The first song of any album or playlist is supposed to set the tone. Depending on the overall theme of the record, it’s meant to kick into high energy, grab you by the collar, tease you with something vaguely intriguing or pull at your emotional heartstrings.
The first song in an album is drastically important because in the days of streaming music and YouTube videos, people hop around more than ever. You’ve got to make that first impression and dig your nails into the listener if you hope to get them to stick around for an entire album.