Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media Inc.
Released in 1998, “Iris” is widely regarded by many listeners as one of the most heartfelt and romantic ballads in pop music history.
John Rzeznik Says He Wouldn’t Want to Hear “Iris” During an Intimate Moment
John Rzeznik is not interested in having his own music become part of a romantic setting.
The Goo Goo Dolls singer, 60, was recently asked whether he had ever been intimate while listening to the band’s famous 1998 ballad “Iris,” and his reaction made it clear he found the idea uncomfortable.
During the 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala in New York City on June 11, Rzeznik laughed off the question and said he had never done that, joking about how strange it would feel to hear his own song in that situation.
Rzeznik, who has been married to Melina Gallo since 2013, playfully acted out a scenario of telling someone to listen as the song began playing. He also joked that some other musicians at the event had probably experienced something similar.
Released in 1998 for the soundtrack of City of Angels, “Iris” became the defining song of the Goo Goo Dolls’ career. The emotional ballad has earned billions of streams and is often considered one of the most romantic songs ever recorded, thanks to its heartfelt lyrics and powerful themes of love and devotion.
Earlier this year, Rzeznik explained how the story of City of Angels influenced the writing of the song. The film follows an angel who falls deeply in love with a human woman and chooses to give up immortality to experience life as a person.
Rzeznik said the idea of someone sacrificing everything to feel love and become human inspired the emotional direction of the track. He described the character’s feelings as overwhelming, explaining that the woman had completely changed the angel’s existence and created a deep emotional struggle.
