Black Balloon (Goo Goo Dolls song) explained

"Black Balloon" is a song by American rock band Goo Goo Dolls. It was released in June 1999 as the fourth single from the band's sixth studio album, Dizzy Up the Girl (1998), and reached 3 in Canada, No. 16 in the United States, and No. 23 in Iceland.

Meaning and composition

The song, according to lead singer John 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 had it that the specific person the song was based on was the ex-wife of bassist Robby Takac; she died of a heroin overdose.

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.

Chart performance

The track reached No. 13 and No. 28 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks and Mainstream Rock Tracks charts, respectively. "Black Balloon" was the band's first commercially released single in the US since "Name" in 1995, reaching No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 with its combined sales and airplay figures.^[2] In Canada, the song reached No. 3 on the RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart, giving the Goo Goo Dolls their fourth top-three hit there. Outside North America, the song charted in Iceland and the United Kingdom, reaching No. 23 in the former country and No. 76 in the latter.

Music video

The video opens with a woman blowing smoke into a soap bubble. It then moves into showing scenes from a 1950s era swim club while the band performs the song. The video was directed by Nancy Bardawil.

Live performances

During live performances of the song, fans can often be seen inflating black balloons and batting them around in the crowd.^[3]

Track listings

US CD, 7-inch, and cassette single^{[4] [5] [6]}

1. "Black Balloon" (radio remix) – 4:09
2. "Slide" (live version) – 3:33

Australian CD single^[7]

1. "Black Balloon"
2. "Lazy Eye"
3. "Naked" (remix)
4. "Flat Top"

UK CD single^[8]

1. "Black Balloon" (radio edit) – 3:59
2. "Black Balloon" (album version) – 4:10
3. "Naked" – 3:44

European CD single^[9]

1. "Black Balloon" (radio edit) – 3:59
2. "Naked" – 3:44

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (1999)	Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[11]	21
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[12]	37
Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[13]	42
US Billboard Hot 100[14]	64
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[15]	21
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[16]	39
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[17]	52
US Top 40 Tracks (Billboard)	40
US Triple-A (Billboard)[18]	15

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)
United States	June 7, 1999	Active rock radio	Warner Bros.	[19]
	June 8, 1999	Contemporary hit radio		[20] [21]
United Kingdom	February 14, 2000			[22]

Notes and References

1. Web site: The Best Alternative Rock Songs of 1999. Spin. 6. September 18, 2020.
2. Hot 100 Singles Spotlight. Pietroluongo. Silvio. Billboard. 111. 39. 105. September 25, 1999. The Goo Goo Dolls debut at No. 28 on the sales chart with 'Black Balloon' (Warner Bros.), their first retail single since 1995's 'Name.'.
3. Web site: Goo Goo Dolls - 5 - Black Balloon - Live at Red Rocks . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/M_BR6EGpygE . December 19, 2021 . live. YouTube . December 19, 2009 . April 4, 2020.
4. Black Balloon. Goo Goo Dolls. 1999. US CD single liner notes. Warner Bros. Records. 9 16946-2.
5. Black Balloon. Goo Goo Dolls. 1999. US 7-inch single sleeve. Warner Bros. Records. 7-16946.
6. Black Balloon. Goo Goo Dolls. 1999. US cassette single sleeve. Warner Bros. Records. 9 16946-4.
7. Black Balloon. Goo Goo Dolls. 1999. Australian CD single liner notes. Festival Records, Hollywood Records. D1927.
8. Black Balloon. Goo Goo Dolls. 1999. UK CD single liner notes. Hollywood Records, Edel, Third Rail Records. 0103115HWR.
9. Black Balloon. Goo Goo Dolls. 1999. European CD single liner notes. Hollywood Records, Edel, Third Rail Records. 0103116HWR.
10. News: Íslenski Listinn Sætin 21 til 40 (4.11 – 11.11 1999). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 10. November 5, 1999. October 6, 2019.
11. RPM 1999 Top 100 Hit Tracks. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. November 13, 2018.
12. RPM 1999 Top 100 Adult Contemporary. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. November 13, 2018.
13. RPM 1999 Top 50 Rock Tracks. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. November 13, 2018.
14. Web site: Billboard Top 100 – 1999. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090709044506/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1999. July 9, 2009. August 28, 2010.
15. 1999 The Year in Music: Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks. Billboard. 111. 52. YE-100. December 25, 1999. December 15, 2023.
16. Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1999. Airplay Monitor. 7. 52. 54. December 24, 1999.
17. Most Played Modern Rock Songs of 1999. Airplay Monitor. 7. 52. 36. December 24, 1999.
18. The Best of '99: Most Played Triple-A Songs. Airplay Monitor. 7. 52. 38. December 24, 1999.
19. Adds for June 7 & 8. Gavin Report. 2257. 45. May 28, 1999.
20. New Releases. Radio & Records. 1302. 42. June 4, 1999.
21. Gavin T40/Rhythm Crossover: Impact Dates. Gavin Report. 2258. 12. June 7, 1999.
22. New Releases – For Week Starting 14 February, 2000: Singles. Music Week. 31. February 12, 2000.