Early in their career, the Goo Goo Dolls were frequently dismissed by critics as mere imitators of The Replacements; however, the band refined its sound to be more mainstream, which helped it become one of the most popular adult alternative rock bands of the latter half of the '90s, selling millions of records to audiences largely unfamiliar with their inspirations. That's no bitch on the band, either -- their music simply improved in craft and accessibility as the years progressed, and radio happened to be receptive to what a decade earlier would have been considered collegiate power pop. Thus, the band landed two huge hits with the acoustic ballads "Name" and "Iris."
Originally a cover band with a taste for power pop and classic rock & roll, the group soon began writing its own songs. Their early sound recalled the The Replacements' origins as a bratty punk band (circa Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash) -- melodic, snotty, and a little bit thrashy. That sound was the reason the band attracted the interest of the heavy metal label Metal Blade, which issued their debut album in 1987 (known either as The Goo Goo girls or First Release). 1989's Jed continued in a similar vein; the college radio breakthrough came with 1990's Hold Me Up, a Replacements-ish power pop record.
1993's Superstar Car Wash was the Goo Goo Dolls' artistic breakthrough; though it did nothing to quell the Replacements comparisons, it was a finely crafted pop/rock record, and its lead single, "We Are the Normal," was co-written with Replacements leader Paul Westerberg himself. Still, Superstar Car Wash wasn't the commercial force the band hoped it would be, especially in light of the success of similar bands like the Gin Blossoms. That all changed with 1995's A Boy Named Goo, when an L.A. rock station put the acoustic-driven ballad "Name" into heavy rotation. It was eventually released as a single nationwide, and went Top Five late in the year; platinum sales for the album followed close behind. Unfortunately, the original drummer was no longer around to enjoy the band's success; prior to the album's release, he'd been sacked and replaced by drummer Mike Malinin.
Dissatisfied with the royalty rates in their Metal Blade contract, the band waged a legal battle that wound up allowing them to jump to parent company Warner Brothers. Somewhat drained, Rzeznik and the band shook off a case of writer's block to contribute the ballad "Iris" to the soundtrack of the 1998 americanized version of City of Angels (Featuring Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan). Appearing that April, the song was a monster smash, although it was never released as a single (so its official Top Ten pop chart status doesn't convey how popular it was); for a better indicator, "Iris" spent nearly a year on Billboard's airplay charts, including an astonishing 18 weeks at number one, and was nominated for three Grammys. The band's next album, Dizzy Up the Girl, was released in September, during the middle of "Iris"'s marathon airplay run, and sold over three million copies. Its clean, polished sound completed the Goo Goo Dolls' transformation into mainstream pop/rockers who happened to have alternative roots. Further hits from the record followed over the next year, including "Slide," "Dizzy," and the Grammy-nominated "Black Balloon," and the band toured heavily in support. The Goo Goo Dolls revamped their sound for 2001's career retrospective, Ego, Opinion, Art & Commerce. A year later, the trio hit the charts with "Here Is Gone" from their seventh studio album, Gutterflower. The CD/DVD combo Live in Buffalo: July 4, 2004 helped fans endure the long wait for the band's next studio album, Let Love In, which didn't appear until 2006. The band toured through the summer of 2007. The band released the first of two greatest hits compilation, entitled Greatest Hits Volume One: The Singles, November 13th 2007.
In February 2008, the band officially headed into studio to work on their new record.
In August 2010, the band released their ninth album, Something for the Rest of Us. In June 2013, the band's tenth studio album, Magnetic, was released. In December 2013, drummer Mike Malinin announced that he left the band.
In May 2016, the band released their eleventh studio album, Boxes. The Goo Goo Dolls' 12th studio album, Miracle Pill, was released on September 13, 2019.
Singles:
There You Are (Hold Me Up)
Just the Way You Are (Hold Me Up)
I'm Awake Now (Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare Soundtrack)
We Are the Normal (Superstar Car Wash)
Fallin' Down (Superstar Car Wash)
Only One (A Boy Named Goo)
Flat Top (A Boy Named Goo)
Name (A Boy Named Goo)
Long Way Down (A Boy Named Goo)
Naked (A Boy Named Goo)
Lazy Eye (Batman & Robin Soundtrack)
Iris (City of Angels Soundtrack/Dizzy Up the Girl)
Slide (Dizzy Up the Girl)
Black Balloon (Dizzy Up the Girl)
Dizzy (Dizzy Up the Girl)
Broadway (Dizzy Up the Girl)
Here Is Gone (Gutterflower)
Big Machine (Gutterflower)
Sympathy (Gutterflower)
Give A Little Bit (Live in Buffalo: July 4, 2004/Let Love In)
Better Days (Target's Sounds of the Season/Let Love In)
Stay With You (Let Love In)
Let Love In (Let Love In)
Before It's Too Late (Sam & Mikaela's Theme) (Transformers Soundtrack)
Home (Something for the Rest of Us)
Real (AT&T Team USA Soundtrack)
Not Broken (Something For The Rest Of Us)
04 Flat Top
Goo Goo Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bringing home a new invention
See it there in pieces on the ground
A television war between the cynics and the saints
Flip the dial and that's whose side you're on
Sleeping on the White House lawn ain't never changed a thing
Look at all the washed out Hippie dreams
Is this some kinda joke they're trying to pull on us
Fallin' all around us
I turned my head off for a while
The tabloid generation's lost
Choking on it's fear
Used to be that's all we had to fear
Conscience keeps us quiet while the crooked loves to speak
His knowledge wrapped in blankets on the street.
