The current members of the band are Rob Thomas (vocals, piano), Paul Doucette (drums, now guitar), Kyle Cook (lead guitar, vocals) and Brian Yale (bass). Adam Gaynor (rhythm guitar), who has left the band, performed on their first three albums, as well. Rob Thomas is the principal songwriter and lead singer.
Thomas, Yale and Doucette performed in the band Tabitha's Secret out of Orlando, Florida before splitting apart to form Matchbox Twenty with Cook and Gaynor.
Matchbox Twenty released their first album, Yourself or Someone Like You in 1996. While their first single, "Long Day", was a rock radio-only smash, the album soon spun off several Top 40 hit singles throughout 1997 and 1998, including "Push", "3 A.M.", "Real World" and "Back 2 Good". The album eventually went on to sell over 12 million copies in the U.S. alone, earning diamond status. The band toured relentlessly for several years, performing the songs from their one and only album, along with some beloved cover songs such as Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" and The Beatles' "Don't Let Me Down". Their fan base grew from concert to concert because of their electrifying live performances and the longevity of their hit singles on radio. The same year, Matchbox Twenty recorded a live version of their Top-40 hit "3 A.M." for release on the charity album Live in the X Lounge, benefiting cerebral palsy research.
Before recording their second album, Rob Thomas collaborated with Itaal Shur on a song entitled "Smooth" for Carlos Santana's comeback album, Supernatural. The song had a pop-tinged Latin beat and showcased Thomas' lyrical talents. Thomas was supposed to act solely as songwriter on "Smooth", but Carlos Santana had him sing on it as well after hearing the song's demo recording. "Smooth", was the album's lead single and became a gigantic hit in 1999; Thomas earned three Grammys for writing and performing on "Smooth", including Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
In 2000, Matchbox 20 renamed themselves Matchbox Twenty and released their second album, Mad Season. The album featured lush instrumental arrangements and spun off several hit singles, including "Bent" (Number One on Hot 100) and "If You're Gone". The video for "Bent", poked fun of singer Thomas' heightened profile from "Smooth" by showing the other band members assaulting him mercilessly. The evocatively arranged ballad "If You're Gone" became a big hit, especially on adult contemporary formats. The band's next two singles, "Mad Season" and "Last Beautiful Girl" were not particularly successful. Fans also note hearing "Black & White People" receive radio play, despite not being released as a single.
For their third album, More Than You Think You Are, the band returned to a harder rock sound. Thomas shared the songwriting efforts with the other band members on several songs. The album spun off hit singles "Disease", "Unwell", and "Bright Lights".
In May 2004, the band released a live concert DVD, Show: A Night in the Life of Matchbox Twenty, filmed in Atlanta and featuring 20 songs, including all of their hit singles.
In February 2005, rhythm guitarist Gaynor officially left the group, which had been on hiatus to allow other members to pursue side projects. Rob Thomas went on to release a solo album entitled ...Something To Be which became the U.S. Billboard 200 #1 album the first week of its release. The album featured four hit singles: "Lonely No More", "This is How a Heart Breaks", "Ever the Same" and "Streetcorner Symphony".
In January 2007, Rob Thomas released a single entitled "Little Wonders" which he wrote for the Disney movie Meet the Robinsons.
Their "Exile On Mainstream" album was released on October 2, 2007 as a two disc set. The first disc featured 6 new songs, including the hit "How Far We've Come", which could be heard on the accompanying website, along with the music video. The second disc contained 11 of their greatest hits, such as "Push", "Bent" and "Unwell".
The She’s So Mean Songfacts reports that Matchbox Twenty's fourth studio album North is the first record of new material that the band has released for ten years, although they did record seven new songs for their 2007 compilation album Exile On Mainstream. The album was released on September 4, 2012.
www.matchboxtwenty.com
The Difference
Matchbox Twenty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the boulevard
In the quiet moments
While the city's still dark
Sleepwalking through the summer rain
In the tired spaces
You could hear her name
When she was warm and tender and you
Pulled her arms around you
There was nothing but her
Love and affection she was
Crazy for you now she's
Part of something that you lost
And for all you know
This could be
The difference between what you need
And what you want to be
Night swimming
In her diamond dress
Making small circles
Move across the surface
Stand watching
From the steady shore
Laying wide open
And waiting for
Something warm and tender while she's
Moving further from you
There was nothing that could
Make it easy on you
Every step you take reminds you
That she's walking on
And for all you know
This could be
The difference between what you need
And what you want to be
Every word you never said
Echoes down your empty hallway
Everything that was your world
Just came down
It just came down
Day break on the boulevard
Feel the
Sun warming up your secondhand heart
Light swimming right across your face
You think
Maybe someday
Maybe someday
And for all you know
This could be
The difference between what you need
And what you want to be
The song "The Difference" by Matchbox Twenty talks about the bittersweet memories of a past love when the night is still young and the city is silent. The song's lyrics describe slow dancing on the boulevard in the quiet moments, where in the summer rain, the name of the past lover echoes in the empty spaces. Those moments, when the past lover was warm and tender, and held you close with love and affection, are however lost now, as they have moved away and become part of something new.
The chorus of the song emphasizes that the difference could lie between what you need and what you want to be. The singer longs for something warm and tender and feels lost, as every step reminds them that she is walking further from them. The second verse describes the imagery of night swimming in a diamond dress, making small circles across the surface of the water. Watching from the steady shore, she moves further away, making it harder with every step.
The song's last chorus brings hope as day breaks on the boulevard, and the sun warms up the secondhand heart. The person realizes that maybe someday they will find a way to be happy, but for now, the memories of the past lover haunt them. The lyrics of the song provide a bittersweet picture of love, loss, and the hope of finding someone new eventually.
Line by Line Meaning
Slow dancing
Romantic moment with partner
On the boulevard
In a public place
In the quiet moments
During a peaceful time
While the city's still dark
Before sunrise
Sleepwalking through the summer rain
Moving mindlessly in bad weather
In the tired spaces
In a state of exhaustion
You could hear her name
Thinking about someone
When she was warm and tender and you
When she was loving and caring towards you
Pulled her arms around you
Held her close
There was nothing but her
Thoughts only for her
Love and affection she was
She loved you deeply
Crazy for you now she's
No longer in love with you
Part of something that you lost
A relationship that ended
And for all you know
Not having complete information
This could be
Important possibility
The difference between what you need
What is essential for your well-being
And what you want to be
What you aspire to become
Night swimming
Swimming at night
In her diamond dress
Wearing a fancy outfit
Making small circles
Swimming in a pattern
Move across the surface
Gliding over the water
Stand watching
Looking attentively
From the steady shore
Standing on the stable land
Laying wide open
Being vulnerable
And waiting for
Expecting something
Something warm and tender while she's
Wanting a loving relationship
Moving further from you
Growing apart from you
There was nothing that could
No remedy for the situation
Make it easy on you
Ease your pain
Every step you take reminds you
Feeling the absence
That she's walking on
She's moving on
Every word you never said
Regret for unspoken words
Echoes down your empty hallway
Haunting thoughts
Everything that was your world
Your former existence
Just came down
Came crashing down
Day break on the boulevard
Sunrise on the street
Feel the
Sensing
Sun warming up your secondhand heart
Feeling warmth after a breakup
Light swimming right across your face
Sunlight on your face
You think
Pondering
Maybe someday
Holding on to hope
And for all you know
Unsure
This could be
Significant possibility
The difference between what you need
Essential for happiness
And what you want to be
Desirable future state
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ROB THOMAS, ROBERT THOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind