As If Those Eyes First Opened

Like Jasmine Thompson, Bright Eyes was an act that I first heard of through TV commercials, and became more exposed to through Pandora.  On television, I could hear a fraction of the song "This is the First Day of My Life," but there is no way to capture the song's full message in so little time.  But, listening to other songs and musicians with a similar recording style created an emotional setting for when I heard the song in full.

We reach milestones where some day is viewed as the first day of the rest of our lives.  But in this song by Bright Eyes, that concept is taken a little bit further.  Looking at back at their relationship, life was incomplete without the other person.  From that moment where they realize the strength of their love, it's like they've begun a new life.  Reborn.

During the first three verses, there's a buildup of this man saying how life changing it was to meet and fall in love with this woman that he's singing to.  He recalls standing in the doorway, seeing her, and the power comes on like a light switch has been pulled.  In the fourth verse, we here about when she feels that intense feeling of love overcome her.  It's from a moment where she drives all night to see him in the morning.  In that expression of devotion and commitment, she's seeing how this is the first day of her new life too.    It's in the last verse that he concludes, explaining in the most accurate way he honestly can, he tells her what their life can be like in the future together.

This is a perfect little love song.  By how it looks back on the past, is sung in the present, and looks forward to the future, I see this as an ideal song for anniversaries, engagements, weddings, or the renewal of vows.  It's a very sweet way of capturing the feeling of a couple's journey together.

Before finishing this post, I saw the video for this song.  It really drives home the sense of romance.  The video (directed by John Cameron Mitchell) features people listening to the song on headphones often with their significant other.  Even when they're sitting in front of a crew with cameras and lights, there's something far more important in the atmosphere created.  It's them, on a couch, together listening to the song through headphones.  The delivery of the music is so immersive, and as the memories are roused, ...  In many cases, the person is sharing those personal moments with their loved one.  There's a range of emotions from the different people.  Joking and playing.  Sadly holding a photo.  Sharing the moment with their children.  Eve some singles are shown listening to this.  I think that the song brings out the romantic in all of us.