First (song)
Encyclopedia
"First" is a pop rock
song recorded by American
singer Lindsay Lohan
for her debut album Speak. It was released as the album's third and final single on May 10, 2005 (see 2005 in music
). The song was released to help promote Lohan's film, Herbie: Fully Loaded
, in which it appears on the soundtrack. The song failed to chart in the United States
, but it performed well in other countries such as Taiwan
.
The song is about wanting to come first in her boyfriend's life. The song incorporates high pop punk oriented instrumental sounds, but it also conserves her typical teen pop touch. The song was the least successful single in Lohan's album.
and John Shanks
, who would later produce her second album A Little More Personal (Raw)
. The song was recorded in Lindsay Lohan's trailer on the set of Herbie: Fully Loaded
in September 2004. She had been recording and filming the movie back-to-back. Kara DioGuardi and Cory Rooney
, who wrote and produced Lohan's first single, provided background vocals for the song.
"Speak", the title track from her album, was originally going to be released as the third single. Angela Robinson
, director of Herbie, looked at Lindsay's album to see if she could find a track that could be incorporated in the film. She enjoyed listening to "First" and approached Lindsay about it being released as the next single. Even though the song is about wanting to be the first person in a boyfriends life, in the context of the film, however, it is taken as wanting to finish first in a car race.
called the song and the second track "promising", while criticizing the other songs on the album. The song was noted for its ending line in the chorus: I wanna come first. Some bloggers have interpreted the meaning of the song as Lohan announcing, in a double entendre to adult listeners, that she wanted to orgasm before her male partners during sex. However, when asked by David Letterman whether this was the case, she smiled slyly and said, "I actually prefer coming at the same time."
and on August 8 in Europe
. The song failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100
or the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
chart. It was, however, successful in many other countries. The song charted in the top 10 in Taiwan
and Indonesia
. The song charted at #31 in Australia
, just missing out by one spot on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart.
It also charted at #41 on the Swiss Singles Top 100 in Switzerland
and at #74 in the Media Control Charts
.
102.7 Wango Tango
event in 2005. She also performed the title song from the album, "Speak." The song was also popular on Radio Disney
airwaves since her other singles were considered too mature for their audiences. The song was originally going to be played during the racing sequence during the film, but was instead played during the end credits. Lohan was reportedly angry over this change. "I was upset when I didn't hear my song (First) during the race scene, where I originally thought it would be," Lohan says. She continues by saying, "I was like, 'Whoaaa,' because nobody stays to hear the song in the closing credits."
, who directed her previous singles "Rumors
" and "Over
". The video takes place in a garage-like arena in the middle of a race. Lohan and her band sing the song from a stage right next to the track, while clips from Herbie: Fully Loaded
play. Lohan also sings and dances beside Herbie
, the anthropomorphic Volkswagen Beetle.
Lohan sprained her ankle for the second time after her foot had been run over by the car used for Herbie. She was apparently rushed to film the video in time for the release. Her injury angered her since she had to rush to get the video out and the song wasn't even played in the proposed time during the film. She says, "'First' is especially important to me because I recorded it right before I got sick (from exhaustion) and went to the hospital. And then I shot the video for it and re-sprained my ankle. I pushed myself to get it done for the movie when I probably should have waited."
The video peaked at #3 on MTV
's Total Request Live
and stayed on the chart for three weeks.
Maxi single
Japanese Single
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
song recorded by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan is an American actress, pop singer and model. She began her career as a child fashion model before making her motion picture debut in Disney's 1998 remake of The Parent Trap at the age of 11...
for her debut album Speak. It was released as the album's third and final single on May 10, 2005 (see 2005 in music
2005 in music
-Events:*During the year 2005, 12 rock music albums scored number 1 in the USA. This was the first time even ten albums have scored number 1 since 1996.-January:...
