Goo Goo Dolls' 'Iris' Reaches No. 9 on Billboard Again Thanks to Viral TikTok Trend
More than 28 years after its initial release, "Iris" has suddenly surged in popularity and begun climbing the charts again. The classic rock ballad is currently No. 9 on the Billboard Rock Streaming Chart.
Back on December 5, 1998, the track hit the same peak position, No. 9, on the Billboard Hot 100. While those are entirely different Billboard charts, it is a fascinating bit of music history that the timeless song reached the same spot in the top 10 decades apart.
Why ‘Iris' by the Goo Goo Dolls Is Suddenly Charting Again in 2026
Even though "Iris" was released when MTV ruled the music world, and it appeared on the soundtrack for the 1998 film City of Angels, its message is timeless. No matter how old the track is, listeners can connect to its lyrics, melody, and John Rzeznik's memorable vocal performance. Despite that, even a great song doesn't start randomly charting again decades later out of nowhere. Unsurprisingly, there is a definite reason why the Goo Goo Dolls are back on Billboard's radar.
As a Today article notes, "Iris" has been at the center of a viral trend that has spread across social media networks like TikTok and Instagram for weeks now. The trend involves a person showing their current selves as the words "Mom, what were you like in the ‘90s?" or "Dad, what were you like in the ‘90s?" appear onscreen. Then the videos will cut to photos of the person from the 1990s, or subvert that by including joke images of someone or something else. During these videos, the only thing that can be heard is "Iris."
It has long been known that songs going viral on social media can have a direct impact on their chart performance. When TikTok revealed the top songs on its service in December 2024, the company noted that a huge percentage of the songs that reached No. 1 that year were linked to a viral trend.
Why 'Iris' Is Considered One of the 'Greatest Love Songs of All Time'
In the past, The Quinnipiac Chronicle named the Goo Goo Dolls' track "Iris" one of the "Greatest Love Songs of All Time." Decades after it first became popular, the song was included alongside other tracks like "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion, "Love Me Tender" by Elvis Presley, and "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton.
There are several reasons why the song was recognized like that, including that the melody perfectly matches how vulnerable the lyrics are. Additionally, the way it focuses on a deeper desire to be truly known by your partner instead of superficial love continues to resonate. "Iris" also stands out for embracing how scary it can be for people to open themselves up to love, while still urging listeners to do it.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 11:15 AM.