Matchbox Twenty’s ‘Push’ Returns to Charts Thanks to ‘Barbie’ Synch
Written by djfrosty on August 3, 2023
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.)