For the First Time (The Script song)
{{Short description|2010 single by the Script}}
{{Use Irish English|date=February 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox song
| name = For the First Time
| cover = The script-for the first time s.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = the Script
| album = Science & Faith
| released = 20 August 2010{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/au/album/for-the-first-time/387248516?i=387248535 |title=For the First Time – Single by The Script – Download For the First Time – Single on iTunes |publisher=iTunes |date=20 August 2010 |access-date=19 September 2010}}
| recorded = 2010
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Pop rock{{Cite web|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/saddest-breakup-songs-ever|title=The 117 Best Breakup Songs for the Newly Single|first=Kristi|last=Kellogg|date=14 February 2017|website=Teen Vogue}}
| length = 4:11
| label = {{hlist|Epic|Phonogenic}}
| writer = {{hlist|Danny O'Donoghue|Mark Sheehan}}
| producer = {{hlist|Danny O'Donoghue|Mark Sheehan|Andrew Frampton}}
| prev_title = Before the Worst
| prev_year = 2009
| next_title = Nothing
| next_year = 2010
}}
"For the First Time" is a song by Irish pop rock band the Script. Written by band members Danny O'Donoghue and Mark Sheehan, the song was released on 20 August 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. The Wanted covered this song live on BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge and used that version in their EP Lose My Mind.
Background
Danny O'Donoghue 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 recession, 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."
The song was sampled by the band on the track "Good Ol' Days" from their third studio album 3 (2012). The song was also sampled by rapper Machine Gun Kelly, or MGK, for his track "Her Song" off of the "EST 4 Life" (2012) mixtape.
Music video
The music video features band members of the Script within a studio and clips of a couple who have emigrated from Ireland to New York City. The characters in the music video are played by Eve Hewson, daughter of U2's Bono, and Luke Treadaway.{{cite web |url=http://entertainment.oneindia.in/music/international/2010/bono-eve-the-strip-video-030910.html |title=Singer Bono | Eve Hewson | The Strips | Latest Music Video | Sean Penn – Oneindia Entertainment |publisher=Entertainment.oneindia.in |date=3 September 2010 |access-date=19 September 2010 |archive-date=21 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021065515/http://entertainment.oneindia.in/music/international/2010/bono-eve-the-strip-video-030910.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/2010/0902/thescript.html |title=Bono's daughter stars in Script video – RTÉ Ten |publisher=Rte.ie |date=2 September 2010 |access-date=19 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026055623/http://www.rte.ie/ten/2010/0902/thescript.html |archive-date=26 October 2012}} The video was inspired by O. Henry's short story The Gift of the Magi.
Chart performance
"For the First Time" debuted on the Irish Singles Chart 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.{{cite web|last=Grein |first=Paul |url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/74380/week-ending-june-26-2011-songs-a-twist-at-the-voice/ |title=Week Ending June 26, 2011. Songs: A Twist At The Voice | Chart Watch – Archives – Yahoo! Music |publisher=New.music.yahoo.com |date=29 June 2011 |access-date=21 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110704053549/http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/74380/week-ending-june-26-2011-songs-a-twist-at-the-voice |archive-date=4 July 2011 }}
Track listing
- "For The First Time" – 4:11
- "Breakeven" (Live at Shepherd's Bush Empire) – 4:30
- Digital download{{Cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/for-the-first-time-single/id389112012 |title=ITunes - Music - for the First Time - Single by the Script |website=iTunes |access-date=22 February 2014 |archive-date=19 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140619135803/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/for-the-first-time-single/id389112012 |url-status=dead }}
- "For The First Time" – 4:11
- "For The First Time" (Music Video) – 4:41
Personnel
- Songwriting and production – Danny O'Donoghue, Mark Sheehan
- Additional production, additional keyboards and guitars – Andrew Frampton
- Drums, guitars, keyboards and vocals – the Script
- Bass – Ben Sargeant{{cite AV media notes|others=The Script|title=Science & Faith|year=2010|type=Liner Notes|publisher=RCA, Sony Music}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Chart (2010–2011)
! Peak |
|---|
| {{single chart|Australia|12|artist=The Script|song=For The First Time}} |
| {{single chart|Flanders Tip|2|artist=The Script|song=For The First Time}} |
| {{single chart|Wallonia Tip|23|artist=The Script|song=For The First Time}} |
| {{single chart|Canada|30|artist=The Script|song=For The First Time}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcanadaac|9|artist=The Script|song=For The First Time|access-date=23 July 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcanadachrtop40|28|artist=The Script|song=For The First Time|access-date=23 July 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcanadahotac|20|artist=The Script|song=For The First Time|access-date=23 July 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Denmark|39|artist=The Script|song=For The First Time}} |
| European Hot 100 Singles{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/#/charts/european-hot-100?tag=relcharts|title = Billboard|magazine = Billboard}}
| style="text-align:center;"|11 |
| {{single chart|Germany|83|artist=Script,The|song=For The First Time|songid=731021|access-date=3 March 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Hungary|29|artist=The Script|song=For the First Time|week=35|year=2010|access-date=9 September 2010}} |
| {{single chart|Ireland2|1|artist=The Script|song=For The First Time|access-date=17 January 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Dutch100|14|artist=The Script|song=For The First Time}} |
| {{single chart|New Zealand|20|artist=The Script|song=For The First Time}} |
| {{single chart|Scotland|2|artist=Script|date=20100918}} |
| {{single chart|Switzerland|37|artist=The Script|song=For The First Time}} |
| {{single chart|UK|4|artist=The Script|date=20100918}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|23|artist=The Script|song=For The First Time|access-date=24 December 2010}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|5|artist=The Script|song=For The First Time|access-date=6 December 2010}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|3|artist=The Script|song=For The First Time|access-date=3 June 2025}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|11|artist=The Script|song=For The First Time}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable"
!scope="col"|Chart (2012) !scope="col"|Position |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/adult-contemporary-songs|title=Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2012|magazine=Billboard|access-date=10 March 2021}}
|style="text-align:center;"|38 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|relyear=2010|certyear=2019|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|access-date=3 October 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|artist=The Script|title=For the First Time|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2010|certyear=2025|id=15071|access-date=20 February 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|artist=The Script|title=For the First Time|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2010|certyear=2019|id=7470|access-date=16 December 2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=The Script|title=For the First Time|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2010|certyear=2022|source=radioscope|access-date=20 February 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|relyear=2010|certyear=2018|title=For the First Time|artist=Script|type=single|award=Platinum|id=10478-1340-1|access-date=17 November 2018}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|relyear=2010|certyear=2011|title=For the First Time|artist=The Script|type=single|award=Platinum|digital=true|salesamount=1,489,000|salesref={{cite web|url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-jan-20-2013-songs-timberlake-loses-200953979.html|title=Week Ending Jan. 20, 2013. Songs: Timberlake Loses Battle Of The Justins|last=Grein|first=Paul|date=23 January 2013|publisher=Yahoo Music|access-date=20 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127005136/http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-jan-20-2013-songs-timberlake-loses-200953979.html|archive-date=27 January 2013}}|access-date=26 January 2013}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{The Script}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:For The First Time (The Script Song)}}
Category:Songs written by Danny O'Donoghue
Category:Songs written by Mark Sheehan
Category:Phonogenic Records singles