Unwell

This article is about the Matchbox Twenty song. For the TV series, see (Un)well. For the Enrique Iglesias song, see Final (Vol. 1). For the podcast, see Unwell (podcast).

"Unwell" is a song by American alternative rock group Matchbox Twenty. Released on February 3, 2003, as the second single from their third album, More Than You Think You Are (2002), it was written by Matchbox Twenty lead singer Rob Thomas. "Unwell" spent 18 weeks atop the US Billboard Adult Top 40 chart and two weeks atop the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. It also reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming their third and final top-10 hit. Internationally, the single became a top-20 hit in Australia, peaking at No. 12, and a top-10 hit in New Zealand, peaking at No. 8. "Unwell" was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2004 for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.^[1]

"Unwell"
Single by Matchbox Twenty
from the album More Than You Think You Are
Released	February 3, 2003 (2003-02-03)
Studio	Bearsville (Bearsville, New York) The Hit Factory (New York City)
Length	3:48
Label	Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Rob Thomas
Producer(s)	Matt Serletic
Matchbox Twenty singles chronology
"Disease" (2002) "Unwell" (2003) "Bright Lights" (2003)
Music video
"Unwell" on YouTube

Content

On the live DVD Show: A Night in the Life of Matchbox Twenty, lead singer Rob Thomas states that he wrote the song as a metaphor for humanity in general, a song for people who are "messed up and feel alone like that. We all feel a little messed up sometimes... you're not alone."

Reception

The song was the second most-played song in the United States in 2003 according to Billboard magazine. The music video was No. 1 on VH1's Top 40 Videos of 2003. In 2011, VH1 named the song as the 82nd best song of the 2000s.

Music video

Directed by Meiert Avis, the music video predominantly features Thomas seeing various odd occurrences throughout, all the while singing along to the song. The other band members only appear in cameos, notably when Thomas boards a subway and they are seen in the background. The appearance of the other bandmates is also altered like most of the video (their noses are rather large). The other band members are also seen at the end of the video gathered in Thomas' room, and each takes their turn waving goodbye to the camera before Thomas does so as well at the end of the video. One of the reasons Thomas picked Avis to direct is because his concept for the video was the closest thing to an acid trip out of every other idea.

Track listing

German and Australian CD single^[2]

1. "Unwell" (Avid Rough Cut 1) – 3:55
2. "All I Need" (live) – 3:41
3. "Unwell" (live acoustic) – 4:12

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the More Than You Think You Are album booklet.^[3]

Studios

• Recorded at Bearsville Studios (Bearsville, New York) and The Hit Factory (New York City)
• Mixed at The Hit Factory (New York City)
• Mastered at Marcussen Mastering (Hollywood, California)

Personnel

• Rob Thomas – writing, vocals
• Kyle Cook – background vocals, lead guitar
• Adam Gaynor – background vocals, rhythm guitar
• Brian Yale – bass
• Paul Doucette – drums, percussion
• Matt Serletic – keyboards, production
• Erik Ralske – French horn
• Jerome Ashby – French horn
• Greg Collins – recording, additional mixing
• Jim Scott – mixing
• Chris Testa – mixing assistance
• Mark Dodson – Pro Tools, digital editing, additional engineering
• Pat Woodward – additional engineering
• Stephen Marcussen – mastering
• Stewart Whitmore – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2003–2004) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[4] 12 Canada CHR (Nielsen BDS)[5] 10 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[6] 8 Romania (Romanian Top 100)[7] 100 UK Singles (OCC)[8] 83 US Billboard Hot 100[9] 5 US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[10] 17 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[11] 1 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[12] 1 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[13] 3

Year-end charts Chart (2003) Position Australia (ARIA)[14] 65 Brazil (Crowley)[15] 33 New Zealand (RIANZ)[16] 8 US Billboard Hot 100[17] 6 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[18] 1 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[19] 11 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[20] 6 Chart (2004) Position US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[21] 8 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[22] 35 Decade-end charts Chart (2000–2009) Position US Billboard Hot 100[23] 67

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[24]	3× Platinum	210,000‡
United States (RIAA)[25]	3× Platinum	3,000,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	February 3, 2003	Contemporary hit hot AC triple A radio	Atlantic	[26]
Australia	April 21, 2003	CD		[27]

See also

• List of Billboard Adult Contemporary number ones of 2003
• Used to Be, a 2021 single by American DJ Steve Aoki, American singer Kiiara, and featuring American rapper Wiz Khalifa, which interpolates the chorus lyrics for its own chorus