I JUST SAW THE GOO GOO DOLLS LIVE (sorry I’m screaming I am just so excited) for the first time ever and this was everything I needed to continue my deep-dive nerd-out of that band and that particular album. You’re doing great, sweetie! I would’ve published this in a heartbeat but what do I know I’m a 33 year old who just went to a goo goo dolls concert
Also John really does have an incredible voice and I am excited to share that it is still amazing, all these years and tours later. Extremely strong and clear and even pretty, as you say!
I love that song and have been known to play it on loop from time to time. Originally written as part of the soundtrack for City of Angels, which lends a million different layers of subtext to the lyrics... anyway...
I’ve been thinking about the Ken context all afternoon now... I even got a little mentally lost walking my dog thinking on this too hard. Fortunately, she’s 14 years old and knows the way home ... well, she knows the treat stops and the most gullible neighbors... that lead the way home so I’m never really lost... but I think on this stuff and realize I’ve walked several blocks and don’t know how I ended up where I did... throw in some Henry David Thoreau, a little bit of Liz Plank and flip the script a bit on the lyrics about what a man needs to what a man would like a partner to need to need but is never sure he can ask of them and never knows they do feel that ... and why does Seth become visible to Maggie... why Seth never figures out that angels are only visible to mortals as they are dying so Maggie is already dying ... well, I’ll give away the ending ... I could watch that movie a million times and get something new every time... and the music video.... anyway, I’m safe at home with my dog, Zoey now and in no danger to myself or others. 😀
Aside from the fact that when I watched City of Angels I was sure I would never know pain like that again (I was wrong) "Iris" really soared as the "flagship" song of the soundtrack. I loved it then, still love it now. Thank you for a fun trip down memory lane. Need to listen to the album tomorrow.
one of my favourite genres of live music youtube clips is "it's raining but i am still gonna finish this song"
I genuinely can't believe it's been 25 years since this came out??? i think Iris only became relevant to me in 2006, where it became the soundtrack to my crush on a Canadian boy who smoked and listened to Alexisonfire. the intro to this song literally wants to make me throw up like i'm sixteen again and heading to a party where i know he'll be there.
Once upon a time, "Iris" was the song my then-girlfriend and I picked to be "our song." It's funny because I'm not really sure if it's a love song or not. Certainly the opening lines give it that feel, but then the refrain and the music video make it seem like Rzeznik is a recluse spouting nonsensical nothings to an unrequited love interest he watches through a telescope on top of a tower (seriously, that music video confuses me).
Great writeup for a great album! "Dizzy Up The Girl" was one of a handful of albums that gained traction as a mainstream alternative to the boy-band/Britney/Christina/Spice Girls blitz of the late 90s, alt rock that didn't go too far into Limp Bizkit/Korn/Rage Against The Machine levels of thrash rock. Good, middle-of-the-road rock music everyone can enjoy, and it's still great 25 years later!
IRIS IS A TIMELESS BANGER THANK YOU FOR BEING BRAVE ENOUGH TO SAY IT. This was a beautiful assessment of what makes it so and a good reminder that I should not only go listen to it again, but listen to the other songs on the album (ok maybe not the dumb ones) too.
I JUST SAW THE GOO GOO DOLLS LIVE (sorry I’m screaming I am just so excited) for the first time ever and this was everything I needed to continue my deep-dive nerd-out of that band and that particular album. You’re doing great, sweetie! I would’ve published this in a heartbeat but what do I know I’m a 33 year old who just went to a goo goo dolls concert
Also John really does have an incredible voice and I am excited to share that it is still amazing, all these years and tours later. Extremely strong and clear and even pretty, as you say!
I love that song and have been known to play it on loop from time to time. Originally written as part of the soundtrack for City of Angels, which lends a million different layers of subtext to the lyrics... anyway...
OH wow I'd only heard of City of Angels in passing when I was researching for this. Just read a summary of the plot, what a doozy!
I’ve been thinking about the Ken context all afternoon now... I even got a little mentally lost walking my dog thinking on this too hard. Fortunately, she’s 14 years old and knows the way home ... well, she knows the treat stops and the most gullible neighbors... that lead the way home so I’m never really lost... but I think on this stuff and realize I’ve walked several blocks and don’t know how I ended up where I did... throw in some Henry David Thoreau, a little bit of Liz Plank and flip the script a bit on the lyrics about what a man needs to what a man would like a partner to need to need but is never sure he can ask of them and never knows they do feel that ... and why does Seth become visible to Maggie... why Seth never figures out that angels are only visible to mortals as they are dying so Maggie is already dying ... well, I’ll give away the ending ... I could watch that movie a million times and get something new every time... and the music video.... anyway, I’m safe at home with my dog, Zoey now and in no danger to myself or others. 😀
Aside from the fact that when I watched City of Angels I was sure I would never know pain like that again (I was wrong) "Iris" really soared as the "flagship" song of the soundtrack. I loved it then, still love it now. Thank you for a fun trip down memory lane. Need to listen to the album tomorrow.
Buffalo's beloved Goo Goo Dolls! Thanks for this. Great work.
You’re doing great
one of my favourite genres of live music youtube clips is "it's raining but i am still gonna finish this song"
I genuinely can't believe it's been 25 years since this came out??? i think Iris only became relevant to me in 2006, where it became the soundtrack to my crush on a Canadian boy who smoked and listened to Alexisonfire. the intro to this song literally wants to make me throw up like i'm sixteen again and heading to a party where i know he'll be there.
Oh my gosh I LOVE this vignette. Absolutely the perfect memory to belong to this song.
Never a huge fan of GGD's but enjoyed your reflections on the album and was curious enough to sample a bit upon completing. Thanks.
Thanks for the kind words! :)
I love this so much and can fully believe multiple outlets rejected it because multiple outlets SUCK! I'm so glad you published it your own damn self -- it inspired this week's issue of my newsletter! https://twobossydames.substack.com/p/everythings-wrong-well-its-all-right
Once upon a time, "Iris" was the song my then-girlfriend and I picked to be "our song." It's funny because I'm not really sure if it's a love song or not. Certainly the opening lines give it that feel, but then the refrain and the music video make it seem like Rzeznik is a recluse spouting nonsensical nothings to an unrequited love interest he watches through a telescope on top of a tower (seriously, that music video confuses me).
Great writeup for a great album! "Dizzy Up The Girl" was one of a handful of albums that gained traction as a mainstream alternative to the boy-band/Britney/Christina/Spice Girls blitz of the late 90s, alt rock that didn't go too far into Limp Bizkit/Korn/Rage Against The Machine levels of thrash rock. Good, middle-of-the-road rock music everyone can enjoy, and it's still great 25 years later!
IRIS IS A TIMELESS BANGER THANK YOU FOR BEING BRAVE ENOUGH TO SAY IT. This was a beautiful assessment of what makes it so and a good reminder that I should not only go listen to it again, but listen to the other songs on the album (ok maybe not the dumb ones) too.