omg - SUCH a great song! Side note - this was originally written and released for the 1998 film, City of Angels, with Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan. It's the story of an angel who falls in love with a human and gives up immortality to be with them (I'd give up forever to touch you) and is worth adding to your movie polls. Cheers!
Man, I loved this song. When my ex fiancé and I broke up, if this song came on, I would fall completely apart. It’s still hard for me to listen to, but it’s just so beautiful. I’m glad y’all are hearing it. Such an amazing song. Y’all need to watch “City of Angels”. It’s the movie this was written for. Amazing movie.
@@michaelasay8587 oh, I have. ❤️ happily married mom now. That was 25 years ago, but like most songs, you are transported to that time when you hear it.
A great Goo Goo Dolls song. I'd say their most well known song. Lead Goo Johnny Rzeznik wrote this song for the movie City Of Angels, where it is sung from the perspective of Nicolas Cage's character. In the film, Cage plays an angel sent to help humans make their transition to the afterlife. When he falls in love with a human (played by Meg Ryan), he must choose between love and eternal life.
The Goo Goo Dolls, consisting of vocalist and guitarist John Rzeznik, bassist and vocalist Robby Takac, and drummer George Tutuska, originated in Buffalo, New York. The band, which formed in 1986, didn’t see large success until 1995 with the release of their breakout single “Name.” Three years later, they delivered their most recognized song-”Iris.” “Iris” is one of those songs that would appear on the best love songs of all time list or the biggest heartbreak songs ever playlist. The song’s melancholic guitar intro makes you feel like you’ve really lost something and are searching to get it back. With nearly one billion listens today, “Iris,” released in 1998, was featured on the album Dizzy Up the Girl, which churned out other well-known songs like “Slide,” and “Black Balloon.” But, “Iris” wasn’t originally written for Dizzy Up the Girl. If “Iris” wasn’t written for the album, what was it written for? What’s the story behind one of the greatest love songs of all time? We are here to answer those questions. Let’s dive into the meaning of The Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris.” Leading up to “Iris” The song’s meaning largely has to do with Rzeznik’s journey to writing the track. Rzeznik told American Songwriter in a 2010 interview that he was going through a great deal of writer’s block. He struggled with his identity as they “made five albums, and then all of the sudden we had this hit song, “Name.” I got this feeling I think a lot of artists get: that I am a complete phony, that was just luck, and I don’t know how to do it again.” Rzeznik continued, “I felt like I had just won the lottery and everyone was standing around going, ‘Wow! You won the Lottery! That’s amazing! Do it again!’ So it really kind of froze me up. I think it was the period where I finally had to come to terms with the fact that songwriting was now my job.” With the pressures of stardom, Rzeznik felt like he couldn’t produce another hit. He felt lost, not only in his musical life but in his personal life, as well. The Goo Goo Dolls frontman told Louder Sound in a 2019 interview that in 1997, “I was feeling kinda schizophrenic,” Rzeznik recalls. “My wife and I had just broken up, and I’d met another girl who I was really into. I’d moved from my home in Buffalo, New York, and was living in this hotel. So it was a really manic time in my life. I was looking for something to hold on to.” Luckily, an opportunity to dig Rzeznik out of his hole came. “Iris” Opportunity The beautiful love song “Iris” came at the exact moment that Rzeznik needed. He was asked to write a song for the 1998 romantic movie City of Angels with Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan. He agreed to work on it because prominent artists like U2 and Peter Gabriel were also on the soundtrack. After an early screening of the movie, Rzeznik returned to his hotel room to work on the song that would later become “Iris.” “Most of the time, for me, writing involves procrastination, fear, doubt, criticism… Most songs I write I have to torture myself; be a prima donna for about an hour,” said Rzeznik. “But Iris came so easy. I’d broken two strings on my guitar, so I’d started winding all the strings up and down in these weird configurations, and that song just came out. It was like a gift - like: ‘Oh, thanks God!’” In LA Weekly magazine, seeing that Iris DeMent was playing in town, he liked the name and chose it as the title. Meaning of “Iris” The song’s meaning directly correlates to the plot of the movie, City of Angels. In the movie, Cage’s character is an immortal angel but throws away his immortality for love. He becomes human so he can be with the one he loves. Rzeznik explained that “When I wrote it, I was thinking about the situation of the Nicolas Cage character in the movie. This guy is completely willing to give up his own immortality, just to be able to feel something very human. And I think, ‘Wow! What an amazing thing it must be like to love someone so much that you give up everything to be with them.’ That’s a pretty heavy thought.” So, when he writes, And I’d give up forever / to touch you / ‘Cause I know that you / feel me somehow / You’re the closest to / heaven that I’ll ever be / And I don’t wanna go / home right now Rzeznik is speaking from Cage’s character’s point of view. He give[s] up forever, or his immortality. Since he’s an angel, the true heaven isn’t where he dwells, but is with his loved one. The loved one is the closest to / heaven that I’ll ever be. Success of “Iris” The track led the City of Angels soundtrack to the top of the charts in June 1998. It also landed on the band’s Dizzy Up The Girl album after a five-week streak at number nine on the chart. The song received several grammy nominations, including Record of the Year, Pop Performance by a Duo or Group, and Song of the Year. In 2018, the song went quadruple platinum.
