Frankie Goes To Hollywood – ‘Two Tribes’

23 June 1984

The only one of Frankie’s three big 1984 singles to get to number one here in Ireland, ‘Two Tribes’ certainly fits in with that year’s fashion for songs about nuclear war. However, where ’99 Red Balloons’ laments our self-destruction and lost civilisation, this is a slightly different take: nuclear war may indeed destroy us all, but it’ll look and sound awesome, baby!

‘Two Tribes’ itself sounds awesome too. Where ‘Relax’ created a sort of sonic orgy of debauchery and decadence, here we have a military-industrial soundscape of thunderous bassline, remorseless beats, exploding synths and Holly Johnson’s gleeful voice, all blasting to bits that old-world symphonic intro and any notion that society is worth saving. The lyrics don’t have much to say; “when two tribes go to war / a point is all that you can score” isn’t particularly profound on the issue of nuclear war and destruction. But the lyrics aren’t the point of ‘Two Tribes’. Johnson’s brilliantly sneery persona and Trevor Horn’s everything-plus-the-kitchen-sink production are the star attractions here. This immense record and Prince’s fabulous ‘1999’ offer probably the only sensible way to respond to the threat of inter-continental ballistic armageddon: fuck it, let’s party.