My Favorite Goo Goo Dolls Song

As part of our Grand Goo Goo Friday event where you can win tickets to the Goo Goo Dolls and Michelle Branch show at Grand Casino Mille Lacs- we’re sharing our favorite Goo Goo Dolls songs with you. When I first heard the Goo Goo Dolls song "Iris", in 1998, I was the singer in a band in Southern California and had never heard of Goo Goo Dolls!

A lady friend of mine took me to see a movie called "City Of Angels" (Nicolas Cage was great, by the way), and all I remember is not being able to get that song out of my head.

We all know the hook; "And I don't want the world to see me, cuz' I don't think that they'd understand - when everything's made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am."

The story is that John Rzeznik had a very hard time writing this song. At the time, he was going through a tough break-up, and admittedly, was not in the best state of mind, emotionally. He watched the movie three times in one day, to get a feel for it. He woke up the next day and wrote most of the song.

He had the words, but not an adequate title. Interestingly enough, the name "Iris" was inspired by a country singer named Iris DeMent, who Rzeznik read about in a magazine. This was confirmed in a 1999 interview with Goo Goo Dolls bass player Robbie Takac, in the book 'Addicted To Noise'.

My grandpa used to say, "There is beauty in simplicity." The lyrics to the song are simple. But love is simple, too.

The first line of the song sets the whole tone - and really says it all.

"I'd give up forever to touch you." Most of us have been there.

"Iris " was nominated for Grammys in the categories; Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Performance by a pop duo or group. It didn't win any of them, however. Still, "Iris" remained at #1 in the U.S. for nine weeks.

This is one of those songs that gets you instantly. The song captures you - and then when it's over - you feel like an entire age has passed you by in just four minutes.

Very powerful, like love, and certainly worth a listen if it's been a while.
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