Black Balloon (Goo Goo Dolls song)

"Black Balloon" is a song recorded by the Goo Goo Dolls. It was released in June 1999 as the fourth single from the band's 1998 album, Dizzy Up the Girl.

Meaning and composition

The song, according to lead singer Johnny Rzeznik, is based on a woman who is struggling with a heroin addiction and her lover who is desperately trying to save her. He has also said that it is about "seeing someone you love that is so great just screw up so bad." Speculation as to the exact subject matter of the song has also been attributed to the ex-wife of bassist Robby Takac (who had overdosed on heroin).

Like many other songs by Goo Goo Dolls, "Black Balloon" uses an unusual alternate tuning. Several electric guitars used in the introduction and the acoustic rhythm guitar are tuned to an open D-flat fifth chord. It was half-stepped on the album version.

Music video

The video for the song opens with a woman blowing smoke into a soap bubble (a "black balloon"). The video then changes focus and shows various scenes from a 50s or 60s era swim club while the band performs the song. Tracy Phillips is found in this video as well. The video was done by Nancy Bardwell.

During live performances of the song, fans can often be seen inflating black balloons and batting them around in the crowd.^[1]

Track listing

United States release

"Black Balloon (Radio Remix)" - 4:10
"Slide (Live)" - 3:33

United Kingdom release

"Black Balloon (Radio Edit)" - 4:01
"Black Balloon (Album Version)" - 4:10
"Naked" - 3:44

Australia release

"Black Balloon"
"Lazy Eye"
"Naked (Remix)"
"Flat Top"

Chart positions

The track was moderately successful at rock radio, reaching number 13 and number 28 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks and Mainstream Rock Tracks charts, respectively. It also became the fourth pop hit for the band, reaching number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Peak positions

Chart (1999)	Peak position
Canadian Top Singles (RPM)	3
Canadian Rock/Alternative (RPM)	8
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	16
U.S. Billboard Adult Top 40	3
U.S. Billboard Mainstream Top 40	13
U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks	13
U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	28
U.S. Billboard Radio Songs	18

End of year charts

End of year chart (1999)	Position
Canadian RPM Singles Chart^[2]	21
U.S. Billboard Hot 100^[3]	64

References

↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_BR6EGpygE
↑ "Top Singles - Volume 70, No. 8, December 13, 1999". RPM. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
↑ "Billboard Top 100 - 1999". Archived from the original on 2009-07-09. Retrieved 2010-08-28.

External links

Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics

Goo Goo Dolls

John Rzeznik Robby Takac George Tutuska Mike Malinin

Studio albums	Goo Goo Dolls Jed Hold Me Up Superstar Car Wash A Boy Named Goo Dizzy Up the Girl Gutterflower Let Love In Something for the Rest of Us Magnetic Boxes

Extended plays	Just the Way You Are EP Bang! Dizzy EP Platinum Play EP Rolling Stone Original Waiting for the Rest of It

Live albums	Live in Buffalo: July 4th, 2004

Compilations	What I Learned About Ego, Opinion, Art & Commerce iTunes Originals Greatest Hits Volume One: The Singles Vol.2

Videography	Music in High Places: Live in Alaska Live in Buffalo: July 4th, 2004 Live and Intimate

Singles	"There You Are" "I'm Awake Now" "We Are the Normal" "Only One" "Flat Top" "Name" "Naked" "Long Way Down" "Lazy Eye" "Iris" "Slide" "Dizzy" "Black Balloon" "Broadway" "Here Is Gone" "Big Machine" "Sympathy" "Give a Little Bit" "Better Days" "Let Love In" "Stay with You" "Before It's Too Late (Sam and Mikaela's Theme)" "Real" "Home" "Notbroken" "All That You Are" "Rebel Beat" "Come to Me" "Caught in the Storm" "So Alive" "Over and Over"

Other songs	"Laughing" "So Far Away"

Tours	Something for the Rest of Us Tour 2013 Summer Tour Canada 2014 The Otis Midnight Sessions 2014 Summer Tour Boxes Tour

Related material	Discography

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