"Bright Lights"
Single by Matchbox Twenty
from the album More Than You Think You Are
ReleasedJuly 28, 2003 (2003-07-28)
Studio
Length3:54
LabelAtlantic
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

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

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

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

Credits and personnel

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

Studios

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[13] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States July 28, 2003
Atlantic [14]
August 11, 2003 Contemporary hit radio [15]
Australia September 15, 2003 CD [16]
United Kingdom [17]

References

  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.
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