.... I'm not completely done with this, it seems to be a work in progress~
This is what I THINK~FEEL~and~LOVE about THE GOO GOO DOLLS
"and even though the moment passed me by, I still can't turn away
I saw the dreams you never thought you'd loose, get tossed along the way"
"scars are souveniers you never loose, the past is never far"
"you grew up way too fast, now there's nothing to believe"
~Quotes from the song 'Name'
The places this band touches me with their music and words amaze me. I have been plagued with writers block for years now, and hearing the music of the Goo Goo Dolls knocked something loose and I have been able to start writing again. On the VH1 Behind the Music, John talks about his own writers block saying, that it's not that you don't write, it's only that you think everything you are writing sucks. That is how I have felt for so long, and I'm so thrilled that I have been able to begin writing things that I'm not ashamed to show people again. I do shudder to think of the ideas and stories I have deleted over the years thinking them horrid. There have been many I have started on, then completely deleted in frustration and anger at myself for not being able to finish the thought I had started with because the words just wouldn't flow.
I have liked other bands longer and loved some for years. I had my teenage obsessions and all those little crushes that everyone had if they'd admit it. I love music, but there was a time when I had turned away from it. I had been led to believe that 'adults' don't go crazy over a band, or act silly when they hear their favorite songs on the radio. Those were lonely, depressing years. I had a wake up call a couple of years ago when I heard an unlikely savior on the radio. The Goo Goos? Nope... Hanson ~Mmmbop! : ) I'll be forever greatful to those guys for waking me up and making me listen.. really LISTEN to music again. The Goo Goo Dolls have snuck past all of my old and new favorites to a place deep within me. Some of the songs grab me right away, and some of the others take a little longer. The more I hear, the more I love. The older songs, more raw and less polished, are just as great as the newer ones. I know that 'Dizzy Up the Girl' is the most sucessful album to date, but, in my own opinion, every CD that I have heard is a gem. Every one has it's own flavor and special style. They all grab my heart and pull me in.
The Goo Goo Dolls success and fame is long overdue. They have been playing and writing music together since 1986. They had a minor hit on the Nightmare on Elm Street 6 soundtrack called 'I'm Awake Now'. They have had songs appear on several soundtracks through the years, including, 'Son-In-Law', 'Ace Ventura 2', 'Batman and Robin', 'Tommy Boy' and 'Twister'.
I honestly don't remember hearing of them before 'Name' became a hit, but their goofy (sorry guys it is...) band name did seem somewhat familiar when I heard the DJ's say it.
Then, when their ballad 'Iris' came out of the 'City of Angels' soundtrack, I knew they had something special and I had to take a closer listen. Maybe even buy the other CD's without hearing anything from them... *gasp* I don't do that!!!! Seeing Johnny spinning around in a chair in that tower with the spyglass and hearing those lyrics made me feel like someone had finally understood the isolation and lonliness that life can bring. It seemed to epitomize the longing that someone can have to become something outside themselves. Then I saw the movie~! If there has ever been a song more perfectly written for a particular movie, PLEASE take me to it!!! The next time I heard the song, I listened closer remembering the film, and was completely blown away! No one has ever captured the feeling from a film better in a song than this. (NO~ NOT even TITANIC.... *gag*) John~you came out of that writers block with a bang!
Don't get me wrong though... I'm NOT only interrested in the ballads. Even though that is what got me listening in the first place, that is NOT what The Goo Goo Dolls are all about. They are so much more. Some of the songs are angry, some are hillariously funny and some are just damn good rock.
In an era of music where many artists are only interrested in having a hit, The Goo Goo Dolls are still interrested in making albums ~or do we always call them CD's now?~ that you can listen to all the way through and enjoy every moment.
I think 'Slide' is the most well written 'pop-type' song on the whole CD, 'Dizzy Up the Girl'. I love the first song, 'Dizzy', wish I had someone to say things like that to me~give me a kick in the pants every now and then to get me motivated! 'Extra Pale' is a rockin' good time that gets in my head and won't go away. If I may segue back to the ballads for a moment, 'Acoustic #3' is a haunting 2 minutes, approximately, (... c'mon I'm not so obsessed that I have stopwatch timed this thing.......yet~ : P) of angst and longing that leaves me feeling wrung out and sad. 'Broadway' is an ironic dip into a life that seems to be destined to go forward on a path of failure, in a happy way~does that make any sense? 'Bullet Proof' is a wake up call and the words seem to have 2 meanings. 'Amigone' has that fast pace Robby's voice is best suited for and the words ring true. 'Hate This Place', which I would have SWORN to anyone who asked was called sweet charade, rounds out the CD and leaves me wanting more goo. SO..onto the next one.
From 'A Boy Named Goo' I would have to say my absolute favorite song IS 'Name', since that is what got the airplay that gave this band to the ears of the world ~and me~: ). Someone sure knows how to put the right song at the beginning of the CD, and 'Long Way Down' was the perfect choice on this one. Then I get the feeling that Robby is, well, 'Burnin' Up' and pretty damn mad about it. I know I probably shouldn't be laughing at him, but most of the songs Robby sings make me crack up!!! 'Naked' is a song rooted in truth and if anyone ever tells you they don't feel that way sometimes, they are lying. ......and the spoken part towards the end of that song is...... *sigh*.... oh oops..... It's all about the music man!!..... had a moment there..... The remake of the Lime Spiders' 'Slave Girl' makes me laugh~ wanna guess who sings it? This CD has everything from fast riffs, to sweet ballads and pop hook songs.
