“Radio” by Matchbox Twenty

In a way you can say that Matchbox Twenty are the musical masters of ambiguity. And “Radio” is another of their tracks which, due to an overall lyrical vagueness, can be interpreted in a number of different ways. So under such circumstances, we are compelled to go a bit out on a limb in trying to ascertain this song’s meaning.

And with that being established, what seems to be going down in this particular case is that Matchbox Twenty are criticizing the influence that “radio” songs – or let’s say popular music – has on the masses. And the premise is set at the beginning of the first verse where the band points to the idea that “everybody” listens to the radio. Moreover they are doing so during their “waking” hours, which in this case may be representative of the most mentally-formative time of the day.

The Dancing Girl

Then we’re introduced to a girl who spends the entire night dancing. For starters, although it is never explicitly mentioned, in order to dance she would need to first be listening to music. And such music would logically (based on the theme of the track) be relayed by the radio. 

Then it is said that when “daylight” actually arose, “it broke her heart”. Now this reads as another case in which a time of day is symbolic of a certain idea. And as such the daylight would actually represent her coming back to reality. And the reason she got depressed in doing so is that she had “dreams so big” which didn’t actually materialize. Interestingly enough, said dreams were actually the result of ideas being put into her head via the music and by extension the “radio”.

Boy in Love

Moreover the second verse operates along a similar type of narrative. At the center of this particular passage is “a boy”. And he is very much in love with a particular girl. However, his emotional life is devastated upon her dumping him. And the way the lyrics are presented indicate that she did so due to being discontent with the type of lifestyle he couldn’t afford her. Moreover based on our theory concerning the meaning of this song, she would have been introduced to that particular ideology (i.e. materialism) via the radio.

Chorus of “Radio”

Indeed the last line of the chorus, which points to the idea of the radio being influential in such a way, comes off as if it is sarcastic in nature. Here the singer states that people agree that something “is right” because they “heard it on the radio”. This is the line of the song where it become most apparent that Matchbox Twenty are actually criticizing the notion of listening to pop music, if you will. But again, they are not attacking the device which relays it per se, as opposed to the effect the music it has on people. And based on the narratives featured herein, it isn’t so much a case of music with questionable messages being overpowering as it is the people’s willingness to give in to its influence.

Conclusion

So conclusively the theory we are putting forth is that, in a very-roundabout way, Matchbox Twenty is using this song to actually criticize the pop-music industry, as well as its mainstream audience. And what they are saying is that music itself may be filled with suspicious messages. Yet despite this, listeners tend to accept what the pop artists are saying as being gospel.

Release Date of “Radio”

“Radio” was released on 4 September 2012. It serves as the ninth song on the playlist of Matchbox Twenty’s album “North”.

Writing Credits

The track was written by Matchbox Twenty’s own Rob Thomas and Paul Doucette. And it was produced by one of their regular musical partners, Matt Serletic.

Did Matchbox Twenty release “Radio” as a single?

No. The album’s official singles are as follows:

• “Our Song”
• “Put Your Hands Up”
• “Overjoyed”
• “She’s So Mean”

And FYI, the fan favorite “English Town” also appears on “North”.