Bent (song)


"Bent" is a song by American alternative rock band Matchbox Twenty. It was released in April 2000 as the lead single from their second album Mad Season. "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.

Background and writing

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.'" 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 doesn't 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, 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 listing

  1. "Bent" – 4:17
  2. "Don't Let Me Down" – 4:11
  3. "Busted" – 4:33
  1. "Bent" – 4:17
  2. "Don't Let Me Down" – 4:11
  1. "Bent" – 4:17
  2. "Push" – 4:21

    Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Decade-end charts

All-time charts