). The song was released to help promote Lohan's film, Herbie: Fully Loaded
Herbie: Fully Loaded
Herbie: Fully Loaded is a 2005 American comedy film directed by Angela Robinson and produced by Robert Simonds for Walt Disney Pictures. It stars Lindsay Lohan as the youngest member of an automobile-racing family, Michael Keaton as her father, Matt Dillon as a competing racer, Breckin Meyer as...
, in which it appears on the soundtrack. The song failed to chart in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, but it performed well in other countries such as Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
.
The song is about wanting to come first in her boyfriend's life. The song incorporates high pop punk oriented instrumental sounds, but it also conserves her typical teen pop touch. The song was the least successful single in Lohan's album.
Background
"First" was written and produced by hit-makers Kara DioGuardiKara DioGuardi
Kara Elizabeth DioGuardi is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, music publisher, A&R executive, composer and TV personality. She writes music primarily in the light pop-rock, dance, and R&B genres. DioGuardi has worked with many popular artists; her songs have appeared on more than 159...
and John Shanks
John Shanks
John Matthew Shanks is a modern rock writer and Grammy Award–winning producer.Born in New York City, Shanks moved to Los Angeles when he was 17....
, who would later produce her second album A Little More Personal (Raw)
A Little More Personal (Raw)
A Little More Personal received mixed reviews from critics. The album holds a score of 50 out of 100 based on 9 critical reviews, according to the music review aggregator Metacritic...
. The song was recorded in Lindsay Lohan's trailer on the set of Herbie: Fully Loaded
Herbie: Fully Loaded
Herbie: Fully Loaded is a 2005 American comedy film directed by Angela Robinson and produced by Robert Simonds for Walt Disney Pictures. It stars Lindsay Lohan as the youngest member of an automobile-racing family, Michael Keaton as her father, Matt Dillon as a competing racer, Breckin Meyer as...
in September 2004. She had been recording and filming the movie back-to-back. Kara DioGuardi and Cory Rooney
Cory Rooney
Cory Rooney is an American songwriter, record producer, and C.E.O. of Cory Rooney Group. He has written, produced, and developed many hits and careers for artists such as Mariah Carey, Mary J...
, who wrote and produced Lohan's first single, provided background vocals for the song.
"Speak", the title track from her album, was originally going to be released as the third single. Angela Robinson
Angela Robinson
Angela Robinson is an American film and television director, screenwriter and producer.-Early life:Robinson was born in San Francisco, California and later grew up in Los Angeles. Robinson completed a B.A...
, director of Herbie, looked at Lindsay's album to see if she could find a track that could be incorporated in the film. She enjoyed listening to "First" and approached Lindsay about it being released as the next single. Even though the song is about wanting to be the first person in a boyfriends life, in the context of the film, however, it is taken as wanting to finish first in a car race.
Critical reception
Stylus MagazineStylus Magazine
Stylus Magazine was an online music and film magazine launched in 2002. It featured long-form music journalism, four daily music reviews, movie reviews, a number of different podcasts, an MP3 blog, and a text blog....
called the song and the second track "promising", while criticizing the other songs on the album. The song was noted for its ending line in the chorus: I wanna come first. Some bloggers have interpreted the meaning of the song as Lohan announcing, in a double entendre to adult listeners, that she wanted to orgasm before her male partners during sex. However, when asked by David Letterman whether this was the case, she smiled slyly and said, "I actually prefer coming at the same time."
Commercial reception
The single was released on June 25, 2005 in North AmericaNorth America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and on August 8 in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. The song failed to chart 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...
or the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
The Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It lists the top 25 singles below number 100 that have not yet charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sometimes, however, singles halt their progress on this chart, and never appear on the Hot 100...
chart. It was, however, successful in many other countries. The song charted in the top 10 in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. The song charted at #31 in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, just missing out by one spot on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart.
It also charted at #41 on the Swiss Singles Top 100 in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and at #74 in the Media Control Charts
Media Control Charts
The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie...
.
Promotion
Lohan performed the song at KIIS-FMKIIS-FM
KIIS-FM is a Los Angeles, California, USA-based radio station with a partial Top 40 musical format. It is owned by Clear Channel Communications. KIIS is also simulcasted on KVVS in Rosamond, at 105.5 MHz...
