A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed

Infobox Single
Name = A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed


Artist = theaudience
from Album = theaudience
B-side =
Released = 20 April 1998
Format = CD, 7"
Recorded =
Genre = Britpop, Rock
Length = 03:44
Label = Mercury
Writer = Reeves
Producer =
Certification =
Last single = "If You Can't Do It When You're Young; When Can You Do It?"
(1997)
This single = "A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed"
(1998)
Next single = "I Know Enough (I Don't Get Enough)"
(1998)
Misc = Extra album cover
Upper caption = Alternate cover
Background = khaki


Lower caption =

"A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed" is an indie-rock song written by Billy Reeves for theaudience's epynonomous album "theaudience". It was released in 1998 as the album's third single. "A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed" became one of theudience's most popular songs, reaching #27 in the United Kingdom.

It was performed by former theaudience lead singer, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, on her 2002 tour. The music video (and a live performance of it) as well as other theaudience videos were included on the DVD entitled "Watch My Lips".

There are several versions; the radio edit (which appears on all single formats) has the line "and we all sing the same fucking song" replaced with "and we all sing the same stupid song". A French-language acoustic version was featured on one of the two CD singles under the title "Ne Jamais Deçu", and a similar acoustic recording of "A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed", in English, appeared on the limited edition bonus CD issued with early copies of the CD album, "theaudience".

The instrumental track "Bells for David Keenan" refers to a member of the group Telstar Ponies for whom Billy Reeves had handled PR while working for Fire Records. Telstar Ponies themselves had previously recorded a short instrumental titled "Bells for Albert Ayler". The track "Penis Size and Cars" is a cover of a song written and originally recorded by another Fire Records group, Supermodel.

Track listing

;CD single #1:
#"A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed"
#"Penis Size and Cars"
#"Ne Jamais Deçu"
#"I Miss Leo"

;CD single #2:
#"A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed"
#"Ten Minutes Which Improved My Life" (Blah St. session)
#"Never Gonna Give It to You" (Blah St. Session)
#"I'm Always Ready" (Blah St. Session)

;Limited Edition Vinyl::A. "A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed" :AA1. "Penis Size and Cars" :AA2. "Bells for David Keenan"