First Man (song)

{{Infobox song

| name = First Man

| cover =

| caption =

| type = single

| artist = Camila Cabello

| album = Romance

| released = {{Start date|2020|6|18}}

| recorded = November 2018

| studio = Jordan's House
(Nashville, Tennessee)

| genre = Pop rock

| length = 3:49

| label =

Epic
Syco

| writer =

Camila Cabello
Amy Wadge
Jordan Reynolds

| producer =

Jordan Reynolds
Finneas

| prev_title = My Oh My

| prev_year = 2020

| next_title = Don't Go Yet

| next_year = 2021

| misc = {{External music video|1={{YouTube|grmAmQimQZk|"First Man"}}}}

}}

"First Man" is a song by American singer and songwriter Camila Cabello from her second studio album Romance (2019). It was released by Epic Records and Syco on June 18, 2020, as the seventh and final single from the album.Sources concerning the single release of "First Man":

{{cite web |last=Romack |first=Coco |title=Camila Cabello Was the Cutest Googly-Eyed Baby, Her Emotional 'First Man' Video Shows |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/3166991/camila-cabello-first-man-video/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622213533/http://www.mtv.com/news/3166991/camila-cabello-first-man-video/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 22, 2020 |website=MTV News |accessdate=June 24, 2020 |date=June 22, 2020}}
{{cite web |last=Carr |first=Debbie |title=Camila Cabello shares emotional 'First Man' video |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/camila-cabello-first-man-music-video-father-day-alejandro-romance-2692701 |website=NME |accessdate=June 24, 2020 |date=June 22, 2020}}
{{cite web |last=Zipper |first=Marni |title=Camila Cabello Revisits Childhood Memories With Emotional 'First Man' Video |url=https://www.radio.com/music/pop/camila-cabello-revisits-childhood-with-dad-first-man-video |publisher=Radio.com |accessdate=June 24, 2020 |date=June 22, 2020}} It was written by Cabello alongside Amy Wadge and Jordan Reynolds, with the latter producing it with Finneas. An official music video for "First Man" was released the previous day, in celebration of Father's Day. It features clips from Cabello's childhood with many of the footage containing videos of her and her father.

"First Man" peaked at number 94 on the US Billboard Hot 100, following Cabello's live performance of the song at the 62nd Grammy Awards. Musically, "First Man" is a pop rock piano ballad. Lyrically, the song is about Cabello's relationship with her father while she is in a romantic relationship with a "good guy".

Background and composition

"First Man" was confirmed with the album's track list on November 29, 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B5d1mEynzvX/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/camila_cabello/2188140706921397207 |archive-date=2021-12-25 |url-access=registration|title=December 6. Welcome to the world of #Romance ❤️|accessdate=April 3, 2020}}{{cbignore}}

It was written by Camila Cabello, Jordan Reynolds and Amy Wadge. It runs for three minutes and forty-nine seconds. "First Man" is a pop-rock piano ballad. Cabello wrote the song about her relationship with her father while she is in a romantic relationship with a "good guy."{{cite news|title=CAMILA CABELLO, ROMANCE ALBUM REVIEW 💿|url=https://themusicalhype.com/camila-cabello-romance-album-review/|website=TheMusicHype|accessdate=April 3, 2020}}{{cite news|title=Camila Cabello's new album Romance: First listen preview|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/camila-cabellos-new-album-romance-first-listen-preview__27829/|website=UK Official Singles|accessdate=April 3, 2020}}{{cite news|title=Camila Cabello – 'Romance' review: earth-shattering pop tunes and tentative ballads|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/camila-cabello-romance-album-review-2584469|website=NME|accessdate=April 3, 2020}} In terms of music notation, "First Man" was composed using Time signature in the key of G major, with a tempo of 100 beats per minute.{{cite web|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0205327|title=Camila Cabello "First Man" Sheet Music in G Major|publisher=Musicnotes.com|accessdate=April 22, 2020}} Cabello's vocal range spans from the low note D₃ to the high note of D₅, giving the song two octaves of range. The tempo has a passionate feel.

