appearance on TOTP early in 1982 with Party Fears Two, and they arrived with a BANG! Everyone thought the introductory keyboard melody was great, but not everyone liked Billy's voice. "It was great until he started singing" was a common reaction, but for me it was great AND THEN HE STARTED SINGING! Holy sh*t, what a voice! Of course I rushed out a bought Sulk (fantastic!) and their two earlier albums too (both great) and I still play them all regularly. Sulk in particular is so inventive, so strange, so ambitious, so unique!
absolutely wonderful. After all these years its a worm in my head..
One of THE greatest songs ever written, I first heard it in The Ship Tevern Soho London about 25 years ago.
I first heard it in 1982 and still love playing it today
His Voice is just Brilliant Falsetto...SUCH AN AMAZING SOUND !!!!!!!!!! (Martha is from Martha and The Muffins )
One of my favourite singles of the 80s and Vocalists. I bought their Album "Sulk" plus their back catalogue ("The Affectionate Punch" & "Fourth Drawer Down") after hearing this. All fantastic albums which i highly recommend.
I heard that Billy is the William Morrissey is referring to on the song "William, It Was Really Nothing."
I remember reading that before. I didn't even put two and two together! Very neat!
Check out Billy and Alan's response to Morrissey's song, one of my favourite Associates tracks, ua-cam.com/video/vb3KOdhDkF8/v-deo.html
I think Martha Ladly from Martha And The Muffins played keyboards on this.
I remember seeing them do this track in early 1982.A very dramatic, melodic track.
She did indeed ! Fabulous lady
She’s a University Lecturer these days. In the 1980s she was the girlfriend of Peter Saville who designed Joy Division album covers. She was also the person who suggested the title Architecture & Morality to OMD.
@@SK-sm9mn University professor, also worked on Peter Gabriels Secret World tour. She also appears with the Associates drummer on a video recording of Avalon.
A great band from Dundee Scotland.
R.I.P. Alan and Billy.
That's Martha from Martha and the Muffins on keys
Best group ever.
LOVE the Associates forever!
The very tragic Billy Mackenzie. I could never get used to his singing style but he was a breath of fresh air. Siouxsie Sioux penned the lyrics 'say' about Billy. Great reaction 👍
Edit: I've just read in the comments here that Alan Rankine has died. Everyone has to leave in the end 😒
The Cure's "Cut Here" is also about Billy.
@@forneverofficial I didn't know that, thanks
@@forneverofficial Billy mackenzie als made a cameo appearance in the video for the cures mint car
William it was really nothing, by the Smiths apparently is about Billy Mackenzie, The Associates came back with a track called Stephen it was really something, never realised until years later on rare tracks compilation. The guy playing the guitar in the video actually plays all the music on this track
No.Michael Dempsey was on bass.
Moz was a big fan. Apparently William it was really nothing was written about the lead singer Billy McKenzie.
The piano and vocals are haunting.
oh my, just watched this, got goosepimples, then saw the news about Alan.
I remember going to the inevitable student disco on a Friday night, Teviot, Edinburgh. 1982
This song EXPLODED into the hall.
It sounded like nothing else.
The next day, I bought the 12".
I recommend you listen to the 12"
Thanks B&A
Amazing band, You should check out their video's:
Club Country (Remastered Promo).
Skipping.
18 Carat Love Affair (TOTP).
White Car in Germany.
RIP Alan & Billy
Skipping is awesome.
Alan died today. Billy was an amazing vocalist, such a shame, still missed.
I became aware of this song from the Divine Comedy, who did a rare cover on an album. Can't beat the original, though.
An excellent song. The piano riff, the subject matter, that vocal. Unique.
A great band and part of the New Romantic movement which was very big in early 80s UK. Little known fact - The keyboard player is Martha, from Martha & the Muffins (Echo Beach etc)
You are indeed correct 😊
One of the 2 Marthas in Martha and the Muffins indeed
Another fabulous Scottish singer taken from us too soon. Maybe have a look at the Blue Nile. Another Scottish band noted for a stellar singer in Paul Buchanan and great atmospheric soundscapes. Walk Across the Rooftops and Hats were two of their seminal 80's albums.
Yeah that was some pitch with a nutz piano shuffle. He couldn't go higher. Those strange lyrics. More like a German choir. The absolute limit of vocal phrasing. Insane.
Rip Billy. With your beloved mum now. It was all so sad.
Iconic opening to the song and at intervals and with the vocals just makes it unique. Gloomy Sunday live version is another one worth checking out from them.
I always whistle this while taking a shower. It comes from nowhere, and I only realise I'm doing so mid song.
Billy Mackenzie, Alan Rankine R.I.P...
