Should Have Been Bigger: Jennifer Lopez’s Euphoric “First Love”

Mike Wass | March 6, 2019 2:45 pm
Flashback: J.Lo's 'Feelin' So Good'
Jennifer Lopez deserved to land a much bigger hit with 'Feelin' So Good.'

Every single released from Jennifer Lopez’s underrated A.K.A. deserved more love (we previously stated the case for “I Luh Ya Papi”), but it’s especially true of the album’s second single. Produced by the dream team of Max Martin, ILYA and Savan Kotecha, “First Love” is three and a half minutes of euphoric dance-pop. The giddy anthem is also something of a rarity in that it approaches romance from the perspective of a Grown Woman. “I wish you were my first love, ’cause if you were my first,” J.Lo sings on the sugary sweet chorus, “baby, there wouldn’t have been no second, third or fourth love.”

In other words, you might have to kiss a lot of frogs (and have the patience of a saint) to find Prince Charming. Some of us more than others. The long search for love is reflected in the video. Directed by Anthony Mandler, the black-and-white opus begins with J.Lo wandering through the desert in a couture gown. The flawless 49-year-old then bumps into supermodel David Gandy (what luck!) just as she was about to give up. Sparks fly and Jennifer spends the rest of the clip serving face and body in increasingly skimpy ensembles. It’s easily one of her best visuals.

There’s just something about the pop icon’s voice and dance-pop that works for me. While most of the ultimate triple threat’s music is urban-leaning, her discography is scattered with synth-drenched gems including iconic bangers “Waiting For Tonight,” “On The Floor” and “Dance Again.” At a different time, “First Love” would have been just as big as those songs. But pop radio refused to play along and Jenny’s blissful bop only peaked at number 87 on the Billboard Hot 100. It truly deserved more.

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