File:Finneas O'Connell 2019 by Glenn Francis.jpg, one of the producers of the song.]]

Music video

The official music video for the song was released on Cabello's YouTube channel on June 21, 2020, in celebration of Father's Day.{{cn|date=March 2024}}

The video features clips from Cabello's childhood with many of the footage containing videos of her and her father. Cabello watches the footage on a television while singing to her dad. In the description Cabello dedicated the video to her father.{{cite web |last=Iasimone |first=Ashley |title=Camila Cabello Dedicates 'First Man' Video to Her Dad on Father's Day: 'Te Amo Mucho Papa'|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9406398/camila-cabello-first-day-video-fathers-day|publisher=Billboard |accessdate=June 22, 2020 |date=June 21, 2020}}{{cite web |last=Carr |first=Debbie |title=Camila Cabello shares emotional 'First Man' video|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/camila-cabello-first-man-music-video-father-day-alejandro-romance-2692701|website=NME|accessdate=June 22, 2020 |date=June 21, 2020}}

Live performances

On November 2, 2019, Camila performed the song on New Music Daily Presents: Camila Cabello, a special live show from New Music Daily of Apple Music in the heart of Los Angeles celebrating the release of her album Romance.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/music-video/new-music-daily-presents-camila-cabello-first-man/1488701543|title=New Music Daily Presents: Camila Cabello (First Man)|accessdate=April 3, 2020}} Cabello performed "First Man" at the 62nd Grammy Awards ceremony that took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on January 26, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afeisEQa5l8|title=Camila Cabello - First Man (LIVE at the 62nd GRAMMYs)|website=YouTube |accessdate=April 3, 2020}}

Commercial performance

Just one day after the Grammy awards ceremony, sales of "First Man" had already increased by over 68,000%, and that rose to over 81,000% a day later. In those two days, the track sold over 11,000 copies. The cut was also the fourth-most-streamed song the day after the Grammys. The track racked up 1.4 million streams in the 24 hours following an increase of 890%.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2020/02/03/camila-cabellos-first-man-jumped-81000-in-sales-after-the-grammysshould-it-be-her-next-single/#4dfe23271d39|title=Camila Cabello's 'First Man' Jumped 81,000% In Sales After The Grammys—Should It Be Her Next Single?|website=Forbes |accessdate=April 3, 2020}} In the US, "First Man" debuted at number 94 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Cabello's 16th career entry. In New Zealand the song peaked at number 34 on the Hot Singles chart.

Track listings

{{Track listing|title_width=20em

| headline = Digital download

| title1 = First Man

| length1 = 3:48

}}

{{Track listing|title_width=20em

| headline = Digital download – live version

| title1 = First Man

| note1 = Live

| length1 = 3:56

}}

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Romance.{{cite AV media notes |title=Romance |type=liner notes |author=Simco Limited |others=Camila Cabello |year=2019 |publisher=Epic Records / Syco Music |publication-place=US |id=19439727082 |page=17, 20}}

Publishing

Published by Sony/ATV Songs LLC (BMI) o/b/o Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) LTD/Maidmetal Limited (PRS)/Milamoon Songs (BMI) / WC Music Corp. o/b/o itself. Buckeye25 (ASCAP) and Jreynmusic (ASCAP) / WC Music Corp. (ASCAP) o/b/o itself. Cookie Jar Music LLP (ASCAP) and Warner Chappell Music Ltd.

