Push (Matchbox Twenty song)


"Push" is a song by American rock band Matchbox Twenty. It was released in May 1997 as the second single from their debut album, Yourself or Someone Like You. 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.

Music video

The video for "Push", directed by Nigel Dick, 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 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, " was an ingredient in the song—but 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."

Track listing

  1. "Push" – 3:59
  2. "Busted" – 4:24
  3. "Tired" – 3:44
  1. "Push" – 3:59
  2. "Tired" – 3:44

    Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

In popular culture

An extract of the song was used in "Weird Al" Yankovic's song, "Polka Power!", off the album Running with Scissors.