If you like The Associates (check out _'Club Country'_ as well), check out these other artists and songs:
Gavin Friday - _'Eden'_
The Blue Nile - _'Tinseltown In The Rain'_
Kitchens Of Distinction - _'Blue Pedal'_
Heaven 17 - _'Let Me Go'_
Ian McCulloch - _'Lover Lover Lover (Indian Dawn US Remix)'_
Great band fab song, Lol Tolhurst of The Cure spoke fondly of Billy in his book Cured, now Alan Rankine has passed, this talented generation is getting older
I had never heard The Associates music until last year. I had heard Billy Mackenzie's name from the mouths of Marc Almond and others but had never heard his voice until last year with "Party Fears Two" and other of their songs. And, while his voice is spectacular, it seems to me that on songs like "Party Fears Two", his voice seems all over the place and not focused enough. His pitch is fantastic and his range is wonderful. I just feel on this song, his voice isn't reigned in and controlled enough and for me, it hurts the vocals and the song. No other singer on the planet I can say that about. Billy definitely stands alone.
R.i.p Billy
I was so lucky to see Billy live a couple of times - always loved his voice - checkout Breakfast & The Girl that Took Me for more of his velvet tones
Oooo seeing Billy live would've been a treat.
One of my favorites song in 90's. I was really actratted by them, superb voice and originals melodies ❤
another great scottish singerwho ended his own life,i took a sharp intake of breath when it came on scottish tv news on a rainy morning a long time ago.
Nick, glad you have found the Associates...4 and half octave voice I believe on Billy!! So sad that both Billy and Alan are no longer here, they were the sound of the 80's for me. You need to check out APOLLO 440's "Pain in any langauge" that was his last vocal. He should have been given a James Bond theme to sing. Best singing voice I've ever heard.
t was a joy to watch your face throughout the playing of the song.
Lol thanks
You should try The Divine Comedy, they covered this, they (neil Hannon) had a few pop hits in the 90’s, a great band, all of their songs are great. He’s a great lyricalist. Try Gin soaked Boy.
1982
I was 18 when this was released and it was like nothing I'd heard before, it was years ahead of its time.
Great that you found my Bono video it is actually the foreward to the book 'The Glamour Chase' that was written (the foreward) by Bono ,
Billy also collaborated with a swiss band Yello- 'Moon on ice' to name one, as well as writing the Rhythm Divine as sung by Shirley Bassey.
Check, Appollo 440 - 'pain in any language' is quite Moody track.
Wondrous Billy. One of my fave albums ever is."Beyond The Sun" by him.
My friend Stuart Firm engineered some of the tracks on that in Seagate Studio in Dundee. I did a lot of sessions down there which Stu engineered.
@@EddieG1888 Oh wow! I am so jealous now :) That's the kind of thing I wish I had had the chance to do in life even though I can make music but can't engineer anything at all. Thanks, Eddie!
I saw in my newsfeed that Alan Rankine had died, just hours before this video was posted.
I must admit that I missed Party Fears Two when it first came out, but I did catch the Associates track Club Country on its release just a few months later.
There does seem to be a certain Abba influence on this and some other of their tracks!
Alan Rankine loved ABBA.
There is something about this song, I watched an interview with Alan Rankine and he said it was magic, like it just dropped out of the sky for them. Some years back I could remember the last part of the song with the wild vocals but couldn't remember the name of the band. It took AGES to find the song. Bearing in mind I was 9 years old when this was released. Martha looks really sexy in this video. Very haughty. No wonder she didn't last long, I think she was brought in for the TV appearances. Billy wouldn't have liked competing for attention. I just think the lyrics are fanstastic. Easily on a par with anything Bowie wrote. So sad that they didn't carry on together and write more brilliant music. It all went very wrong. This and Country Club were the best of all their songs. There is some earlier stuff which is OK but nothing like this very special song.
their sulk album is still my favourite album of all time-it was quite avant garde in parts and i have never really like avant garde music but i have always loved the album his singing is amazing, the lyrics are crazy but make sense, the playing by alan is great- the album was recorded to sound as if it was recorded underwater! sums up the inspired madness of the associates
SO UNDERRATED
❤
Great breakdown man 👌
I'll gladly take any chance I get to hear this song so thanks.
I was 13 when I first heard this and it stopped me in my tracks, been a fan ever since. Growing up in Scotland in the 80’s was a musical buzz and I am so proud of our contribution to the music scene at that time.
I really enjoy your reviews and insights. ❤
I'd imagine it'd stop you in your tracks! I'm happy you enjoy my stuff!
@@InsignificantNick You should check out A Girl Like You by Edwyn Collins. 😊
Good reaction I like this song lol the album has a kind of weird feel to it. Cutest sleepy dog at the end too hope he or she enjoys listening to music.
