THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

605-Pulp-Do You Remember the First Time?

1994-Number 34 single.

Best Bit-At 1.08. A Gentleman never tells.

Pulp (see also best songs 285) were formed at the City School, in Sheffield, England, in 1978, by Jarvis Cocker, who was 15 years old, and Peter Dalton, who was 14 years old at the time. They were originally called ‘Arabicus,’ named after the ‘Arabicas’ coffee bean, but with a slight spelling change. They later changed to ‘Arabicus Pulp,’ and finally ‘Pulp,’ ‘Pulp’ being the name of a 1972 movie starring Michael Caine, and one of Jarvis Cocker’s favourite films. In total there have been 24 different members come and go, with Jarvis Cocker who was born in Sheffield, England, on September 19th, 1963, being the groups one constant. The five members who played on this track, and it’s parent Album ‘His ‘n’ Hers,’ were, Jarvis Cocker, (vocals, guitar, and keyboards) Russell Senior, (guitar, and violin) Candida Doyle, (keyboards) Nick Banks, (drums, and percussion) Steve Mackey (1966-2023) (bass.) For Pulp success was not achieved overnight, as the group experimented with many differing musical genres over the course of their first 16 years of existence, before finally finding the right formula with this song, and Album. In fact, prior to the success of ‘Do You Remember the First Time?’ Pulp had released three non charting Albums, and 12 non charting singles. At the time of writing Pulp remain active, having been on hiatus between 2002-2011, then reforming until 2013, and then getting back together again in 2022, although there has been no new music released since 2013. Pulp are regarded as one of the ‘Britpop’ ‘big four,’ along with Oasis, Blur, and Suede. Three of their Albums have been nominated for the UK ‘Mercury Music Prize,’ ‘His ‘n’ Hers’ in 1994, ‘Different Class,’ in 1996, and ‘This Is Hardcore,’ in 1998, with ‘Different Class’ winning the award.

The discography of Pulp, who have sold in excess of 10 million records, includes seven studio Albums released between 1983-2001, and 26 singles released between 1983-2013, there are also nine official compilation Albums, and two live Albums available. In the UK, all four of their latest Albums have reached the top 10, with both ‘Different Class,’ (1995) and ‘This Is Hardcore,’ (1998) both making the Number 1 spot, while on the UK top 40 singles chart, they have had 12 hits, with both ‘Common People,’ (1995) and the double ‘A’ sided single ‘Sorted for E’s & Wizz’ and ‘Mis-Shapes,’ (1995) both peaking the highest at Number 2.

‘Do You Remember the First Time?’ was the second of three singles released from ‘His ‘n’ Hers,’ the fourth studio Album released by Pulp, from April 1994, the songwriting credits are shared amongst all the group members at that time, with the production being by Ed Buller, who was born Edmund Wilbur Hudson Bulleron, on August 9th, 1962, in Reigate, Surrey, England. Prior to becoming a music producer Ed Buller had been the keyboard player for the English Rock band ‘Psychedelic Furs,’ between 1982-1985. As a producer his first big success was the debut studio Album by Suede, which went to Number 1 in the UK, and also won the ‘Mercury Music Prize.’ He also would go on to produce two more UK Number 1 Albums,’Coming Up,’ by Suede in 1996, and ‘To Lose My Life…’ by White Lies,’ in 2009.

‘Do You Remember the First Time?’ is loosely based on Jarvis Cocker losing his virginity at the age of 19, with him admitting that he did it because he wanted to lose his virginity as a teenager. Cocker has said, ‘I have no regrets about the first person I had sex with. We were both virgins, so neither of us were under any pressure to perform. It probably took me a long time to get any good at it, to get reasonable at sex… I still don’t know.’ ‘Do You Remember the First Time?’ tells the tale of a man informing his ex girlfriend that although she has found a new partner, she would be better off with him still being her lover, as her new partner isn’t as good in bed as he is. The narrator doesn’t appear to want her around on a full time basis, and never even enjoyed ‘the first time,’ anyway, but he likes to remind her that he is a better catch than her current lover.

In order to promote ‘Do You Remember the First Time?’ Jarvis Cocker made a short film, putting together a collection of interviews with celebrities recounting their ‘first time.’ The 25 minute film features the likes of John Peel, (1939-2004) Jo Brand, and Vic Reeves. Terry Hall (1959-2022) of The Specials has perhaps the best line, ‘She was into The Bay City Rollers, which put me off a bit, but not enough.’

‘You say you’ve got to go home, ’cause he’s sitting on his own again this evening. I know you’re gonna let him bore your pants off again. Oh, now it’s half past eight, you’ll be late.’