Recording

Recorded by Jordan Reynolds at Jordan's House, Nashville, Tennessee
Mixed by Serban Ghenea at MixStar Studios, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Mastered at the Mastering Palace, New York City, New York

Personnel

Camila Cabello – lead vocals, songwriting
Jordan Reynolds – production, songwriting
Finneas – production
Amy Wadge – songwriting
John Hanes – engineering
Serban Ghenea – mixing
Dave Kutch – mastering

Charts

scope="col"\| Chart (2020) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="row"\| Canadian Digital Song Sales (Billboard){{Cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-canada-digital-song-sales/2020-02-08\|title=Canadian Digital Song Sales (week 08/02/2020)\|magazine=Billboard\|accessdate=April 4, 2020}} \| 15
scope="row"\| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ){{cite web\|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2020-01-31\|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart\|publisher=Recorded Music NZ\|date=February 4, 2020\|access-date=April 3, 2020}} \| 34
{{single chart\|Billboardhot100\|94\|artist=Camila Cabello\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=April 3, 2020}}
{{single chart\|Billboarddigitalsongs\|6\|artist=Camila Cabello \|rowheader=true\|accessdate=April 3, 2020}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" \|+ Release dates and formats for "First Man"
Region ! Date ! Format ! Version ! Label ! {{abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
rowspan="2" scope="row"\| Various \| December 6, 2019 \| rowspan="2" \| {{hlist\|Digital download\|streaming}} \| Original \| rowspan="3" \| {{hlist\|Epic\|Syco}} \| {{center\|{{cite web\|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/first-man/1487577356\|title=First Man by Camilla Cabello on Apple Music\|publisher=Apple Music\|date=December 6, 2019\|accessdate=April 3, 2020\|author=Camila Cabello\|author-link=Camila Cabello\|others=Epic Records\|publication-place=US\|language=en-us}}}}
December 20, 2019 \| Live \| {{center\|{{Cite web\|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/first-man-live/1491883897\|title=First Man (Live) by Camila Cabello on Apple Music\|date=December 20, 2019\|access-date=August 3, 2021\|publisher=Apple Music\|author=Camila Cabello\|author-link=Camila Cabello\|others=Epic Records\|publication-place=US\|language=en-us}}}}
scope="row"\| United States \| June 18, 2020 \| {{hlist\|Contemporary hit radio\|adult contemporary\|Rhythmic contemporary}} \| Original \| style="text-align:center;" \| {{cite web\|url=https://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/cool-new-music\|title=Top 40/M Cool New Music\|publisher=All Access Music Group\|url-access=limited\|access-date=10 March 2022}} Type Camila Cabello in the Search field.

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ Release dates and formats for "First Man"

Region

! Date

! Format

! Version

! Label

! {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

rowspan="2" scope="row"| Various

| December 6, 2019

| rowspan="2" | {{hlist|Digital download|streaming}}

| Original

| rowspan="3" | {{hlist|Epic|Syco}}

| {{center|{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/first-man/1487577356|title=First Man by Camilla Cabello on Apple Music|publisher=Apple Music|date=December 6, 2019|accessdate=April 3, 2020|author=Camila Cabello|author-link=Camila Cabello|others=Epic Records|publication-place=US|language=en-us}}}}

December 20, 2019

| Live

| {{center|{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/first-man-live/1491883897|title=First Man (Live) by Camila Cabello on Apple Music|date=December 20, 2019|access-date=August 3, 2021|publisher=Apple Music|author=Camila Cabello|author-link=Camila Cabello|others=Epic Records|publication-place=US|language=en-us}}}}

scope="row"| United States

| June 18, 2020

| {{hlist|Contemporary hit radio|adult contemporary|Rhythmic contemporary}}

| Original

| style="text-align:center;" | {{cite web|url=https://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/cool-new-music|title=Top 40/M Cool New Music|publisher=All Access Music Group|url-access=limited|access-date=10 March 2022}} Type Camila Cabello in the Search field.

Notes

References

Category:2019 songs

Category:2020 singles

Category:Camila Cabello songs

Category:Song recordings produced by Finneas O'Connell

Category:Songs about fathers

Category:Songs written by Camila Cabello

Category:Songs written by Amy Wadge

Category:Songs written by Jordan Reynolds

Category:Pop ballads

Category:American pop rock songs