At the age of 17 and after eschewing art school in favor of a music degree, Calvi began to learn her trade and started to assemble musical partnerships. In 2006, she met percussionist and harmonium player Mally Harpaz and later recruited drummer Daniel Maiden-Wood. Her initial gigs took place in and around London in late 2008 and 2009. The release of her debut single, "Jezebel," in the fall of 2010 was an electric cover version of the Edith Piaf standard.
The young Calvi soon captured the attention of Domino Records' boss Lawrence Bell after a glowing reference from former Coral guitarist Bill Ryder-Jones, who had witnessed one of Calvi's gigs in Manchester. Bell quickly signed her to his label. Ryder-Jones was not the only celebrity admirer of Calvi's, an acquaintance with the aforementioned Brian Eno similarly urged him to listen to this emerging talent. After hearing Calvi's raw and unplugged performances on The Attic Sessions (the early demos that she recorded on an 8-track in her parent's attic), the distinguished producer soon became her mentor and unofficial cheerleader.
Calvi entered Black Box Studios in France with the much-lauded producer Rob Ellis to record her self-titled debut album in 2010. Using vintage analog equipment, Calvi created a velvet Wall of Sound that justified the hype in the buildup to its 2011 release.
Her second album "One Breath" was released in October 2013. It was produced by John Congleton across two locations - Box Box Studios in France and Elmwood Recording Studios in Texas. The first single taken from the record was "Eliza".
First We Kiss
Anna Calvi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hear the closing door
Beats against the window
Tell me how long, tell me how long
Feel it come from nowhere
Taking over me
Feel it come from nowhere
First we'll kiss
Then you will lock the door, my dear
A perfect kiss
Just to remind what's between us
Tonight is here
Feel it come from nowhere
Taking over me
Feel it come from nowhere
Tell me why, tell me why
First we'll kiss
Then you will lock the door, my dear
A perfect kiss
Just to remind what's between us tonight
What's between us tonight, tonight
Beats against the wardrobe
As I hear the closing door
Our face against the window
Our lips touch no more
And suddenly from up here
Everything's clear
The love we had between us tonight
Is here
In the song First We Kiss by Anna Calvi, the singer’s heart is beating rapidly against the wardrobe as they hear the closing door. The beats against the window create a sense of urgency as they ask their lover to tell them how long until their next kiss. They feel an overwhelming feeling come from nowhere, taking over them, and they don’t know why.
The first kiss is described as perfect and then the lover will lock the door, creating a sense of secrecy and intimacy. The kiss is a reminder of what’s between them and that the night is theirs. The same beats against the wardrobe and closing doors are repeated again to create a sense of finality as the singer knows the kiss has ended. They look out the window and see that their lips have touched for the last time, and suddenly everything is clear.
This song is about the fleeting moments of intimacy that can be so powerful in a relationship. The lyrics suggest that the singer is unsure of what’s going on or why they feel what they feel, but they are fully in the moment and giving into it. The perfect kiss is representative of how sometimes all we need is that one moment to remember what we have together.
Line by Line Meaning
My heart beats against the wardrobe
My heart is racing with excitement and anticipation.
I hear the closing door
The sound of the door closing signifies the beginning of something intimate.
Beats against the window
The heart continues to race and pound against the windowpane.
Tell me how long, tell me how long
The artist wants to know how long the moment will last.
Feel it come from nowhere
The passion is sudden and unexpected.
Taking over me
The passion is controlling and overpowering.
Tell me why, tell me why
The singer wants to understand why they feel such intense emotion.
First we'll kiss
The first step in a journey of passion and intimacy.
Then you will lock the door, my dear
The locking of the door represents the privacy and secrecy of their connection.
A perfect kiss
The kiss is everything the artist had hoped for and more.
Just to remind what's between us
The kiss is a reminder of the love and connection between the two.
Tonight is here
The night is full of passion, possibility, and intimacy.
Our face against the window
The singer and their partner are pressed against the window in a moment of passion.
Our lips touch no more
The moment is bittersweet as the kiss has ended and they must part ways.
And suddenly from up here
The singer has a new perspective on their love and connection from this height.
Everything's clear
The artist has a newfound clarity and understanding of what they feel.
The love we had between us tonight
The love and passion between the two is intense and powerful.
Is here
The love and passion are present in this moment and will always be remembered.
Contributed by David D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
David J. Hannon
One day people will wake up to the genius of Anna Calvi.
lolasum sumi-san
The joy of finding masterpiece from 9 years ago hits different man 👌
Karina Belkina
This I call music!!! Great song! 👏👏
La Russa di Kiev
I simply don't understand why only 387 views. This can't be. Your songs can't be described; they must be listened.
Benoit Adam
You prayers have been answered.
Ian Strop
simply wonderful, but i would love to hear this as a duet with Anna & Morrissey, i think it would be pure magic, their voices blending together
carme
I've also thought of Morrissey when I heard this song...
Kojiro Can
Found this like 5 years ago or something. Now it hits me again. Cheers Misfits!
James Sloane
Yes it's misfits thank you
René Pineau
C'est celle-là, ma préférée !!