Party for Two

In 2004 at the end of the Up! Tour, Twain took a break before deciding to release a greatest hits album.{{Citation needed|date=April 2024}} She included 17 singles on the compilation. "Party for Two" was one of three new songs recorded for Greatest Hits, the others being "Don't!" and "I Ain't No Quitter". "Party for Two" was serviced to country radio as the lead single on September 7, 2004. It was released on October 25, 2004, in Australia, Germany, and for US adult contemporary radio. It was also released in Canada and the United Kingdom on November 2 and November 22.

Twain explained the song as "picking up where [she] left off on Up!." She initially planned to record "Party for Two" with American singer Toby Keith; however due to timing conflicts he was unavailable for recording. She wanted to record someone completely opposite of her and so, Mercury Nashville president Luke Lewis introduced her to Billy Currington, then an up-and-coming singer.{{Cite book |last=Eggar |first=Robin |title=Shania Twain: The Biography |date=June 15, 2010 |publisher=Gallery Books |isbn=9781451604542 |pages=336–337}} Currington described the experience of recording the song as "once in a lifetime" and that "both Twain and Mutt [Lange] made me feel at home."{{Cite news |date=July 8, 2005 |title=Billy Currington To Be Featured At AFG Concert |work=Daily News |page=B4}}{{More citations needed|date=April 2025}}

"Party for Two" was released in two versions: a pop version featuring Sugar Ray frontman Mark McGrath for pop and international audiences and a country version featuring Billy Currington for country audiences. Twain and her husband, Robert John "Mutt" Lange, wrote the song, with Lange handling production. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com, "Party for Two" is written in the key of B major with a tempo of 122 beats per minute. The chord progression contains open fifths: E5–B5–F{{sharp}}5, and the vocals span from E₃ to G{{sharp}}₄.{{Cite web|title = Party for Two|url = http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0048534|website=Musicnotes.com|date = December 20, 2004|access-date = November 2, 2015}}

Lyrically, Twain entices a guy to come over for a party and while he is hesitant at first, he changes his mind once he finds out it is just for the two of them.{{Cite web |title=Party for Two by Shania Twain - Songfacts |url=https://www.songfacts.com/facts/shania-twain/party-for-two |access-date=November 6, 2024 |website=Songfacts}} She was adamant about the song being flirty instead of sexual.

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic, in his review for Greatest Hits, called the song "gleefully goofy."{{Cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |title=Greatest Hits - Shania Twain review |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/greatest-hits-mw0000673521 |access-date=November 6, 2024 |website=AllMusic}} Country Universe rated the Currington version a B+, praising the "laid-back smolder" of his vocals while also liking Twain's "flirty, playful performance" of the verses.{{Cite web |last=Foster |first=Ben |date=2013-04-15 |title=Retro Single Reviews: Shania Twain, 2004-2012 |url=https://www.countryuniverse.net/2013/04/15/retro-single-reviews-shania-twain-2004-2012/ |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=Country Universe |language=en-us}} However, the publication rated the McGrath version a B-, saying that McGrath did not have "the character needed to sell a song of this ilk" and disliking the "poorly-aged" pop production when in comparison to the original country mix.

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Marcus Raboy directed the music videos for "Party for Two".[http://www.mvdbase.com/tech.php?last=Raboy&first=Marcus Marcus Raboy videography at mvdbase.com] It was filmed on August 28–29, 2004, in the Mayfair district of London, England.{{Cite news |date=September 2004 |title=People |page=12 |volume=62 |issue=12}} Two videos were filmed, each featuring either Currington or McGrath. The video shows Twain walking around town handing out invitations to movers, a waiter, and an artist to help her get ready for her "party for two" later that night. At the party, Twain and her guest end up swinging on a chandelier and smashing plates.

The country version was released to music stations such as CMT and GAC while the pop version was released to VH1, MuchMoreMusic, and other international stations. It proved to be a success, with the pop version won the MuchMusic Video Award for the MuchMoreMusic Video of the Year{{Cite web|url=http://www.shaniatwain.com/about-awards.asp|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070604163103/http://www.shaniatwain.com/about-awards.asp|url-status=dead|title=Shania Twain awards|archive-date=June 4, 2007|access-date=March 24, 2022}} while the country version was nominated for Collaborative Video of the Year at the 2005 CMT Music Awards.{{Cite news |date=March 17, 2005 |title=Video kudos: Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson get 3 CMT nominations |work=Toledo Blade |page=D3}}

"Party for Two" debuted on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs the week of September 18, 2004, at number 39. It rose to its peak position of number 7 on December 25, 2004, where it stayed for one week; it stayed 20 weeks overall on the chart. The single also peaked at number 58 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 and 58 on the Radio Songs chart. In November 2004, the track received a Spin Award from BDS Certified for 50,000 spins.{{Cite magazine |date=December 25, 2004 |title=Announcing This Month's Recipients of BDSCertified Spin Awards |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media |page=62 |volume=116 |issue=52 |issn=0006-2510}} By March 2005, the track received another award, this time for 100,000 spins.{{Cite magazine |date=April 23, 2005 |title=Announcing This Month's Recipients of BDSCertified Spin Awards |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media |page=48 |volume=117 |issue=17 |issn=0006-2510}} "Party for Two" debuted on the UK Singles Chart for the week of December 4, 2004, at number 10. It stayed in the UK charts for nine weeks.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Sleep%20On%20The%20Left%20Side |title=The Official Charts Company |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=October 23, 2012}} In German-speaking Europe, "Party for Two" peaked at numbers 6 and 7 in Austria and Germany. In Twain's home country of Canada, the single peaked atop the BDS Canada Airplay chart{{Cite book |last=Landrum |first=Gene N. |title=Paranoia & Power: Fear & Fame of Entertainment Icons |date=November 2007 |publisher=Morgan James Publishing |isbn=9781600372735 |pages=131}} and peaked at number 2 on the sales-only Canadian Singles Chart. "Party for Two" also charted highly in Denmark, Portugal, Spain, and Scotland.