A visionary coward says that anger can be power
As long as there's a victim on TV
And it's fallin' all around us
Is this some kinda joke they're trying to pull on us
Fallin' all around us
I turned my head off for a while
And my dirty dreams all come alive
On my TV screen
And assasination plots
Show me what I haven't got
Show me what I love, Who I'm supposed to be
Show me everything I need
Show it all to me
Show it all to me
And it's fallin' all around us
Is this some kinda joke they're trying to pull on us
Fallin' all around us
I turned my head off for a while
The lyrics of "Flat Top" by Goo Goo Dolls reflect on the state of society and how easily people are swayed by the media. The song begins with the line "Flat top intervention, bringing home a new invention" which refers to the introduction of television into people’s homes. The next line "See it there in pieces on the ground" is meant to symbolize the destruction of tradition and values that come with the introduction of a new medium.
The song then moves on to talk about the power dynamic between "cynics and the saints" and how easily people pick a side based on what they see on television. The line "Sleeping on the White House lawn ain't never changed a thing, look at all the washed-out Hippie dreams" expresses dissatisfaction with the current social and political status quo.
The second verse refers to the growing fear and angst prevalent in society, fueled by the tabloid generation's obsession with violence and scandal. The lines "A visionary coward says that anger can be power, as long as there's a victim on TV" reflect on how the media can be used to manipulate and incite anger in people. The chorus "Is this some kinda joke they're trying to pull on us, falling all around us, I turned my head off for a while" expresses disillusionment and a need to escape from the noise and chaos.
The final verse expresses a desire for self-discovery and understanding of one's place in society. The line "And assassination plots show me what I haven't got, show me what I love, who I’m supposed to be, show me everything I need, show it all to me" is essentially a call for clarity and direction amidst all the confusion.
Line by Line Meaning
Flat top intervention
A reference to the US military operation of the same name where US troops intervened in Haiti in 1994
Bringing home a new invention
The intervention led to the bringing of new invention to the country
See it there in pieces on the ground
The result of the intervention was chaos and destruction
A television war between the cynics and the saints
The media portrays the conflict as a battle between the cynics (who oppose the intervention) and the saints (who support it)
Flip the dial and that's whose side you're on
Your opinion on the intervention is influenced by the media you consume
Sleeping on the White House lawn ain't never changed a thing
Protesting or petitioning to the government has never brought about significant change
Look at all the washed out Hippie dreams
The dreams of the counterculture movement in the 1960s have not been realized
And it's fallin' all around us
The effects of the intervention are impacting everyone
Is this some kinda joke they're trying to pull on us
The situation seems unbelievable and almost like a prank
I turned my head off for a while
Trying to ignore or escape the reality of the situation
The tabloid generation's lost
The younger generation is aimless and lacks direction
Choking on it's fear
They are consumed by their anxieties and worries
Used to be that's all we had to fear
In the past, the biggest concern was simply being afraid
Conscience keeps us quiet while the crooked loves to speak
People with strong morals often stay silent while those with twisted values are the ones who speak up
His knowledge wrapped in blankets on the street.
Homeless individuals often have profound wisdom and knowledge, despite their outward appearance
A visionary coward says that anger can be power
Some people believe that anger is a useful tool for gaining power or creating change
As long as there's a victim on TV
This power can only be gained if there is a visible victim (often portrayed on television)
And my dirty dreams all come alive
Watching violent or disturbing content on TV can awaken dark desires in people
On my TV screen
The source of these disturbing images is the television set
And assassination plots
The content being consumed includes violent and potentially dangerous ideas
Show me what I haven't got
Viewers are being tantalized with the possibility of obtaining something they lack
Show me what I love, Who I'm supposed to be
Media has the power to shape people's desires and identities
Show me everything I need
The media tells people what they need and what they should want
Show it all to me
The audience is demanding to be entertained and informed by the media
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: J. RZEZNIK, R. TAKAC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Laurie Anne Smith
Love love!!
possumgirl119
Johnny and Robby look like they could be twin brothers
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