Checkout the work he did with Yello, such as The Moon Is On Ice, Rhythm Divine and Capri Calling
Sweet video.....there's a great "live version" from the UK show Top Of The Pops...it has a banjo!
"This Party" here = this person....like a lawyer would say. So it's kinda "I'm afraid of relationships/love"
Billy McKenzie was Boy George's boyfriend for a bit....
Ooops...sorry, I should have watched the whole thing first!
If you're looking for recomendations for stuff to listen to, try the brazilian band Legiao Urbana....There was a movie made about them....they have been described as the Brazilian Smiths.... great songs include Quase Sem Querer, Sera, ando cido.....cool stuff.
Also out of Brazil....Os Mutantes.
The keyboard player was Martha Ladly a member of Martha and the Muffins
Both Billy and Alan gone now. How quick it passes us...
Reading "The Glamour Chase" which is basically the story of Billy and the Associates .
Facial expressions are priceless
Listen to U2 unforgettable fire and see where Bono got the vocal inspiration from
My favourite U2 track. Absolutely superb
Billy!! That Falsetto, only Mayer Haythorne's get me so much today!!
❤❤❤❤❤❤
I hadn't realised Alan had died. Another good one gone early.
sulk by them is a great album, you should check it out
Love this group and this song
Happy new year, Nick. Bonne Année.
Happy new year to you, too!
The Cure song ‘Cur Here’ is about Billy’s suicide & Robert Smith’s regrets about not making more time for him before he died. The song ‘Say’ by The Creatures (Siouxsie Sioux & Budgie) is also about that suicide.
I had a major crush on Martha Ladly (keyboards).... Such a great song and that piano riff...
Billy was a Classical trained singer - one of most skilled and sophisticated in the post punk scene for sure.
Billy had no classic training
@@alexmackenzie9903 I'm sure I've read something about some classical training (many years ago in a rock music mag) - after a bit of search I can't find any suggestion so you are probably right - then it might be some private tutorials he received...but their music has a lot of classical influences (certainly not blues or jazz).
thnx Nick beautiful song
Always loved this song such a great unique voice Such a sad end and what a waste of talent
Alan Rankine could produce a hit with a soggy boot.
And he wrote this about Moz ua-cam.com/video/mEs4gOPwU5I/v-deo.html
I remember that there was some speculation as to whether Billy inhaled helium in the studio in order to achieve some of the high notes with his voice. Personally, I think that's unlikely but I can see why it might occur to new listeners.
I think I might have read somewhere that they used drums filled with urine to achieve a certain sound (or maybe I imagined that).
Certainly they were willing to experiment to achieve their sound.
@@jonathancole833 They did try it but unsurprisingly it failed.On the instrumental track The Associate you can hear whoops and screams where they were smashing tea cups over their heads.Some of their early stuff is absolutely fucking mental but brilliant.
Check out "White Car in Germany" nothing more extreme and the other end of the dark magic they made.
He ran away to LA and got married very young. This may have s'thing to do with the title.
Here he is in his later career, singing Strasbourg Square, have a listen. ua-cam.com/video/EQc8og6M3zA/v-deo.html
Now listen to Heaven 17 (BEF) doing their slow version
So sad ..... Billy had it all but lost direction. A real eccentric who went everywhere with loads of Whippets
You should listen to Billy do David Bowies wild is the wind. It is amazing.
Americans cant appreciate classical music like this
Reaction request to Video killed the radio star by The Buggles.
Boy, can Trevor Horn play Bass! 👍
Looking at your posters on your wall, I'm not going to patronise you.
You are fully aware seemingly, that the decade 1980s 🇬🇧 was a world away from 🇺🇸.
Innovative, cutting edge 🎶 ...but of course 🇺🇸 did also, but not in such great numbers.
An admirable accolade and analysis 👉 you.
Thanks
🇬🇧 🤝 🇺🇸
Me Canadian, but I appreciate this.
@@InsignificantNick Humblest apologies.
🇬🇧 🤝 🇨🇦
Alan Rankine died today.
Spooky Alan Rankine died today and
I know! That's crazy!
Ojala te guste ' Party Fears two'..( sino...da igual).... Pero Nirvana, Doors, Smiths....!! K horrorr!!!. Perdoname.....sobre gustos no hay nada escrito,...Me gustan Rolling Stones, Bowie, Yes, Soft Cell, la musica electronica, Led Zepp, ' HORSES' d Patti Smith, David Cassidy, Sinatra.....el grunge, el hip-hop, Queen, Metallica, Red Hot Chili....Guns and Roses....no me hacen daño, son INOFENSIVOS....como Bon Jovi, Kiss.....es musica que aburre a las ovejas y a mi.......!FELIZ 2023!!
this is my go to sad drunk song
one of the most beautiful song ever made...