Twain first performed the country version of "Party for Two" on Good Morning America with Currington on November 5, 2004. She also performed the country version with him on the German music show Wetten, dass..?.{{Citation |title=Shania Twain - Party For Two - Wetten Dass - 2004 - XviD AVI |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEEMAIEZ2iw |access-date=2023-06-27 |language=en}} Twain performed the pop version featuring McGrath for the first time on Dutch TV.{{Citation |title=Shania Twain - Party For Two with Mark McGrath on Dutch TV 2004 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qcSWmlbWAA |access-date=2023-06-27 |language=en}} She also performed the version featuring him at the 2004 Bambi Awards.{{Citation |title=Shania Twain - Party For Two Feat Mark McGrath (Live From Bambi Awards/2004) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8LTwOtbHt0 |access-date=2023-06-27 |language=en}} Twain also performed the pop version with McGrath on the British morning show GMTV.{{Citation |title=Shania Twain & Mark Mcgrath Party For Two |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__WFjimOwdw |access-date=2023-06-27 |language=en}}

These are the formats of major releases.

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UK maxi-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Party for Two|others=Shania Twain, Mark McGrath|type=UK maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Mercury Records|year=2004|id=2103239}}

1. "Party For Two" (Pop Version) – 3:32
2. "You're Still The One" (Live) – 3:28
3. "I'm Holding On To Love (To Save My Life)" (Live) – 3:24
4. "Party For Two" (Country Version) – 3:24
5. "Party For Two" (Almighty Downtown Radio Edit) – 3:37
6. Enhanced: "Party For Two" (Pop Version) – Music Video
7. Enhanced: "Party For Two" (Country Version) – Music Video

German and Canadian CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Party for Two|others=Shania Twain, Mark McGrath|type=German CD single liner notes|publisher=Mercury Records|year=2004|id=602498644638}}

1. "Party For Two" (Pop Version with Intro) – 3:32
2. "You're Still The One" (Live) – 3:28
3. "I'm Holding On To Love (To Save My Life)" – 3:24
4. "Party For Two" (Country Version with Intro) – 3:29
5. Enhanced: "Party For Two" – Music Video

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UK CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Party for Two|others=Shania Twain, Mark McGrath|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=Mercury Records|year=2004|id=2103240}}

1. "Party For Two" (Pop Version) – 3:34
2. "Party For Two" (LMC Remix) – 6:18

European CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Party for Two|others=Shania Twain, Mark McGrath|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=Mercury Records|year=2004|id=602498644621}}

1. "Party For Two" (Pop Version with Intro) – 3:32
2. "Party For Two" (Country Version with Intro) – 3:29

German and European 3-inch CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Party for Two|others=Shania Twain, Mark McGrath|type=European 3-inch CD single liner notes|year=2004|id=060249864464}}

1. "Party For Two" (Pop Version) – 3:32
2. "Party For Two" (Country Version) – 3:29

Europe 12" Remixes Vinyl{{cite AV media notes|title=Party for Two|others=Shania Twain, Mark McGrath|type=European 12-inch remix sleeve|year=2004|id=2103326|publisher=Mercury Records}}

1. "Party For Two" (LMC Remix)
2. "Party For Two" (Almighty Downtown Mix)
3. "Party For Two (Kenny Hayes Mix)
4. "Party For Two (Almighty Uptown Mix)

US promotional CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Party for Two|others=Shania Twain, Billy Currington|publisher=Mercury Nashville Records|type=US promotional CD single liner notes|year=2004|id=MRNR-02546-2}}

1. "Party For Two" (duet with Billy Currington) – 3:33

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Almighty Records provided six different remixes of the song.{{cite web|url=http://www.almightyrecords.com/remixes/276/ |title=Almighty Remixes |publisher=Almightyrecords.com |access-date=October 23, 2012}}

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• Country album version (3:32)
• Pop album version (3:32)
• Country version radio edit (3:26)
• Pop version radio edit (3:25)
• LMC Remix (6:37)
• LMC Remix Edit (6:19)
• Kenny Hayes Mix (5:46)
• Almighty Downtown Mix (6:46)
• Almighty Downtown Dub (6:46)
• Almighty Downtown Radio Edit (3:37)
• Almighty Uptown Mix (7:49)
• Almighty Uptown Dub (8:02)
• Almighty Uptown Radio Edit (3:30)

}}

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Shania Twain|title=Party for Two|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2004|certyear=2023|refname="US cert"}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Shania Twain singles}}

{{Billy Currington}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2004 singles

Category:Shania Twain songs

Category:Mark McGrath songs

Category:Billy Currington songs

Category:Songs written by Robert John "Mutt" Lange

Category:Song recordings produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange

Category:Songs written by Shania Twain

Category:Male–female vocal duets

Category:Mercury Records singles

Category:Mercury Nashville singles

Category:2004 songs