"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.
Composition Vocalist Rob Thomas wrote the lyrics to "Push" with Matt Serletic. The song's lyrics are about the stress of falling in and out of love. Thomas stated that the man in the song (either himself or fictional) was the one being abused, either emotionally or physically, by a woman. After its release, the song's lyrics drew criticism from some listeners who interpreted them as promoting violence against women, to which Thomas expressed surprise, stating that the song was not misogynistic. In an interview with The Morning Call, bass guitarist Brian Yale added, "We were kind of surprised when we heard all that stuff. [Our response] was, 'Wow, really? No, it's not about that.
Music video The video for "Push" was directed by Nigel Dick, and shot March 27–28, 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.
Track listings and formats 12-inch 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 +Chart (1997–1998)PeakpositionAustralia Alternative (ARIA)1Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)14Spain Airplay (Music & Media)5
+Chart (2023)PeakpositionUS Digital Song Sales (Billboard)49US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)17
Year-end charts +Chart (1997)PositionAustralia (ARIA)33Canada Top Singles (RPM)33Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)65Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)24US Hot 100 Airplay (Billboard)21US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)24US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)4US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)5US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard)21US Triple-A (Billboard)7
+Chart (1998)PositionUS Hot 100 Airplay (Billboard)36US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)51US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)52
Certifications
Release history +RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United States1997Rock radioJune 10, 1997Contemporary hit radioEuropeOctober 20, 1997CDJapanNovember 15, 1997United KingdomMarch 23, 1998
In popular culture An extract of the song was used in the "Weird Al" Yankovic polka medley, "Polka Power!", along with many other popular songs of the late 90s, off the album Running with Scissors.
In the 2023 fantasy comedy Barbie, Ken (played by Ryan Gosling) adopts it as his favorite song after visiting the real world, and it becomes "a tongue-in-cheek anthem of patriarchal dominance" in Barbieland. While many reviews of the film interpreted this as a critique of the song, director Greta Gerwig said that she was a fan of Matchbox Twenty and "I never put anything in a movie I don’t love." Gosling's cover of the song was included on Barbie the Album (Best Weekend Ever Edition).
See also List of number-one alternative singles of 1997 (U.S.)
References