102.7 Wango Tango
Wango Tango
Wango Tango is an annual day-long concert produced on by local Los Angeles radio station KIIS-FM. The concert series has been staged at various venues around southern California including Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Verizon Wireless...
event in 2005. She also performed the title song from the album, "Speak." The song was also popular on Radio Disney
Radio Disney
Radio Disney is a radio network based in Burbank, California and headquartered out of the Disney Channel headquarters on West Alameda Ave., from where it has been based since November 2008. Prior to that, the network was based in Dallas, Texas...
airwaves since her other singles were considered too mature for their audiences. The song was originally going to be played during the racing sequence during the film, but was instead played during the end credits. Lohan was reportedly angry over this change. "I was upset when I didn't hear my song (First) during the race scene, where I originally thought it would be," Lohan says. She continues by saying, "I was like, 'Whoaaa,' because nobody stays to hear the song in the closing credits."
Music video
The music video began shooting in May 2005, after Lohan had recently bleached her auburn hair blonde. The music video was directed by Jake NavaJake Nava
Jake Nava was born on 17 August and grew up in northern London. He currently lives in eastern London.He graduated from the University of WestministerJake Nava is an English-born music video and film director.-Filmography:MUSIC VIDEOS...
, who directed her previous singles "Rumors
Rumors (song)
"Rumors" is a dance-pop song recorded by Lindsay Lohan for her debut album, Speak. It was released as the album's first and lead single on September 21, 2004 in the United States. Although it failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, it peaked at #6 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart...
" and "Over
Over (Lindsay Lohan song)
"Over" is a pop-rock song recorded by American singer Lindsay Lohan for her debut album Speak. It was released as the album's second single in the United States on December 14, 2004 . Although the song failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, it peaked at #1 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles...
". The video takes place in a garage-like arena in the middle of a race. Lohan and her band sing the song from a stage right next to the track, while clips from Herbie: Fully Loaded
Herbie: Fully Loaded
Herbie: Fully Loaded is a 2005 American comedy film directed by Angela Robinson and produced by Robert Simonds for Walt Disney Pictures. It stars Lindsay Lohan as the youngest member of an automobile-racing family, Michael Keaton as her father, Matt Dillon as a competing racer, Breckin Meyer as...
play. Lohan also sings and dances beside Herbie
Herbie
Herbie is an anthropomorphic Volkswagen Beetle, a character that is featured in several Disney motion pictures starting with the 1968 feature film The Love Bug. He has a mind of his own and is capable of driving himself, and is a serious contender in auto racing competitions...
, the anthropomorphic Volkswagen Beetle.
Lohan sprained her ankle for the second time after her foot had been run over by the car used for Herbie. She was apparently rushed to film the video in time for the release. Her injury angered her since she had to rush to get the video out and the song wasn't even played in the proposed time during the film. She says, "'First' is especially important to me because I recorded it right before I got sick (from exhaustion) and went to the hospital. And then I shot the video for it and re-sprained my ankle. I pushed myself to get it done for the movie when I probably should have waited."
The video peaked at #3 on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's Total Request Live
Total Request Live
Total Request Live is a television series on MTV that featured popular music videos. TRL was MTV's prime outlet for music videos as the network continues to concentrate on reality-based programming. In addition to music videos, TRL featured daily guests...
and stayed on the chart for three weeks.
Track listings
CD single- "First" - 3:29
- "Symptoms of You" - 2:56
Maxi single
- "First" - 3:29
- "Symptoms of You" - 2:56
- "Rumors" (The Sharp Boys Club Gossip Vocal Remix) - 7:23
- "First" (Instrumental) - 3:28
Japanese Single
- "First" - 3:29
- "First" (Instrumental) - 3:28
Chart performance
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart 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... |
31 |
| Swiss Singles Top 100 | 41 |
| German Singles Chart Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
74 |