For the First Time (The Script song)
Encyclopedia
"For the First Time" is a song by Irish alternative rock band The Script. Written by band members Danny O'Donoghue
and Mark Sheehan
, the song was released on August 20, 2010 as the lead single from the band's second studio album Science & Faith
. It debuted at number one on the Irish Singles Chart
, becoming The Script's first number-one single.
, people are losing their jobs and their valuable things, and we thought, it almost pales in comparison to your news. We started the song, and it ended up being a bit bleak and we felt we really needed a great message in these, to turn it around... so we needed a message of hope, as people are being stripped of all these things they're realizing what's really important. It's all about going back to basics: drinking cheap wine, eating your dinner off the floor. That's when you meet each other for the first time, when you have nothing."
to New York
. One of the characters in the music video is played by Eve Hewson, daughter of U2
's Bono
.
at number one on 10 September 2010, knocking Katy Perry
's "Teenage Dream" from the top spot. This marks the band's first number-one single and third top-ten hit in Ireland. On its second week on the chart, the single remained at the top spot. The single debuted at number five on the UK Singles Chart
before moving up to number four the following week. In Australia, "For the First Time" debuted and peaked at number 12 on the Australian ARIA
Singles Chart. It reached number four on the US Billboard Adult Top 40 chart and number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100
. This is their third song that has hit both of these charts.
The song was certified Gold in the U.S. by the RIAA, meaning the song has been downloaded 500,000 times. As of June 2011, the song was sold 1,000,000 times in the United States.
Source:
Danny O'Donoghue
Danny O'Donoghue is an Irish singer-songwriter from the band The Script.-Career:O'Donoghue was an original member of a late '90s Eamonn Maguire managed Band called Mytown after being signed for $15 million dollars to Universal Records in 1999...
and Mark Sheehan
Mark Sheehan
Mark Sheehan is an Irish singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer. From 1996 to 2001, he was a member of the band Mytown, and since 2001, he has been the guitarist for indie rock band The Script.-Biography:Sheehan was born in Mount Brown in The Liberties area of Dublin...
, the song was released on August 20, 2010 as the lead single from the band's second studio album Science & Faith
Science & Faith
Science & Faith is the second studio album by Irish alternative rock band The Script. It was released in Ireland on 10 September 2010 on RCA Records, Epic Records and Phonogenic Records. It was preceded by the lead single, "For the First Time" on 3 September 2010. It debuted at number one in...
. It debuted at number one on the Irish Singles Chart
Irish Singles Chart
The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...
, becoming The Script's first number-one single.
Background
Danny O'Donoghue of The Script told the story behind the song in an interview with Merrick, Dools & Ricki-Lee on Sydney radio station Nova 96.9. Said O'Donoghue: "The song 'For the First Time' was about a time when we got back after touring around the world. We wanted to press palms with the people who had really gotten us there, and we got home and realised there's a stark reality out there, the recession2008–2011 Irish financial crisis
The 2008–2011 Irish financial crisis, which had stemmed from the financial crisis of 2008, is a major political and economic crisis in Ireland that is partly responsible for the country falling into recession for the first time since the 1980s...
, people are losing their jobs and their valuable things, and we thought, it almost pales in comparison to your news. We started the song, and it ended up being a bit bleak and we felt we really needed a great message in these, to turn it around... so we needed a message of hope, as people are being stripped of all these things they're realizing what's really important. It's all about going back to basics: drinking cheap wine, eating your dinner off the floor. That's when you meet each other for the first time, when you have nothing."
Music video
The music video features band members of The Script within a studio and clips of a couple who have emigrated from IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. One of the characters in the music video is played by Eve Hewson, daughter of U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
's Bono
Bono
Paul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...
.
Chart performance
"For the First Time" debuted on the Irish Singles ChartIrish Singles Chart
The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...
at number one on 10 September 2010, knocking Katy Perry
Katy Perry
Katy Perry is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Born in Santa Barbara, California, and raised by Christian pastor parents, Perry grew up listening to only gospel music and sang in her local church as a child. After earning a GED during her first year of high school, she began to pursue a...
's "Teenage Dream" from the top spot. This marks the band's first number-one single and third top-ten hit in Ireland. On its second week on the chart, the single remained at the top spot. The single debuted at number five on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
before moving up to number four the following week. In Australia, "For the First Time" debuted and peaked at number 12 on the Australian ARIA
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
Singles Chart. It reached number four on the US Billboard Adult Top 40 chart and number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. This is their third song that has hit both of these charts.
The song was certified Gold in the U.S. by the RIAA, meaning the song has been downloaded 500,000 times. As of June 2011, the song was sold 1,000,000 times in the United States.
Personnel
- SongwritingSongwriterA songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and productionRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
– Danny O'DonoghueDanny O'DonoghueDanny O'Donoghue is an Irish singer-songwriter from the band The Script.-Career:O'Donoghue was an original member of a late '90s Eamonn Maguire managed Band called Mytown after being signed for $15 million dollars to Universal Records in 1999...
, Mark SheehanMark SheehanMark Sheehan is an Irish singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer. From 1996 to 2001, he was a member of the band Mytown, and since 2001, he has been the guitarist for indie rock band The Script.-Biography:Sheehan was born in Mount Brown in The Liberties area of Dublin... - Additional production, additional keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
and guitars – Andrew Frampton - Drums, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, keyboards and vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
– The Script - BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
– Ben Sargeant
Source:
Chart positions
| Chart (2010–11) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| European Hot 100 Singles | 11 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2010) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 71 |
Certifications
| Country | Certification |
|---|---|
| Australia Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956... |
Platinum |
| United States | Platinum |