Bright Lights (Matchbox Twenty song)

2003 single by Matchbox Twenty

"Bright Lights"

Single by Matchbox Twenty
from the album  More Than You Think You Are
Released| July 28, 2003 (2003-07-28)
Studio|

* Bearsville (Bearsville, New York)
* The Hit Factory (New York City)

Length| 3:54
Label| Atlantic
Songwriter(s)| Rob Thomas
Producer(s)| Matt Serletic
Matchbox Twenty singles chronology
| "Unwell"
(2003)  | "Bright Lights"
(2003)  | "Downfall"
(2004)

|
|

"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.

## Content

[edit]

The song was written by lead singer Rob Thomas, and is about a girl who leaves her hometown to pursue an unspecified career of some fame, possibly Broadway. Throughout the song, he pleads with the girl to let her know that she is encouraged to return home if things don't work out. According to Thomas, "Bright Lights" may be his favorite song he has recorded.[1]

## Music video

[edit]

The video is taken directly from footage released on the DVD Show: A Night in the Life of Matchbox Twenty, and as such, is a live performance. As he also does in the studio version of the song, Thomas plays the piano, and towards the end, lead guitarist Kyle Cook jumps atop the piano.

## Track listing

[edit]

* UK and Australian CD single[2]

1. "Bright Lights"
2. "Disease" (live)
3. "Bright Lights" (live)

## Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits are taken from the More Than You Think You Are album booklet.[3]

Studios

* Recorded at Bearsville Studios (Bearsville, New York) and The Hit Factory (New York City)
* Mixed at The Hit Factory (New York City)
* Mastered at Marcussen Mastering (Hollywood, California)

Personnel

* Rob Thomas – writing, vocals, piano
* Kyle Cook – background vocals, lead guitar
* Adam Gaynor – background vocals, rhythm guitar
* Brian Yale – bass
* Paul Doucette – drums, percussion
* Greg Leisz – pedal steel
* Matt Serletic – keyboards, production
* Greg Collins – recording, additional mixing
* Jim Scott – mixing
* Chris Testa – mixing assistance
* Mark Dodson – Pro Tools, digital editing, additional engineering
* Pat Woodward – additional engineering
* Stephen Marcussen – mastering
* Stewart Whitmore – mastering

## Charts

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

| Chart (2003)  | Peak
position

|

Australia (ARIA)[4] | 26
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[5] | 48
US Billboard Hot 100[6] | 23
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[7] | 2
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[8] | 15

### Year-end charts

[edit]

| Chart (2003)  | Position

|

US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[9] | 27
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[10] | 92
Chart (2004)  | Position

|

US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[11] | 7
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[12] | 88

## Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

United States (RIAA)[13] | Platinum  | 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

## Release history

[edit]

Region  | Date  | Format(s)  | Label(s)  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

United States  | July 28, 2003  |

* Hot adult contemporary
* triple A radio

| Atlantic | [14]
August 11, 2003  | Contemporary hit radio | [15]
Australia  | September 15, 2003  | CD  | [16]
United Kingdom  | [17]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Armstrong, Josh (September 9, 2009). "Rob Thomas rocks Cradlesong". KnowTheArtist.com. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
2. ^ Bright Lights (UK & Australian CD single liner notes). Matchbox Twenty. Atlantic Records. 2003. AT0164CD, 7567882092.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
3. ^ More Than You Think You Are (US CD album booklet). Matchbox Twenty. Atlantic Records. 2002. 83612-2.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
4. ^ "Matchbox Twenty – Bright Lights". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
5. ^ "Matchbox Twenty – Bright Lights". Top 40 Singles.
6. ^ "Matchbox Twenty Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
7. ^ "Matchbox Twenty Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
8. ^ "Matchbox Twenty Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
9. ^ "2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Adult Top 40 Songs" (PDF). Airplay Monitor. Vol. 11, no. 51\. December 19, 2003. p. 22. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
10. ^ "2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs" (PDF). Airplay Monitor. Vol. 11, no. 51\. December 19, 2003. p. 14. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
11. ^ "Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 116, no. 52\. December 25, 2004. p. YE-74. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
12. ^ "2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 12, no. 51\. December 17, 2004. p. 22.
13. ^ "American single certifications – Matchbox Twenty – Bright Lights". Recording Industry Association of America.
14. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1514\. July 25, 2003. p. 22. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
15. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1516\. August 8, 2003. p. 26. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
16. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 15th September 2003" (PDF). ARIA. September 15, 2003. p. 25\. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 6, 2003. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
17. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. September 13, 2003. p. 29.

* v
* t
* e

Matchbox Twenty

* Rob Thomas
* Brian Yale
* Paul Doucette
* Kyle Cook

* Adam Gaynor
* Joey Huffman
* Matt Beck
* Ryan MacMillan
* Stacy Jones

Studio albums|

* Yourself or Someone Like You
* Mad Season
* More Than You Think You Are
* North
* Where the Light Goes

Compilation albums|

* Exile on Mainstream

EPs|

* EP
* Exile on Mainstream

Singles|

* "Long Day"
* "Push"
* "3AM"
* "Real World"
* "Back 2 Good"
* "Bent"
* "If You're Gone"
* "Mad Season"
* "Last Beautiful Girl"
* "Disease"
* "Unwell"
* "Bright Lights"
* "Downfall"
* "All I Need"
* "How Far We've Come"
* "All Your Reasons"
* "These Hard Times"
* "She's So Mean"
* "Overjoyed"
* "Wild Dogs (Running in a Slow Dream)"
* "Don't Get Me Wrong"

Concert tours|

* North Tour
* 2013 Summer Tour

Related articles|

* Discography
* The Break and Repair Method
* Tabitha's Secret

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