"These Hard Times" is the second single (worldwide except Australia) from rock band
Matchbox Twenty
Matchbox Twenty (also known as Matchbox 20 and MB20) is an American rock band formed in Orlando, Florida, in 1995. The group currently consists of Rob Thomas (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards), Brian Yale (bass guitar), Paul Doucette (drums, r ...
's first compilation album ''
Exile on Mainstream
''Exile on Mainstream'' is the first compilation album by American rock band Matchbox Twenty. The album was released in two parts: the first was an EP, featuring seven new songs that emerged from a 12-song recording session, produced by Steve Li ...
'' (2007).
The video premiered on iTunes on Tuesday, February 5, 2008. It was released to Australian radio during the week of April 13. In the United States, the single performed disappointingly, failing to chart the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 but reaching the Top Ten of the Adult Top 40.
It was released as a follow-up to "All Your Reasons", which was released only in Australia, and although not an official single in Australia, "These Hard Times" was serviced to radio there; it did not gain much airplay.
Music video
The video features the band playing in the street in front of what appears to be a warehouse. Many people pass by as if nothing is happening. Near the end of the song, several colored balloons come out of a gutter and the warehouse's doors open, letting more and more balloons out. All the people seen in the video stop and look upwards to the balloons. The video ends when the band stops playing and stares at the balloons as well.
The video was directed by Ramon & Pedro.
Track listing
# "These Hard Times" (album version)
# "Bright Lights" (Live from
Wal-Mart
Walmart Inc. (; formerly Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets (also called supercenters), discount department stores, and grocery stores from the United States, headquarter ...
Soundcheck)
;EP version
#"These Hard Times" – 3:48
#"3 AM" (live soundcheck version) – 3:51
#"Bright Lights" (live soundcheck version) – 4:38
Personnel
*
Rob Thomas - lead vocals,
melodica
The melodica is a handheld free-reed instrument similar to a pump organ or harmonica. It features a musical keyboard on top, and is played by blowing air through a mouthpiece that fits into a hole in the side of the instrument. The keyboard usual ...
*
Kyle Cook
David Kyle Cook (born August 29, 1975) is an American musician best known as a member of the band Matchbox Twenty, serving as the lead guitarist, banjo player, backing and occasional lead vocalist.
Career Matchbox Twenty
Kyle Cook joined Mat ...
- electric guitar, backing vocals,
glockenspiel
The glockenspiel ( or , : bells and : set) or bells is a percussion instrument consisting of pitched aluminum or steel bars arranged in a keyboard layout. This makes the glockenspiel a type of metallophone, similar to the vibraphone.
The glo ...
*
Paul Doucette
Paul John Doucette (born August 22, 1972) is an American musician best known for being the drummer, rhythm guitarist, and backing vocalist of the band Matchbox Twenty.Erlewine, Stephen ThomasMatchbox Twenty Biography, AllMusic, retrieved 2011-0 ...
- acoustic guitar, piano, backing vocals,
Casio
is a Japanese multinational electronics manufacturing corporation headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. Its products include calculators, mobile phones, digital cameras, electronic musical instruments, and analogue and digital watches. It ...
guitar
*
Brian Yale
Brian Joseph Yale (born November 14, 1968) is an American musician who is the bass guitarist for the band Matchbox Twenty and has been nominated for four Grammy Awards. Early life and education
Yale grew up in Orange, Connecticut. He graduated ...
- bass
*Ryan MacMillan - drums
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
References
External links
Matchbox Twenty official website
2008 singles
Matchbox Twenty songs
Songs written by Rob Thomas (musician)
Song recordings produced by Steve Lillywhite
Songs written by Paul Doucette
Songs written by Kyle Cook
Songs written by Brian Yale
2007 songs
Atlantic Records singles
{{2000s-rock-single-stub