~Superstar Carwash stuff to be added later~
'Hold Me Up' is one of the most promising CD's I have ever heard. No way it can ever be accused of being overly produced either (that's a compliment). Why this CD didn't climb way up the charts and force their record company to take a second look at them at this point is beyond me. They should have been showcased and promoted. This should have been their first really big CD. The horribly off key song '22 Seconds' NEVER fails to make me laugh. 'Million Miles Away' was a commercial success, albeit small. The first time I heard 'Never Take The Place of Your Man' I wondered who the heck was singing it?! and WHAT is it doing on here?!! (Lance Diamond sings the song written by Prince... the artist formerly known as, that is... you know that &*$@#)$(* guy?... yeah, HIM.) Despite it's completely different flavor it goes well with the rest of the CD. This is where they begin to spit and polish the shine they still have today.
~Jed stuff to be added later~
Despite the terrific music they were making and the decent record sales, each band member held a part time job until 'Name' hit the airwaves. Even afterwards, they were barely making anything to live on. They still needed the part time jobs. Appearing on Leno, Rosie and other shows, The Goo Goo Dolls still had to scrape together enough money to buy McDonalds. They went on tour with bands they had nothing in common with just to pay the bills. Part of the reason they weren't able to devote themselves full time to their music during the first part of their career was due to the contract they signed with Metal Blade when they were young naive musicians chasing a dream. That they stayed together through all of this and kept on making music is a testament to how much they want to be doing what they are. They were released from their horribly unfair contract in November of 1997. They are now with Metal Blade's parent company, Warner Brothers. Terms of the deal they made are protected.
These are just my opinions and impressions and in no way are what is a TRUE representation of the person.
John Rzeznik seems sensitive and sweet, with a lot of pain hiding behind those blue eyes. There's tremendous pain to loosing a parent as a young person. You never have the chance to prove yourself to them, and you are always wondering if maybe anything you do is good enough. There is a look every now and then that speaks of that pain. It's touching that he hasn't covered it up so completely that he can't reach into it. It can be so much easier to hide behind a wall. He seems funny and smart, but also kind of insecure. Deep down, somewhere behind his silliness and smiles is a guy who wants to know where the hell all this came from and why. When is it going to be taken away? He speaks softly and looks at the person interviewing him as if he is really listening. The way he holds his guitar and plays and sings, gives no doubt that he loves what he is doing. He was born to be a musician, and I hope he continues doing it for a long time to come.
Robby Takac seems to be the crazier, but also the stronger of the two original members. It seems that despite Robby's loudness and crazy ways, he is the glue that holds the Dolls together. He is like the short tough big brother that looks over his little brother with love and a bit of good natured pushing around. He doesn't seem to have any problem with John's success as the main singer On the contrary, it seems to make him happy for his friend. He is happy making music PERIOD. Robby truly likes and respects John and vice versa. It seems so rare nowadays in the music business for a pairing to be so opposite, yet work. It has worked for many years too. It's also refreshing for members of a band to get along so well, and admit it! I also get the impression that Robby's loud mouth craziness hides his heart of gold that he wouldn't want anyone to suspect that he had.
Mike Malinin seems to be the most private and quiet of the 3 current members. It could be that he just doesn't get the CHANCE to speak though. The cameras are always on John and Robby. It has been said that Mike is the Dolls good luck charm. When he joined the band just before the release of 'A Boy Named Goo', they began their long overdue commercial success and fame. He went into the studio and auditioned for the opening they had for a drummer and grabbed it right away. I haven't seen enough of him talking, or read things he has said, to form much of an opinon. But, I do think that he is happy being in the shadow of the 2 founding members. He seems to be a peer and a fan, which probably is the best kind of replacement drummer they can have.
George Tutuska, the original drummer, recently spoke to Rolling Stone Magazine about how he feels about the Goo Goo Dolls huge success. He claims no resentment, but asks to be given credit as a songwriter. He makes some accusations that haven't been backed up, so I won't put them down here. He was fired from the band after being with them for 10 years, soon after completing work on the CD, 'A Boy Named Goo'. He seems to be happy with his musical life now and the one he had with The Goo Goo Dolls.
The music these people have made together over the years has made me feel touched in ways I cannot even begin to describe, although, I have tried to somewhat say what is in my heart when I hear their musicand see them perform. If you are a fan, maybe you can understand some of it. If you aren't a fan, maybe you will pick up a Goo Goo Dolls CD and give it a listen. Although.. if you AREN'T a fan.. what the heck are you doing on my page??!!!
~MUSIC IS LIFE~make the most of the things you love <3
because~ in the words of my angels, 'In an Mmmbop they're gone' ~~<~@
~Michelle (September, 1999)
