Troye Sivan just dropped “Party,” the second track off his upcoming album She’s the Best, and the visual is absolute gold. Built over a sample of Madonna’s 2000 hit “Music,” the song goes heavy on pulsating electro-dance beats. But the video is where things take a wild turn.
Having Sir Ian McKellen open the clip in full Shakespearean mode sets up the scene perfectly. Hearing Gandalf himself deliver an intro over castle grounds sets a legendary tone for what quickly turns into an outrageous medieval rager.
“The conquest is nearly behind us. Fires blaze from one end of the realm to the other. And what is victory, if not celebrated? For at long last, a party.”
The visual was shot at a castle in Berkeley, England, directed by longtime collaborator Gordon von Steiner. The duo previously teamed up for “Rush,” “One of Your Girls,” and “Got Me Started,” so high energy and tight choreography were practically guaranteed.
Cheeky Chivalry and Queer Heritage
Seeing full-on dance routines smashed together with an old-world backdrop feels whimsical and clever. Sivan struts around in armor as a knight, surrounded by sword fights, court jesters, and plenty of leather-clad partygoers.
There is a ton of flirtatious energy throughout the clip. Sivan and director von Steiner zeroed in on the historical roots of queer spaces, exploring how people have always gathered to unwind regardless of the century.
“We both take partying quite seriously,” Sivan explained while discussing the visual on the Billboard Pop Shop Podcast. “It can be this very transcendent experience, especially as queer people. Nightlife is often the first place where you aren’t the minority. So we started asking: What would this look like 100 or 200 years ago?”
Connecting with McKellen brings that exact generational thread to life. Sivan first shared a stage with the veteran actor back in 2010 during a Perth production of Waiting for Godot when he was just 14 years old. Bringing him back to anchor this track bridges two distinct eras of talent.
“Sir Ian doing the voice-over was important because it represents queer lineage,” Sivan noted. “It’s about each generation setting the stage for the next and saying, ‘This is where we gather.’”
The Ultimate Climax
The entire setup climbs toward a wild finale. Near the end of the track, Sivan literally levitates off the ground, floating in mid-air during the peak instrumentals.
We pan back and forth between that and a very steam scene; Sivan pulls down his lover’s pants to admire the view, and dives straight in head first (I think we can put together what happens next…).
Writing credits on “Party” feature Sivan alongside Leland, Kaelyn Behr, Rob Feher, Elvira Anderfjärd, Tove Burman, Luka Kloser, and his brother Tyde Levi. Levi, Behr, Feher, and Sivan also handled production.
Following up his previous title single “She’s the Best,” which featured Nicole Kidman in its visual, Sivan continues pushing boundaries. He is proving once again that he knows how to keep main-stage male pop stardom vibrant, playful, and deeply entertaining.
She’s the Best officially lands on October 9.
