Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Social_nav_masthead_logged_in
 
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

Go Super to take Quiz Go Super!

 

Lesson MP3

Go Super to download full lesson MP3 Go Super!

The iTEP® test

  • Schedule an iTEP® test and take the official English Practice Test.

    Take Now >

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

Log in to Comment

maggiewangdandan

China

 i don't know the brand and the singers.but instead of worring about their appear and releaseing new album,it should be encouraged.i think everyone do their working at their best,you should be indulgent toward them.

  i must enhance my english songs insight,i now download them without delay,and have a listening

02:24 PM Mar 03 2008 |

nono_cute

nono_cute

Iraq

i like Rob Thomas so much though i dont like 2 watch TV ,lol

11:14 AM Mar 03 2008 |

 bear

bear

China

I'm not interested in Rock music,so I don'know the band very well.In chain the Rock began to develop very late ,but there are many Rock men I like,for example xuwei.He comes from xian.His music is wonderful,I think. His Rock has many chain style.I believe many chinese people all know him and like him.

10:17 AM Mar 03 2008 |

kaushalyats

Sri Lanka

Match box twenty is not my favourite but I'm dying to hear an another album of Boyz 2 men (boys two men)They sung some love songs which no one can match.

08:35 AM Mar 03 2008 |

kaushalyats

Sri Lanka

Match box twenty is not my favourite but I’m dying to hear an another album of Boyz 2 men (boys two men)They sung some love songs which no one can match.

08:35 AM Mar 03 2008 |

kimhyunbok

kimhyunbok

South Korea

I just heard that song "3am"

good song~~

08:34 AM Mar 03 2008 |

chyuen_ch

chyuen_ch

Malaysia

Mine is Micheal Learns to Rock in 90s

 

07:30 AM Mar 03 2008 |

wanglong123

China

I love blue,four young people who from England.

I felt very confortable when I first heard their music,and the music was stuck in my head all the night.

Blue is very popular in China,and I think you must have heard their music before,like "all rise","one love","best in me" and so on.

07:17 AM Mar 03 2008 |

didi da'great

Malaysia

never heard about them before

i love that scorpion band aspecially the song, wind of change!

05:44 AM Mar 03 2008 |

li xu

li xu

China

I haven't heard of the song and its singer but I respect the ones who pull themselves up when fell

05:09 AM Mar 03 2008 |

Cayra

Cayra

Dominican Republic

In 1998 i was on high school, I know Matchbox Twenty band, but to be honest I'd never heard that song before… hehehe…

I rather others songs, like "Bent", "If You're Gone"..... and so on..

 But that's good they're back… I like them.

 For thattime, I loved songs like:

"Don't speak" from No Doubt 

"Iris" from Goo Goo Dolls

 "Wonderwall" from Oasis

Nirvana!!! =D

"Drive" from Incubus…

 

.. well.. There're a lot of bands and songs… There were good song on chart those days.. =D

 

04:27 AM Mar 03 2008 |

DONI

DONI

Brazil

      

          like my friends above I never heard about this band , and I'd better be on  serach now , who knwos ? perhaps the may be really good, lest's see.

04:02 AM Mar 03 2008 |

Đồng Xuân Công

Viet Nam

I am too, have never hear about this band or its singers. I sensce this band was famous to all long time ago by the song "3 a.m". I dont know the meaning of the song is what?Until now, I only listen some songs by Westlife, Backstreet boy.

According to Henrrywang above, The band is very popular to all Korians, why? The song "3 a.m" include one good meaning to them?

03:08 AM Mar 03 2008 |

nabayo

nabayo

South Korea

Not really.

I guess Koreans who are 10 years younger than me don't know Warrant at all.

Even for older ones, if they are not interested in Rock, they surely don't know.

What about Match twentybox?

Were they popular in China?

03:02 AM Mar 03 2008 |

HenryWang

HenryWang

China

Cool  I didn't hear about that band or any singer…so it is very popurlar in Korea?

02:22 AM Mar 03 2008 |

nabayo

nabayo

South Korea

When I was a highschool girl, I loved the song,"Cherry Pie", sung by Warrant.

The dialogue above reminds me of them.

Are they still around?

B.T.W, I don't have any idea of the band, "Matchbox twenty".

I love Santana and the song "Smooth", but I didn't know the song was the collaboration with a member of that band.

I should search on the net and listen to one or two their songs.

01:18 AM Mar 03 2008 |

Likes (67):

See all >

Share this lesson:

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Bebo
  • Share on Myspace
  • Share on Twitter
  • Email this to a friend
  • Share on Sina

Post Ebaby! lessons on your blog:

Ebaby! Cast