Matchbox 20 "3 A.M."

Matchbox 20's successful single "3 A.M." is about something far deeper than the time of the day. The song chronicles the cancer battle of the mother of lead singer Rob Thomas. Thomas originally wrote the song while with the group Tabitha's Secret.

Matchbox 20 "If You're Gone"

Rob Thomas carried so little faith in the song, "If You're Gone", that he didn't even expect it to make the band's Mad Season album. Instead, the song exceeded his expectations and went to #1 on the Adult Contemporary Chart and even climbed to #5 on the Hot 100 in 2000. If that wasn't enough, the brassy ballad finished fifth on the Year End Chart in 2001.

Rob Thomas "Someday"

As the first decade of the 2000s drew to a close, Rob Thomas notched another #1 hit on the Adult Top 40 Chart (#4 on the Adult Contemporary Chart) with "Someday". The ballad offers hope for the struggles of relationships.

Rob Thomas "Lonely No More"

The year 2005 introduced the world to Rob Thomas the solo artist.  The lead singer of Matchbox Twenty went solo and created a song that radio formats up and down the dial all embraced: "Lonely No More".  With a more pop sound (and some Latin influence), Thomas' "Lonely No More" became his newest signature song and hit #1 on multiple charts including Adult Contemporary, Adult Top 40, and Hot Dance Club Play.

The Calling - "Wherever You Will Go"

The Calling scored the #1 song of the decade with "Wherever You Will Go".  Just how popular was that song?  It topped the Adult Top 40 for 23 weeks--the second longest in the history of the chart (Rob Thomas & Santana's "Smooth" sat at #1 for 25 weeks between 1999 and 2000).

Matchbox 20 - "Push"

If you're the ex-girlfriend who inspired a hit pop song, what do you do?  In the case of Matchbox 20's "Push", you ask for a cut of the royalties.  That's what allegedly happened in 1997 when Rob Thomas' ex-girlfriend heard "Push" and claimed the song was a tell-all about their relationship.  While all of this was going on, feminist groups complained "Push" promoted violence toward women.  Thomas pointed out that the song was actually about the emotional harm the female did to the male.  Let's all just calm down...

Matchbox 20 - "Bright Lights"

Big fish in a little pond: it's a common theme touched upon in countless movies, books, and songs.  In the case of "Bright Lights", Matchbox 20's (or Twenty) Rob Thomas warns the female that the grass isn't always greener (or brighter) on the other side as he cries, "Come on home!" throughout the latter part of the song.

Matchbox 20 - Real World

There are some things that will never make sense: Coca-Cola decided to change their centuries-old recipe, Beverly Hills Cop III, and that time when Matchbox 20 changed their name to Matchbox Twenty. #firstworldproblems

Rob Thomas - "Streetcorner Symphony"

Everything was all right in 2006 as Rob Thomas' "Streetcorner Symphony" serenaded all of America thanks to some help from his buddy John Mayer.

Lionel Richie - "Angel"

At the start of the 21st Century, Adult Contemporary radio evolved with a "brighter" sound as longtime artists like Lionel Richie being replaced by the likes of Matchbox 20 and Train.  But Lionel Richie would have none of it.  The guy known for "Dancing on the Ceiling" released "Angel", and added some funky-synthesizer-drum beat to the song to make it more appealing to the very Adult Contemporary radio stations who were dropping him.

Rob Thomas - "Her Diamonds"

Who would think Rob Thomas' "Her Diamonds" was written all about his wife's battle with an autoimmune disease?  Similarly, Rob Thomas and Matchbox Twenty's "3 A.M." is all about Thomas' mother's battle with cancer.