I think the line "everything's made to be broken" refers to the entropy of this universe. Everything is degrading, aging, dies. And I think that "Iris" can hint at him wanting to be acknowledged, seen by the one he loves. Even though I know he picked the title randomly from a country singer in a music mag haha
This was my high school sweet heart and i song.. everytime i run into this song, it feels me with joy.. we were the only good thing in our lifes back then.. both lost teenagers.. i thank god i got to know what love was.. wherever she is i hope she lived a happy life..
Appreciate your hard work guys. Would love to see you do *Lindsay Buckingham* from *Fleetwood Mac,* doing their song *Big Love* solo (which they would sometimes do during their group tours). Fantastic live performance. Loads of feel.
This song was specifically written for the movie City Of Angels. They wrote it in the POV of Nichols Cage's character falling in love with a woman, Meg Ryan's character, but no one can see him. The lyric about being broken but wanting her to see him is because of who he was and never thought he would ever be with her but he wishes she knew him, could see him. The name "Iris" was a name of a country singer that one of them saw in a magazine. Not in specific to any one person. 😎👍
Incredible band....and super great lead singer/guitarist Johnny Rzeznik. Rzenik has a series of GooGoo Doll songs he sings acoustically that is so freaking good. He is so damned cool its crazy.
This is one of the most played songs ever on radio. Very likely you have heard it before. Very neat effect at the end of the guitar solo where they added distortion on just the reverb trails. 👍
Their frontman, John Rzeznyk (pronounced Reznick) could be the most underrated American songwriter of the past 30 years. Just ask Alexa to play Goo Goo Dolls, and you get a good 90 minutes of hits and masterpieces.
This was written for the soundtrack to City of Angels a 1998 Nick Cage and Meg Ryan film abour an Angel.who falls in love with a human whom sees him. It would be a great movie reaction and it had a lights out soundtrack. Uninvited by Alanis Morrisette ,a song you've reacted to,but didn't understand the context, was in this movie.
Now that you gave it a listen, give the official live video a look/listen. They came back home to Buffalo for a 4th of July show in an absolute downpour. The connection to the city and the city loving them back is epic. Live 2004 Buffalo, NY
This song is written for the movie City Of Angels. Its from the point of view of an angel who wants to be mortal because he's in love with a woman. Iris is actually a random name singer Johnny Rzeznik came up with for the title.
My favorite band....seen them live many times. Yes that is a symphony playing in the background....John and Robbie were afraid that a symphony would ruin their career but they took a chance and it became their biggest hit song ever! And one of the biggest songs of the 90's. And it became timeless. Strangely I didn't care for the movie lol.
It’s been in a few movies. I love the melodic style. My 16yr old’s eyes lit up when I told her I saw them open for Stone Temple Pilots - check out Interstate Love Song one of the best guitar riffs of all time BTW.
