"Real World" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Matchbox 20 | ||||
from the album Yourself or Someone Like You | ||||
Released | March 24, 1998 | |||
Genre | Alternative rock [1] | |||
Length | 3:51 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | Rob Thomas | |||
Producer(s) | Matt Serletic | |||
Matchbox 20 singles chronology | ||||
|
"Real World" is a song by American rock group Matchbox 20. It was released in March 1998 as the fourth single from their debut album, Yourself or Someone Like You . The single was initially ineligible to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100 due to not receiving a physical release in North America; it instead peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart in August 1998. [2] However, in December 1998, the Hot 100 chart rules were changed to allow airplay-only singles to chart, and "Real World" became the band's first single to enter the listing, debuting and peaking at number 38. Worldwide, "Real World" reached number five in Canada and number 40 in Australia.
The song was written by lead singer Rob Thomas, and details him wondering about what it would be like if he lived in various settings other than the current one, including a superhero, a rainmaker, and being a boss at a job, and if they would worsen or improve his life.
The music video, directed by Matthew Rolston, starts with Rob walking through a bowling alley with a camel, a scene that was filmed at The Dust Bowl in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia. It then shows him on a street, where Kyle Cook is on an ice cream truck, but instead of selling ice cream, he unveils what appears to be a raw steak. Next, Rob is doing a news broadcast, with Brian Yale acting as a director. In the meantime, intercut with this is a diner with Paul Doucette dressed as a waitress, eventually discarding the outfit. In the midst of the news broadcast, we see what appears to be a breakfast cereal commercial with Adam Gaynor sitting with a family. The video concludes with the camera going back and forth between Rob with the camel and at the news station.
European and Australian CD single [3]
Japanese CD single [4]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [23] | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [24] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | March 24, 1998 | Alternative radio | [25] | |
May 12, 1998 | Contemporary hit radio | [26] | ||
Europe | September 7, 1998 | CD | [9] | |
Japan | September 25, 1998 |
| [27] |
"Iris" is a song by the American alternative rock band Goo Goo Dolls. Written for the soundtrack of the 1998 film City of Angels, it was included on the sixth Goo Goo Dolls album, Dizzy Up the Girl, and released as a single on April 1, 1998. No character named Iris appears in the film, and the song title is not heard in the lyrics.
"This Is How a Heart Breaks" is the second single from Matchbox Twenty frontman Rob Thomas's debut album, ...Something to Be (2005). Released in June 2005, the song was moderately successful on the charts, peaking at number 52 in the United States and number 13 in Australia. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling over 500,000 copies, and in 2006, it was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo.
"Sweetest Thing" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It was originally released as a B-side on the "Where the Streets Have No Name" single in 1987. The song was later re-recorded and re-released as a single in October 1998 for the band's compilation album The Best of 1980–1990.
"Smooth" is a song performed by American rock band Santana and Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty, who sings the lead vocals. It was released on June 15, 1999, as the lead single from Santana's 1999 studio album, Supernatural. It was written by Itaal Shur and Thomas, who re-wrote Shur's original melody and lyrics, and produced by Matt Serletic.
"Bent" is a song by American alternative rock band Matchbox Twenty. The rock ballad was shipped to radio on April 17, 2000, as the lead single from their second album, Mad Season, and was given a commercial release in the United States on July 5, 2000. "Bent" became the band's first and only song to top the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching number one on the chart dated July 22, 2000, and spending one week at the position. The song also topped the RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart in Canada for five nonconsecutive weeks. "Bent" was nominated for Best Rock Song at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards and won the award for Most Performed Foreign Work at the APRA Music Awards of 2001.
"The Way" is a song by American alternative rock band Fastball. It was released on January 7, 1998, as the lead single from their second studio album, All the Pain Money Can Buy (1998). The song was written by the band's lead vocalist, Tony Scalzo, and was produced by the band and Julian Raymond. Scalzo was inspired to write the song after reading about the disappearance of an elderly couple who were found dead in their car many miles away from their intended destination.
"Disease" is the first single released from American rock band Matchbox Twenty's third album, More Than You Think You Are. The track was co-written by Matchbox Twenty lead singer Rob Thomas and Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger. Released on September 30, 2002, the song peaked at number 29 on the US Billboard Hot 100. "Disease" was one of two songs written by Thomas and presented to Jagger while he was producing his solo album Goddess in the Doorway, alongside "Visions of Paradise". Jagger returned "Disease" to Thomas, saying, "It sounds like you. It's your song."
