Home | Songs By Year | Songs from 1996
Push (Matchbox Twenty song)
Buy Push (Matchbox Twenty song) now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the song. And once you've experienced the song, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Push
| cover = Matchbox 20 - Push.jpg
| alt =
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Matchbox Twenty
| album = Yourself or Someone Like You
| B-side =
* "Tired"
| released =
| recorded =
| studio = Triclops Recording (Atlanta)
| genre = Alternative rock
| length =
| label =
* Atlantic
* Lava
| writer =
* Rob Thomas
* Matt Serletic
| producer = Matt Serletic
| chronology = Matchbox Twenty
| prev_title = Long Day
| prev_year = 1996
| next_title = 3AM
| next_year = 1997
| misc =
}}
"'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 most successful singles. At the time of its release, "Push" was controversial for its lyrics, with many critics accusing the band of glorifying domestic violence.
Music video
The video for "Push" was directed by Nigel Dick, and shot March 2728, 1997, in Los Angeles. The video starts and ends with Rob Thomas playing with a puppet. Throughout the song, the band is seen playing in an alley. A couple of scenes feature Thomas chained to a wall. Another scene is of Thomas holding onto a barbed wire fence while the band stands in the background. He gets stuck by the fence but keeps putting his hands back on it. Thomas is also seen in a room containing a clock and a bed, though no windows are shown.
Controversy
When the song came out initially, some feminist groups were outraged and claimed the song was about abusing women, even though frontman Rob Thomas stated that the man in the song (either himself or fictional) was the one being abused, either emotionally or physically, by a woman. Thomas expressed surprise when he heard that the song was being misinterpreted as misogynistic. He added, "[A former girlfriend of mine] was an ingredient in the songbut other people have scarred me. I mean, I'm not gonna pay my third-grade librarian, who gave me shit about not returning 'Green Eggs and Ham.'" In an interview with 'The Morning Call', Thomas described the song as falling in and out love, with bass guitarist Brian Yale adding "We were kind of surprised when we heard all that stuff. [Our response] was, 'Wow, really? No, it's not about that.' I mean, just meet us. We're not the manliest of men all the time. I'm a short guy. I don't think I could kick anyone's (butt)."
Track listings and formats
* '12" vinyl, cassette, and CD single'
# "Push" 3:59
# "Tired" 3:44
* 'Maxi-single'
# "Push" 3:59
# "Busted" (acoustic) 4:24
# "Tired" 3:44
Credits and personnel
Credits and personnel are adapted from the 'Yourself or Someone Like You' album liner notes.
* Rob Thomas vocals, writer
* Kyle Cook lead guitar, background vocals
* Adam Gaynor rhythm guitar, background vocals
* Brian Yale bass
* Paul Doucette drums
* Matt Serletic writer, producer, mixing, composition and arrangement
* Jeff Tomei engineering
* Greg Archilla mixing
* John Nielson recording assistant
* Malcolm Springer mixing assistant
* Stephen Marcussen mastering
* Don C. Tyler digital editing
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications and sales
Release history
In popular culture
An extract of the song was used in "Weird Al" Yankovic's song, "Polka Power!", off the album 'Running with Scissors'.
See also
* List of number-one alternative singles of 1997 (U.S.)
References
Category:Matchbox Twenty songs
Category:1996 songs
Category:1997 singles
Category:Atlantic Records singles
Category:Lava Records singles
Category:Song recordings produced by Matt Serletic
Category:Songs about domestic violence
Category:Songs written by Matt Serletic
Category:Songs written by Rob Thomas (musician)
Category:Music videos directed by Nigel Dick
Buy Push (Matchbox Twenty song) now from Amazon
<-- Return to songs from 1996