Iris
Goo Goo Dolls
1999
Annual listening-list association retained: 1999. The source-checked recording release year is 1998; these are separate date fields. No new regional or single-release date is inferred from this list year.
Release: 1998
Release: 1998Source checked | Recent carryover
The artist-interview introduction identifies the original 1998 City of Angels soundtrack release. Rzeznik distinguishes the familiar full-band recording from the stripped-down performance heard within the film.
The large badge identifies this listening list, not a newly issued recording. Later reissues and renewed chart popularity do not replace an original release date. How years are assigned.
Song Exploder: John Rzeznik on Iris
The artist-interview introduction identifies the original 1998 City of Angels soundtrack release. Rzeznik distinguishes the familiar full-band recording from the stripped-down performance heard within the film.
Former annual assignments retained as history
These appearances were removed from the main annual lists. They are not original release dates.
- 2024: older return
- 2025: older return
Inspiration and background
Documented songwriting inspiration
John Rzeznik wrote this for City of Angels, imagining what its immortal protagonist would say to the woman he loves. The film assignment helped him through writer's block. He developed the song on an unusually tuned guitar after breaking two strings; Rob Cavallo later expanded the full-band recording with Tim Pierce's mandolin and David Campbell's strings.
Evidence scope: Direct account in episode 295, pages 1-7: film commission, viewpoint, alternate guitar tuning and collaborators on the familiar soundtrack recording.
Sources for this information
Song Exploder: John Rzeznik interview transcript
Direct account in episode 295, pages 1-7: film commission, viewpoint, alternate guitar tuning and collaborators on the familiar soundtrack recording. | Retrieved 2026-10-17
Earlier note and its recorded status
Earlier status: Supplied note - not independently verified. This earlier wording is retained as historical context; the reviewed account above is the current summary.
Vulnerability in love
Other appearances and versions
catalog version unspecified
Textual identity reconciliation, not audio-fingerprint or exact-pressing verification. Version labels are catalog safeguards.
An annual chart year and an original release date are different. Similar titles may be covers or different masters; no audio fingerprint has been performed.
Sources and scope
Source-backed annual association (secondary source; not a complete discographic review)
Editorial artist-repertoire classification
Billboard year-end 1999 table (Wikipedia transcription)
Secondary chart transcription reviewed for title, artist and annual association. Not proof of release date, genre or inspiration.
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