Bent (song)

"Bent" is a rock ballad[1] by American alternative rock band Matchbox Twenty. It was shipped to radio on April 7, 2000, as the lead single from their second album, Mad Season, and was given a commercial release on July 4, 2000. "Bent" became the band's first and only song to top the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching number one on the chart dated July 22, 2000, and spending one week at the position. The song also topped the RPM Top Singles chart in Canada for five nonconsecutive weeks.

"Bent"
Single by Matchbox Twenty
from the album Mad Season
B-side
  • "Don't Let Me Down" (live)
  • "Busted" (live)
  • "Push" (acoustic)
ReleasedJuly 4, 2000 (2000-07-04)
Recorded1999
GenreRock[1]
Length4:16
Label
Songwriter(s)Rob Thomas
Producer(s)Matt Serletic
Matchbox Twenty singles chronology
"Back 2 Good"
(1998)		 "Bent"
(2000)		 "If You're Gone"
(2000)
Music video
"Bent" on YouTube

Background and writing

Rob Thomas told Billboard magazine that it's "a love song and a rock song; there's a hopeful tone to it. It's kind of like the person is saying, 'As misguided as I may be, these are things that it takes to be with me.'"[2] This was Thomas' first attempt at a love song and he believes it is co-dependent of the 21st century. Thomas spoke on Storytellers that the song is about two people who are "both messed up", but they are together, so it does not matter.

Music video

The video, directed by Pedro Romhanyi, seems to be a bit of a play on Rob Thomas' increased profile following the 1999 mega-hit, "Smooth", since it features other members of the band mistreating him. It starts with him being hit by a car driven by Adam Gaynor. As he lies on the ground, Kyle Cook shows up and empties Thomas of all money in his wallet. After this, Rob recovers from the car hit and walks off, singing the chorus. After the first chorus, he bumps into Paul Doucette. Rob sings a few more lines to a clearly unimpressed Paul, who basically shoves Rob out of his way. At this point Rob walks off again, singing the second chorus, and the wind seems to hit him stronger than it hits other people. He then heads into an alley where day and night intermix. He is assaulted yet again by Kyle Cook, at which point, Brian Yale shows up apparently to help him off the ground. Rob refuses the hand and walks off, eventually leaving the alleyway and emerging back into the daylight, when the events seem to recur from the beginning of the video.

Track listings

US CD single[3]

  1. "Bent"
  2. "Push" (acoustic)

Australian CD single (released July 4, 2000)[4]

  1. "Bent" – 4:16
  2. "Don't Let Me Down" (live) – 4:11
  3. "Busted" (live) – 4:33

European CD single[5]

  1. "Bent" – 4:19
  2. "Don't Let Me Down" (Live from Australia) – 4:16

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the European CD sleeve.[5]

Charts

Release history
Region Date Label
United States (radio) April 7, 2000[2] Lava, Atlantic
Australia July 4, 2000[4] Lava, Atlantic
United States (retail) July 5, 2000[22] Lava, Atlantic

References
  1. Taylor, Chuck, ed. (April 29, 2000). "Reviews & Previews – Spotlight" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 112 no. 14. p. 48. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  2. Newman, Melinda (April 1, 2000). "Matchbox Twenty Back for More on Lava/Atlantic" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 112 no. 14. p. 103. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  3. "Bent" – US CD single (CD sleeve). Matchbox Twenty. Atlantic Records. 2000. 84704-2.CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. "Australian-charts.com – Matchbox Twenty – Bent". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  5. "Bent" – European CD single (CD sleeve). Matchbox Twenty. Lava Records. 2000. 7567-84679-2.CS1 maint: others (link)
  6. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7211." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  7. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7164." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  8. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 7254." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  9. "Charts.nz – Matchbox Twenty – Bent". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  10. "Notowanie nr964" (in Polish). LP3. July 21, 2000. Retrieved February 17, 2019. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  11. "Matchbox Twenty Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
  12. "Matchbox Twenty Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
  13. "Matchbox Twenty Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
  14. "Matchbox Twenty Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
  15. "Matchbox Twenty Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
  16. "Matchbox Twenty Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
  17. "2000 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  18. "Billboard Top 100 – 2000". Archived from the original on March 4, 2009. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  19. "The Billboard Hot 100 Singles & Tracks – Decade Year End Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 10, 2011.
  20. "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  21. "Greatest of All Time Adult Pop Songs : Page 1". Billboard. March 18, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  22. Pietroluongo, Silvio (June 24, 2000). "Hot 100 Spotlight" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 112 no. 14. p. 125. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
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