"First Time" is a song by American singer
Robin Beck from her second album, Trouble or Nothin' (1989). The song was released as a single in July 1988 and was originally recorded for a
Coca-Colacommercial in 1987. In the United Kingdom, the
power ballad[2] climbed to
No. 1 and spent three weeks there in November and December 1988, spending 14 weeks on the
UK Singles Chart in total. The song additionally reached number one in Austria, Greece, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, and West Germany. Despite being also released as a single in the US[3] and critically praised by Billboard,[4] it failed to chart due to business political differences between Mercury Records and Coca-Cola wanting to promote either First Time or
Save Up All Your Tears, according to Beck's interview with Rock Eyez in 2009.[5]
Critical reception
Bill Coleman from Billboard wrote, "Fledgling rock vixen takes another shot at radio approval with this well-sung
power ballad."[6]
Music video
There were two (completely different) professionally filmed
music videos for the single. One is almost exclusively performance footage of Beck and her band, shot in a style used by many
hair metal acts of the late 1980s. The other version is a "concept" video: At the beginning, Beck is seen in her bathroom, applying mascara and checking her hair, then makes a quick phone call. She goes through her apartment with scenes of her with her boyfriend. She looks out of a window before watching television (more scenes of her with her boyfriend). She flips through a magazine on the mantelpiece (more scenes), then makes another phone call. At the end of the video, the doorbell rings. Beck turns the television off and answers the door, but the person behind the door cannot be seen.[7]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Cover versions
The song was covered in a Spanish version for the Latin American
Coca-Cola campaign by Mexican singer
Rocío Banquells, under the title Primera Vez, released on her album En El Alambre.
In 1999, Polish singer
Kasia Kowalska recorded a Polish-language version of the song for the Polish
Coca-Cola campaign, under the title "Chcę zatrzymać ten czas". Polish singer
Margaret also recorded her version of the song titled "Smak radości" for Polish Coca-Cola commercial.[42] It was released for
digital download on April 16, 2015.[43]
Unique version
In 2003, the song was covered by Unique which achieved minor success in Switzerland.
^First Time (UK 12-inch single vinyl disc). Robin Beck. Mercury Records. 1988. MERX 270, 870 620-1.{{
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^First Time (Cassette single sleeve). Robin Beck. Mercury Records. 1989. 876 870-4.{{
cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (
link)
^"
ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 200632 into search. Retrieved March 13, 2022.