Mastering the Emotion of The Script
"For the First Time" is a vocal stamina test wrapped in a pop-rock anthem. Written by Danny O'Donoghue and Mark Sheehan, the song captures the rawness of relationships during economic hardship. For a singer, this song presents two distinct challenges: the rapid-fire, rhythmic delivery of the verses and the soaring, sustained notes of the chorus.
Danny's vocal style blends soul with pop-rock grit. To sing this convincingly, you must master the transition from a conversational texture to a powerful, open-throated belt without straining.
AI Coach Tip: Watch Your Diction
The verses are dense with lyrics. Our analysis shows users often slur words like "broken heart" and "cheap wine." Practice the verses slowly, focusing on crisp consonants to keep the rhythm locked in.
Phase 1: The Rhythmic Verses (0:00 - 0:54)
The song starts in a lower register (around E3-A3). The delivery here is almost spoken—a technique known as Sprechgesang. It’s casual, intimate, and rhythmic.
The Trap: Running out of breath. The lines are long, e.g., "She's all laid up in bed with a broken heart..." You must take quick, efficient breaths at punctuation points. Do not wait until your lungs are empty to inhale.
Phase 2: The Anthemic Chorus (0:54 - 1:30)
The melody lifts significantly here. The line "Oh, these times are hard" requires a switch to a powerful chest-dominant mix. The melody centers around F#4 and A4.
- Open Throat: As you ascend to the "Oh," drop your jaw and raise your soft palate. This creates space and prevents the sound from becoming nasal.
- Vowel Modification: On the word "hard," modify the vowel slightly towards "hod" to keep the larynx neutral. A wide "Ah" sound can cause tension at this pitch.
Phase 3: The Bridge & Outro
The bridge builds tension with the repeated line "Oh, oh, oh." This is the emotional peak. You need to push more air support from your diaphragm, not your throat. The final choruses require high stamina, so ensure you aren't expending all your energy in the first half of the song.
To hit the high A4 belt safely, engage your core and visualize singing down into the note rather than reaching up for it. This psychological trick helps keep the larynx stable.
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest belted note in the main melody is an A4 (on "hard" and "start"). Vocal ad-libs may go slightly higher depending on the live version.
Not necessarily. While Danny is a Tenor, the range is accessible to higher Baritones. If the A4 is too high, use the Singing Coach AI app to transpose the track down -1 or -2 semitones.
The key is "vocal fry" onset or gentle compression, not grinding your cords. Practice crying gently on a "whimper" sound to find safe compression before adding volume.
