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Matchbox Twenty

Matchbox Twenty

Date: Mar 03 2008

Themes: Music, Pop Culture

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

If you had a television or radio in 1998, there is no way that the phrase ”...it’s 3 A.M. I must be lonely…” can possibly mean nothing to you. Come on, imagine it sung in a voice that sounds sort of like Eddie Vedder.

Do you remember now? Matchbox Twenty helped define rock music after grunge and their lyrics touched millions of people…and annoyed millions of others. The band’s hit “3 A.M.” was so popular that you couldn’t help but hear it anywhere. Maybe you love the song and it defines a time in your life. Or maybe it drives you up the wall. Either way, Matchbox Twenty recently released their first new album since 2002, Exile on Mainstream.

Does that make you excited? It seems to worry Jason and Devan…

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

Log in to Listen

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Jason

Jason

Devan

Devan

Jason:  Dude. You know who’s on the charts again? Matchbox Twenty.

Devan:  What?

Jason:  Can you believe it?

Devan:  They’re still around?

Jason:  I know. They’re one of those bands that I thought would just disappear.

Devan:  I thought they did disappear like 10 years ago. They haven’t had a hit since that “3 A.M.” song.

Jason:  Nah, that Rob Thomas dude has been doing a solo thing.

Devan:  Oh that’s right he had the song with Santana.

Jason:  Oh yeah!

Devan:  “Smooth,” do you remember that one? But since then…

Jason:  Santana’s on the charts too, man. With another compilation, er collaboration.

Devan:  What’s going on? Where have I been? Where have they been?

Jason:  I don’t know. History’s repeating itself but much too quickly, it would seem. Anyway, when that song came out, “3 A.M.,” I thought it was the most annoying thing that I had ever heard and I was sure that it would just sort of be a one hit wonder and it would disappear and I could go back to life without Rob Thomas, but, unfortunately, that’s just not the case.

Devan:  He’s back in a big way.

Jason:  Just forcing himself into the public eye.

Devan:  And he’ll probably come out with another song that’ll be stuck in our heads for the next ten years that we didn’t ask for.

Jason:  Uh, I certainly hope not.

Devan:  I can’t wait.

 

Quizzes

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Discussion

Jason discovered that Matchbox Twenty is on the charts again. He and Devan are both surprised because they didn’t realize that the band was still together.

The last thing they remember about Matchbox Twenty is the song “3 A.M.” and boy do they remember it. It sounds like if either one of them ever hears it again, it will be too soon.

But Devan and Jason think hard and remember that the singer of Matchbox Twenty, Rob Thomas, has had a couple of hits as a solo artist. One of them was with Santana, who is also back on the charts.

What once popular but now forgotten band would you like to see make new music?

 

Comments

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vicmay_lo-flo@live.com.mx

Mexico

There are many bands. but I love to see play live jazz and blues music from the 30’s and 40’s. That would be great

06:43 PM Jul 23 2012 |

mickee85

mickee85

Philippines

I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell, I know right now you don't care…. Matcbox 20 is one of my favourite band. "unwell" is my favourite song from this band.

02:13 PM Dec 21 2009 |

miffoo

miffoo

Slovakia

yeah,I like Matchbox 20 it’s good band :)

04:59 PM Feb 03 2009 |

JanE

JanE

Germany

hi allTongue out

12:03 PM Mar 09 2008 |

Cayra

Cayra

Dominican Republic

lgmia, but you can find on YouTube.com, it's easy. You'll find a lot videos of them, not only "3 am".

06:51 AM Mar 09 2008 |

lgmia

lgmia

China

i've never heard that matchbox20 …...

even when i wanted to find the 3AM on the web,i was failure

10:07 AM Mar 08 2008 |

zmani

zmani

Italy

I like Clacic music

03:50 PM Mar 07 2008 |

vigoss

vigoss

Kazakhstan

unfortunately i get to know this band first time. i love music, but never heard about Matchbox Twenty

09:43 AM Mar 07 2008 |

christlee

christlee

China

well, i know nothing about the band.But after seeing so much conments about it ,i think i will have a try and listen to their songs.singers always give us surpising words and feelings. there 's no reason to refuse them,right? and i love many foreighn singers and the songers of them, then find out that although some of them are not considered the beautiful ones ,but they just make you a better and unforgetable memory about them…

 at last ,i love all the good music!!

a

a

03:02 AM Mar 06 2008 |

dia_nna29

dia_nna29

Malaysia

still remember Spice Girls ? I heard they re making a comeback. just hope their music doesnt rust.. i sure love their old VIVA FOREVER – wonderful song!

04:21 PM Mar 05 2008 |

dia_nna29

dia_nna29

Malaysia

i ve heard about this Matchbox Twenty band. Not that i know them well but i do love their song “Unwell”. Guess it is kinda catchy. The lyrics cool. i used to sing it often ….

04:17 PM Mar 05 2008 |

silent_sam

silent_sam

Canada

I liked it

12:15 AM Mar 04 2008 |

wayne1973

wayne1973

Philippines

Don't know much about Matchbox Twenty. Maybe I happened to listen to one of their songs but just can't remember exactly the track's title. But I am an avid fan of Warrant. I wonder what this band's up to these days.

10:55 PM Mar 03 2008 |

the life is smile

French Polynesia

in fact, I've never heard of that band…..

10:24 PM Mar 03 2008 |

SÉRGIO

SÉRGIO

Brazil

Hello who like rock bands!

08:01 PM Mar 03 2008 |

SÉRGIO

SÉRGIO

Brazil

yeah! it's a great band, i like this kind of song it seems like Goo Goo Dolls band, POD… So there're many good older bands that ending but i'd like to see making new songs again. In Brazil the Raimundos band and Reage Against the Machine in America. So pretty music of them are stuck in my head it's real hard and puck rock music.  I Hope they get back on the charts some day, and surely i'll be happy with that!! Viva o verdadeiro Rock!

07:58 PM Mar 03 2008 |

Maithai

Thailand

I never heard it also about this band, I like James Blurnt and blue, when I listen to first time, I know immediatly that it is stuck in my head all the time.

05:45 PM Mar 03 2008 |

mukesh.kumar

Pakistan

I was completly unaware about this song and singers as well. I will try to look in that. hopefully will enjoy this song.

03:50 PM Mar 03 2008 |

brightsun

brightsun

China

personally speaking,i love country music,although it seems not popular and i am still young.I am very comfortable when i am listening to country music.

03:09 PM Mar 03 2008 |

Mariii41

Mariii41

Brazil

I adore MB20, they r really great!!
and Rob thomas solo thing wasnt a sucess, i´ve heard a couple a song by him by it didint got well.
hope nice songs from them!!now together again!

02:53 PM Mar 03 2008 |

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