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"These Hard Times"
Single by Matchbox Twenty
from the album Exile on Mainstream
Released	January 29, 2008 May 5, 2008
Recorded	2007
Genre	Alternative rock pop rock
Length	3:48 (album version) 3:26 (radio edit)
Label	Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Rob Thomas Paul Doucette Kyle Cook Brian Yale
Producer(s)	Steve Lillywhite
Matchbox Twenty singles chronology
"All Your Reasons" (2008) "These Hard Times" (2008) "She's So Mean" (2012)

"These Hard Times" is the second single (worldwide except Australia) from rock band Matchbox Twenty's first compilation album Exile on Mainstream (2007).

The video premiered on iTunes on Tuesday, February 5, 2008. It was released to Australian radio during the week of April 13. In the United States, the single performed disappointingly, failing to chart the Billboard Hot 100 but reaching the Top Ten of the Adult Top 40.

It was released as a follow-up to "All Your Reasons", which was released only in Australia, and although not an official single in Australia, "These Hard Times" was serviced to radio there; it did not gain much airplay.

Music video

The video features the band playing in the street in front of what appears to be a warehouse. Many people pass by as if nothing is happening. Near the end of the song, several colored balloons come out of a gutter and the warehouse's doors open, letting more and more balloons out. All the people seen in the video stop and look upwards to the balloons. The video ends when the band stops playing and stares at the balloons as well.

The video was directed by Ramon & Pedro.

Track listing

1. "These Hard Times" (album version)
2. "Bright Lights" (Live from Wal-Mart Soundcheck)

EP version

1. "These Hard Times" – 3:48
2. "3 AM" (live soundcheck version) – 3:51
3. "Bright Lights" (live soundcheck version) – 4:38

Personnel

• Rob Thomas - lead vocals, melodica
• Kyle Cook - electric guitar, backing vocals, glockenspiel
• Paul Doucette - acoustic guitar, piano, backing vocals, Casio guitar
• Brian Yale - bass
• Ryan MacMillan - drums

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

References

1. "Matchbox Twenty Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
2. "Matchbox Twenty Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
3. "Matchbox Twenty Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
4. "Matchbox Twenty Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
5. "Matchbox Twenty Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
6. "Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2019.

External links

• Matchbox Twenty official website

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• 2008 singles
• Matchbox Twenty songs
• Songs written by Rob Thomas (musician)
• Song recordings produced by Steve Lillywhite
• Songs written by Paul Doucette
• Songs written by Kyle Cook
• Songs written by Brian Yale
• 2007 songs
• Atlantic Records singles
• 2000s rock song stubs