The First Big Weekend

Infobox Single
Name = The First Big Weekend


Cover size =
Caption =
Artist = Arab Strap
from Album = The Week Never Starts Round Here
A-side =
B-side = "Gilded"
Released = 1996 (UK)
Format = 7"
Recorded = MCM Studios
Hamilton, Scotland
Genre =
Length = 4:52
Label = Chemikal Underground
CHEM009 (UK, 7")
Writer = Aidan Moffat
Malcolm Middleton
Producer = Paul Savage
Certification =
Chart position =
* #2 (UK, 1996 Festive Fifty)
Last single = ...
This single = "The First Big Weekend"
(1996)
Next single = "The Smell of Outdoor Cooking"
(1996)
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = The Week Never Starts Round Here
Type = studio
Tracks =
#"Coming Down"
#"The Clearing"
#"Driving"
#"Gourmet"
#"I Work in a Saloon"
#"Wasting"
#"General Plea to a Girlfriend"
#"The First Big Weekend"
#"Kate Moss"
#"Little Girls"
#"Phone Me Tonight"
#"Blood"
#"Deeper""The First Big Weekend" is a song by Scottish post-folk indie band Arab Strap. It was first released as a 7" single limited to 700 copies, [ [http://www.arabstrap.co.uk/discography/html/first.htm "The First Big Weekend"] on [http://www.arabstrap.co.uk/ arabstrap.co.uk] ] then later on Arab Strap's debut album, "The Week Never Starts Round Here", both released in 1996 on Chemikal Underground.

The song received a large amount of airplay on BBC Radio One's Evening Session show. The show's host, DJ Steve Lamacq has described the song as the 'best of the decade' [ [http://www.musicianguide.com/biographies/1608002936/Arab-Strap.html "Arab Strap"] on [http://www.musicianguide.com musicianguide.com] ] and also 'the most perfect pop song ever'. The song was used in a commercial for the drink Guinness.

"The First Big Weekend" is, for the most part, a monologue spoken by Aidan Moffat while bandmate Malcolm Middleton plays guitar and a drum machine accompanies. The lyrics revolve around the events of a weekend, including going out to clubs and bars, watching international football and The Simpsons and trying to pick up girls. Towards the end of the song Malcolm begins to sing the lines "Went out for the weekend, it lasted forever/got high with my friends, it's officially summer"; these are the only sung words in the song.

Track listing

Songs and lyrics by Aidan Moffat and Malcolm Middleton.
* 7" (CHEM009)
#"The First Big Weekend" – 4:52
#"Gilded" – 2:40

Personnel

* Aidan Moffat – vocals, drums
* Malcolm Middleton – guitar
* Paul Savage – producer

Notes

External links

* [http://www.songmeanings.net/lyric.php?lid=3458764513820553371 "The First Big Weekend"] Lyrics
* [http://www.last.fm/music/Arab+Strap/_/The+First+Big+Weekend "The First Big Weekend"] on Last.fm