First (Cold War Kids song)

"First" is a song by American indie rock band Cold War Kids. The song was written by the band and produced by Lars Stalfors and Dann Gallucci. It was the second and final single off their fifth album Hold My Home (2014) and was released on February 17, 2015. The song garnered a positive reception from music critics.

"First"
Single by Cold War Kids
from the album Hold My Home
Released	February 17, 2015[1]
Genre	Indie rock
Length	3:20
Label	Downtown, V2
Songwriter(s)	Cold War Kids
Producer(s)	Lars Stalfors Dann Gallucci
Cold War Kids singles chronology
"All This Could Be Yours" (2014) "First" (2015) "Love Is Mystical" (2017)
Music video
"First" on YouTube

"First" peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart, becoming the band's highest charting single. A music video was made for the single and was released on January 12, 2015. The song was certified Gold by the RIAA for selling over 500,000 digital copies in the United States.

Critical reception

"First" received positive reviews from music critics. Philip Cosores of Paste called it a "clap-along anthem" and put it together with "All This Could Be Yours" and "Hot Coals" as "the strongest run the band has put together in its career."[2] Heather Phares of AllMusic remarked the song being a highlight of the album due to its "anthemic power."[3]

Music video

The music video was uploaded on the band's VEVO page on January 12, 2015.[4]

Chart performance

The song spent seven weeks at number one on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. It remains the band's only song to top that chart. The song stayed on the chart for sixty-four weeks, making it the third-longest-running single in the chart's history.

In popular culture

• The song was featured in the 2015 film Aloha.
• The song was featured in the season 5 episode "Denial" of the USA series Suits.
• The song was featured in the pilot episode of the ABC series Quantico.
• The song was used in a commercial for Coors Banquet.
• The song was used in a series of commercials for Hyundai promoting its 2019 lineup of electric and hybrid vehicles.[5]

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (2015) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[6] 38 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[7] 72 Canada Rock (Billboard)[8] 5 US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[9] 5 US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[10] 4 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[11] 23 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[12] 1 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[13] 8 US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[14] 1

Year-end charts Chart (2015) Position US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[15] 3 US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[16] 19 US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[17] 6 Chart (2016) Position US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[18] 6 US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[19] 2 Certifications Region Certification Certified units/sales Australia (ARIA)[20] Gold 35,000 Canada (Music Canada)[21] Gold 40,000^* United States (RIAA)[22] Gold 500,000 ^* Sales figures based on certification alone. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

• List of number-one Billboard Alternative Songs of 2015

References

1. "R&R :: Going For Adds :: Alternative". Radio & Records. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
2. Cosores, Philip (October 21, 2014). "Cold War Kids: Hold My Home". Paste. Wolfgang's Vault. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
3. Phares, Heather. "Hold My Home - Cold War Kids". AllMusic. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
4. "Cold War Kids Release New Music Video For "First"". Under the Radar. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
5. "iSpot.tv - Hyundai TV Commercial, 'Better Drives Us: A Greener Future' [T1]". iSpot.tv. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
6. "Australian-charts.com – Cold War Kids – First". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
7. "Cold War Kids Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
8. "Cold War Kids Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
9. "Cold War Kids Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
10. "Cold War Kids Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
11. "Cold War Kids Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
12. "Cold War Kids Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
13. "Cold War Kids Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
14. "Cold War Kids Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
15. "Alternative Songs - Year-End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
16. "Hot Rock Songs - Year-End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
17. "Rock Airplay Songs - Year-End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
18. "Alternative Songs - Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
19. "Rock Airplay Songs - Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
20. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2018 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
21. "Canadian single certifications – Cold War Kids – First". Music Canada. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
22. "American single certifications – Cold War Kids – First". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 6, 2016. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics