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Real World (Matchbox Twenty song)

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"Real World"
Single by Matchbox 20
from the album Yourself or Someone Like You
ReleasedMarch 24, 1998 (1998-03-24)
GenreAlternative rock[1]
Length3:51
Label
Songwriter(s)Rob Thomas
Producer(s)Matt Serletic
Matchbox 20 singles chronology
"3AM"
(1997) 		"Real World"
(1998) 		"Back 2 Good"
(1998)

"Real World" is a song by American rock group Matchbox 20. It was released in March 1998 as the fourth single from their debut album, Yourself or Someone Like You. The single was initially ineligible to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100 due to not receiving a physical release in North America; it instead peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart in August 1998.[2] However, in December 1998, the Hot 100 chart rules were changed to allow airplay-only singles to chart, and "Real World" became the band's first single to enter the listing, debuting and peaking at number 38. Worldwide, "Real World" reached number five in Canada and number 40 in Australia.

Content

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The song was written by lead singer Rob Thomas, and details him wondering about what it would be like if he lived in various settings other than the current one, including a superhero, a rainmaker, and being a boss at a job, and if they would worsen or improve his life.

Music video

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The music video, directed by Matthew Rolston, starts with Rob walking through a bowling alley with a camel, a scene that was filmed at The Dust Bowl in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia. It then shows him on a street, where Kyle Cook is on an ice cream truck, but instead of selling ice cream, he unveils what appears to be a raw steak. Next, Rob is doing a news broadcast, with Brian Yale acting as a director. In the meantime, intercut with this is a diner with Paul Doucette dressed as a waitress, eventually discarding the outfit. In the midst of the news broadcast, we see what appears to be a breakfast cereal commercial with Adam Gaynor sitting with a family. The video concludes with the camera going back and forth between Rob with the camel and at the news station.

Track listings

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European and Australian CD single[3]

  1. "Real World" – 3:50
  2. "Long Day" (live) – 3:53
  3. "3am" (live) – 3:45

Japanese CD single[4]

  1. "Real World"
  2. "Push" (live acoustic)
  3. "3am" (live acoustic)
  4. "Busted" (live acoustic)

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[23] Platinum 70,000‡
United States (RIAA)[24] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format Label(s) Ref.
United States March 24, 1998 Alternative radio
[25]
May 12, 1998 Contemporary hit radio [26]
Europe September 7, 1998 CD [9]
Japan September 25, 1998
[27]

References

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  1. ^ "The 88 Best Alternative Rock Songs of 1998". Spin. p. 6. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  2. ^ "Matchbox Twenty Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  3. ^ Real World (European & Australian CD single liner notes). Matchbox Twenty. Atlantic Records, Lava Records, Melisma Records. 1998. 7567-95556-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ Real World (Japanese CD single liner notes). Matchbox Twenty. EastWest Japan, Atlantic Records, Lava Records, Melisma Records. 1998. AMCY-2854.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ "Matchbox 20 – Real World". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  6. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3655." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  7. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3604." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  8. ^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 3590." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  9. ^ a b "Matchbox 20 – Real World" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  10. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  11. ^ "Matchbox Twenty Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  12. ^ "Matchbox Twenty Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  13. ^ "Matchbox Twenty Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  14. ^ "Matchbox Twenty Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  15. ^ "Matchbox Twenty Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  16. ^ "Matchbox Twenty Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  17. ^ "RPM's Top 100 Hit Tracks of '98" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 63, no. 12. December 14, 1998. p. 20. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  18. ^ "The Year in Music: Hot Adult Top 40 Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 52. December 26, 1998. p. YE-96. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  19. ^ "Most Played Mainstream Rock Songs of 1998". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. December 25, 1998. p. 34.
  20. ^ "The Year in Music 1998: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 52. December 26, 1998. p. YE-84.
  21. ^ "Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1998". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. December 25, 1998. p. 45.
  22. ^ "Best of '98: Most Played Triple-A Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. December 25, 1998. p. 35.
  23. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  24. ^ "American single certifications – Matchbox Twenty – Real World". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  25. ^ "Be on the Lookout". Gavin Report. No. 2197. March 20, 1998. p. 18.
  26. ^ "New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1247. May 8, 1998. p. 39.
  27. ^ "リアル・ワールド | マッチボックス・トゥエンティ" [Real World | Matchbox Twenty] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
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