Goo Goo Dolls’ song ‘Iris’ is one of the best love songs ever

Although I started writing purely on music, my passion for social equality changed my writing, allowing me to mix my two passions into a confusing (although hopefully welcome) mess of a column. weekly.

So, hoping to get back to my roots by focusing only on music, I figured I could write a little piece that focuses on a popular song (past or present) and explain what I’m about, and many others, we are hooked.

Part of this idea is also to incorporate different musical tastes. I’m mainly talking about modern indie / alternative / pop music. I don’t regret this choice, as I think it is better to write about something that I know well, rather than something entirely abstract from my normal media consumption, but that leaves many music fans out of the loop, especially the fans who don’t follow modern music.

I’m hesitant to call this a series, as I might never come back to the idea, depending on the reception and my own personal passions for the week, but consider this an essay of a series where, very I’m just talking about a song that I love.

Now I realize that I have talked about attracting fans of older music and then pick a song that is only about 23 years old, but this song has hooked me for the last few months and I can’t m ‘get rid of it. I think it’s time to find out why.

The song in question, of course, is “Iris” by The Goo Goo Dolls. I’m not particularly drawn to or repelled by love songs, but sometimes something breaks that notion, like this song. With ease, I can say that this is one of the best love songs ever. There is an intimacy that feels specific and real, something some songs give up to be more relatable. Still, the song was a huge hit, showing there was always a relativity in the lyrics.

For the uninitiated, the trail is to be willing to sacrifice everything to be with the person you love. The song, originally written for the movie “City Of Angels,” specifically tries to reference the protagonist’s willingness to give up immortality for love, but that’s not something the band tried to. hammering too hard. Instead, he embodies an unquenchable need for love.

Another aspect that I believe strengthens this song is the voice of John Rzeznik. There is a raspy, painful tone in them that manifests itself in so many ways: frustrated, remorseful, nostalgic, passionate, among others.

Every time I hear this song I feel Rzeznik’s voice has a new feeling infused into it. This apparently shoots different aspects of love, while being tied in a perfect bow. As I hear it, this could be a love song for a longtime marriage, filled with love and a promise that the spark is still there. It could be for a blossoming, passionately filled love of newlyweds, or the cry for a second chance after a long term divorce / breakup.

These emotions should be contradictory, but the fact that they can all still be felt by the listener, simply based on their own journey, is a testament to the quality of the song. I feel like I could talk a lot longer on this trail. I have yet to touch the perfectly constructed instrumentation, with a tip that contains so much tension and tranquility at the same time.

I haven’t mentioned a Phoebe Bridgers and Maggie Rogers cover that is as good, if not better, than the original. I also didn’t touch any specifics in the lyrics that leave me in tears, but I imagine there are only so many gushes I can make before I get redundant.

My advice: listen to this song again, even if you remember hated it. Try again and think about these conflicting feelings I brought up, because if these are explained to you, my other untouched details will become much clearer.