From the movie "City of Angels" with Nicolas Cage, Meg Ryan, Andre Braugher. A MUST SEE MOVIE! Saw these guys with Bon Jovi... It was an Awesome concert!!! Johnny Rzeznik has an Incredible voice!! The title means this is how I see you and me and everyone. The name "Iris" was inspired by a country singer named Iris DeMent, whose name Rzeznik came across while reading a magazine.
Wife here.. WOW this song was EVERYWHERE when it came out...Loved the song and the movie "City of Angels" this was in ...featuring Nicholas Cage and Meg Ryan..Great Reaction!!
This is one of my favorite songs ever and I am old and love music so that may say a lot about it . Keep out the good work you two, Love you and the channel
This song was huge. Yall prolly have heard it. The Goo Goo Dolls have a bunch of songs that were very popular. Love them and still listen to some of their songs today.
Yes! Thank you for playing my #1 favorite band, and my fav song of theirs..never gets old and its a masterpeice! Its even better in concert, and yes, they have a violinist and brass instruments in their band. LOVE John's voice and he's an amazing guitar player and song writer. This song was on the Sound Track of the movie City of Angels with Melanie Griffith and Nicholas Cage. Keep up the great work. Blessed be 🙂👍💖
of course you've heard this before! It is their biggest hit. Listen to more of their songs. := John Rzeznik named it IRIS just because. It was a the name of a beautiful woman he met.
This is definitely from the soundtrack of the City of Angels with Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan it is extremely good at it'll make complete sense what you watch the movie
You really need to watch the film this was written for, City of Angels, for the lyrics to really make sense. It's a very good film, probaby one of Nicholas Cages best, about an angel who falls in love with a human and gives up immortality to get to know her, its a very emotional film and ending is not what you'd expect, you'll definitely need tissues.
didnt care about the movie.. but did i ever buy a album just because of 1 song the hell i did and glad too its a great album. btw this damn song is already 25y old
City of Angels Soundtrack...Great Movie. Angel gives up his wings...him immortality for the woman he was charged with watching over and protecting. Falls in love with her.
Goo Goo Dolls 🎶❤️👏🏻. You guys need to check out ~Daryl’s House~ there are so many amazing artists that go there and have Jam sessions, their sessions with Goo Goo Dolls, Rob from Train, CeLo Green does “I can’t go for that” and “One on One” 🎶👏🏻 Smokey Robinson songs Sarah Smiles and ohhh 😮 it’s incredible. Joe Walsh and Styx also play songs and another favorite is Darius Rucker! 👏🏻👏🏻🎶🎶🎵❤️. Check them out! They are under DARYLS HOUSE 🎶🎵👏🏻
Just FYI...RU-vidr Tim Pierce actually played the mandolin and guitars on this song. He also did the solo. Check his channel out if you're into guitars. He's just fantastic.
U gta watch city of angels and c how this song plays n this movie to visualize this song. Perfect song. Like the one at the end of the movie "a star is born".
Always reminds me of the film City of Angels, this song was definitely overplayed on the radio and on MTV a lot. "Slide" "Name" and "Black Balloon" were a few others that I remember from them. Nice request Paul. Song suggestion: Donnie Iris--Ah Leah. Patreon Movie Suggestions: Armageddon, Poseidon, Volcano, Dante's Peak, 2012, and Deep Impact.
Great movie soundtrack to match the movie. & Andre Braugher as angel Cassiel... City of Angels should def be on your movie viewing list, & the song "Feelin' Love".
You'll have to watch the movie "city of angels" with Nicolas cage and Meg Ryan this is on the soundtrack and you won't understand the lyrics until you have seen that movie.
to me it’s about the need to connect loneliness wanting to be one with someone else “i’d give up forever to touch you” i’d give up everything for one moment losing yourself 💜💙
You probably heard the song in the movie plane, trains and automobile. John Candy plays an angel and falls in love with Steve Martin. John Candy's character has to decide whether to give up being an angel and becoming a mortal. The way John Candy's character would become a regular mortal is by stepping in front of a car.
You gotta watch City of Angels to understand where the song is coming from. On another note I would love to see an reaction to Soul Asylum Runaway Train official music video…