"Slide" is a song by American alternative rock group Goo Goo Dolls. It was released as the first single from their sixth studio album, Dizzy Up the Girl, in September 1998. According to lead guitarist John Rzeznik, the song is about a Catholic girl who becomes pregnant and discusses with her boyfriend how they should respond to it. Musically, the track is a jangle pop and alternative rock song.
"One Headlight" is a song by American rock band the Wallflowers. The song was written by lead singer Jakob Dylan, and produced by T Bone Burnett. It was released in January 1997 as the second single from the band's second studio album, Bringing Down the Horse (1996).
"If You're Gone" is a song by American rock band Matchbox Twenty. The song, written by the band's frontman Rob Thomas, was released on September 18, 2000, as the second single from their second album, Mad Season (2000). It reached number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming the band's second best-ranking song on the chart, and also became a hit on adult contemporary radio, spending two weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart.
"3AM" is the third single and the third track from American rock band Matchbox 20's debut album, Yourself or Someone Like You (1996). Written by Rob Thomas, Jay Stanley, John Leslie Goff, and Brian Yale, the song was inspired by Thomas dealing with his mother's cancer as a teenager. The song was officially serviced to US modern rock radio in October 1997 and was given a commercial release outside North America the following month.
"Push" is a song by American rock band Matchbox Twenty. It was released in 1997 as the second single from their debut album, Yourself or Someone Like You (1996). After landing "Long Day" on several rock radio stations paving the way, "Push" topped the US Modern Rock Tracks chart and became one of the band's signature songs.
"Unwell" is a song by American alternative rock group Matchbox Twenty. Released on November 17, 2002, as the second single from their third album, More Than You Think You Are (2002), it was written by Matchbox Twenty lead singer Rob Thomas. "Unwell" spent 18 weeks atop the US Billboard Adult Top 40 chart and two weeks atop the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. It also reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming their third and final top-10 hit. Internationally, the single became a top-20 hit in Australia, peaking at No. 12, and a top-10 hit in New Zealand, peaking at No. 8. "Unwell" was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2004 for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.
"Mad Season" is a song by American rock band Matchbox Twenty, released as the third single from their second album, Mad Season (2000), on April 2, 2001. The song peaked at number 48 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top 50 in Australia and New Zealand. In the United Kingdom, it peaked at number 76 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Lullaby" is a song by American rock singer Shawn Mullins from his fourth studio album, Soul's Core (1998). It was released in August 1998 and is Mullins' most successful song to date, reaching number one on the US Billboard Adult Top 40, number seven on the Billboard Hot 100, and number nine on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. It also found success abroad, reaching number nine on the UK Singles Chart, number five in Australia, and number two in Canada.
"Bright Lights" is a song by American alternative rock group Matchbox Twenty. The song was released on July 28, 2003, as the third single from their third album, More Than You Think You Are (2002). "Bright Lights" peaked at number 23 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top 50 in Australia and New Zealand.
"Back 2 Good" is a song by American rock band Matchbox 20, released as the fifth single from their 1996 debut album, Yourself or Someone Like You, in September 1998.
"Save Tonight" is a song written and performed by Swedish rock musician Eagle-Eye Cherry, released on 7 October 1997 as the lead single from his debut album, Desireless (1997). It is the album's opening track and gained substantial radio success, reaching number three in Ireland, number five in the United States, number six in the United Kingdom, and number two in Cherry's native Sweden. "Save Tonight" was awarded the Rockbjörnen award in the "Swedish song of the year 1997" category.
"The Difference" is a song by American rock band the Wallflowers. It was released in 1997 as the third single from their second album, Bringing Down the Horse (1996). The song spent eight weeks at number three on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and peaked at number five on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 1998. "The Difference" also peaked at number 12 in Canada, topping the RPM Alternative 30 chart.
American rock band Matchbox Twenty have released five studio albums, one compilation album, one box set, three video albums, two extended plays, twenty-five singles and nineteen music videos. The band released their debut studio album, Yourself or Someone Like You, in October 1996. The album's lead single "Long Day" was moderately successful, while the album's second single "Push" received large amounts of airplay in the United States. As it was not released for commercial sale, "Push" was deemed ineligible by American chart provider Billboard to appear on its main Hot 100 singles chart. It did, however, peak at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart and became a top-ten hit in countries such as Australia and Canada. With the success of "Push" and follow-up singles "3AM", "Real World" and "Back 2 Good", Yourself or Someone Like You eventually peaked at number five on the US Billboard 200 and was certified twelve-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
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