Matchbox Twenty’s ‘Push’ Returns to Charts Thanks to ‘Barbie’ Synch
Matchbox Twenty’s classic hit “Push” revisits multiple Billboard charts dated Aug. 5, sparked by its synch – via its original version and Ryan Gosling‘s cover – in the new movie Barbie.
Released in 1996, “Push” reaches the multi-metric Hot Rock & Alternative Songs tally at No. 17. (Older songs are eligible to rank on the chart if in the top half and with a meaningful reason for their returns.)
The tune from the Rob Thomas-fronted band also hits Hot Alternative Songs and Hot Rock Songs at Nos. 11 and 13, respectively.
In the July 21-27 tracking week, “Push” earned 3 million official U.S. streams, up 31%, according to Luminate. It also sold 1,000 downloads, a 201% burst.
Additionally, Gosling’s cover of the song heard in the movie earned 932,000 streams and sold 1,000 downloads in its first week of availability. Gosling plays Ken in the film; an original song for Barbie, “I’m Just Ken,” also makes multiple charts, including the Billboard Hot 100, at No. 87.
“Push” became Matchbox Twenty’s first No. 1 on a Billboard songs chart, leading the Alternative Airplay list for a week in July 1997. It also reached Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 6 on Adult Alternative Airplay, Pop Airplay, Mainstream Rock Airplay and Adult Pop Airplay, respectively.
“Push” parent album Yourself or Someone Like You peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 in September 1997; Matchbox Twenty’s breakthrough LP has earned 9.6 million equivalent album units to date. (Gosling’s cover is on the Best Weekend Ever edition of Barbie: The Album, the new film’s soundtrack that starts at No. 1 on the Soundtracks chart and No. 2 on the Billboard 200.)
Kevin Rutherford
Billboard