Mac miller first day of my life

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There’s technically no sole inventor of true middle-school angst, but Conor Oberst is an acclaimed king of feel-sad, middle-school self-pity. He’s had a musical career as Bright Eyes since 1995, releasing “The First Day of My Life” in 2006. However, still standing as one of his only “cheerful” songs, “First Day” is endearingly written to a new romantic partner.

Photo via gibson.com

“I think I was blind before I met you … This is the first day of my life / I’m glad I didn’t die before I met you / But now I don’t care, I could go anywhere with you / And I’d probably be happy”. 

Oberst’s trademark voice of existential shakiness might not quite get you to therapy—but it’s honest. “First Day of My Life” without any usual politics leaves it mushy with honesty. It effortlessly tugs at heartstrings, and tugs hard.

Malcolm “Mac Miller” McCormick is a lofty and boisterous American rapper—confidently in contrast to Conor’s dark, Midwestern grounded-ness. His latest 2016 release, The Divine Feminine, puts him right up along artists like Tyler, The Creator and Earl Sweatshirt. So Miller’s hip-hop production—laced with loyal themes of a dude’s rowdy night out—appears out of touch with anything “indie songwriter” by a landslide.

“Yours was the first face that I saw / I think I was blind before I met you / I don’t know where I am, I don’t know where I’ve been / But I know where I want to go.” 

That said: Slightly stoned-sounding, Miller’s “First Day of My Life” coming from the same artist of Dang! and My Favorite Part demonstrates some wholehearted versatility that many musicians so carefully craft. Shredding all traces of “gangster” was not for naught, even with the amount of vocal layering.

Miller’s version has less arpeggio in its chords, instead lending a more steady, straightforward sound with more predictable syncopation. It’s a pleasantly modest cover, sticking to the status quo of the original. An air of charming confidence hints at Miller’s jazzy roots, especially with “I’d rather be working for a paycheck / Than waiting to win the lot-te-ry”. 

…”I didn’t die before I met you” is definitive in comparison. Oberst wins in sincerity, but perhaps Miller does in expressing it.

The faster tempo with generally smoother guitar boasts Mac’s softer side, without glorifying love at first sight. He adds years of modern romantics to a sometimes-dingy track that can really head both ways.

Photo via westword.com

A slowing solo finishes with a twangy, sundrenched feel, while leaving out Oberst’s footnotes of “Besides, maybe this time is different / I mean, I really think you like me.”  If anyone could make Bright Eyes so slick and stylish, it’s probably Mac Miller. Oberst’s original has irreplaceable soul, but Miller again proves his dedication by covering “Lua” from the same album.

Whether or not there’s something in Bright Eyes for all of us, Oberst’s writing and Miller’s wits make a strangely satisfying love song as “First Day of My Life”—on polar ends of the spectrum.

Olivia Sun

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This is the first day of my life I swear I was born
right in the doorway I went out in the rain suddenly
everything changed They're spreading blankets on the
beachYours is the first face that I saw I think I was
blind before I met you Now I don't know where I am
I don't know where I've been But I know where I want
to goAnd so I thought I'd let you know That these things
take forever I especially am slow But I realize that
I need you And I wondered if I could come homeRemember
the time you drove all night Just
to meet me in the morning And I thought it was strange
you said everything changed You felt as if you'd just
woke up And you said "this is the first day of my life
I'm glad I didn't die before I met you But now I don't
care I could go anywhere with you And I'd probably
be happy"So if you want to be with me With these things
there's no telling We just have to wait and see But
I'd rather be working for a paycheck Than waiting to
win the lottery Besides maybe this time is different
I mean I really think you like me