The most-streamed song of the 1990s was made by a broken guitar: “I was too lazy”
Goo Goo Dolls frontman John Rzeznik wrote “Iris” for the film *City of Angels* in a few minutes, using a damaged guitar with only four strings. The song’s unusual, droning sound became a defining feature and has helped it remain one of the most-streamed songs of the 1990s.
Rzeznik said he had broken the strings while experimenting with tunings and was “too lazy” to replace them. The finished recording used the tuning B-D-D-D-D-D, which created the sustained drone; the article says later boosts from major pop stars also helped its streaming success.
- Rzeznik wrote “Iris” on a four-string guitar.
- Its unusual tuning created the song’s droning sound.
- The 1990s hit remains highly streamed today.
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Goo Goo Dolls are an American rock band, and John Rzeznik is their singer and guitarist. In the 1990s, songs written for films often reached listeners through cinema soundtracks as well as radio and record sales.
“Iris” was written for the 1998 film City of Angels, a romantic drama starring Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan. Its repeated guitar notes give the song a sound that differs from a typical rock ballad; later attention from major pop stars helped introduce it to new listeners on streaming services.