Music and my love of The Goo Goo Dolls

For a lot of writers, music plays a very important part of their process.  I know it sure does for me.  Just a few weeks ago, I went and created an early playlist to VINDICATED, before I even wrote a single word.  As I was working on EDEN, I had to turn on the playlist or it took me a lot longer to get into my groove.  Today I want to just ramble about the band that has probably been the biggest musical inspiration to me:  The Goo Goo Dolls.

The Goo Goo Dolls formed in 1986.  I was born in 1987.  That is 25 years now that they've been around and they never cease to amaze me.  I think I got my first album of theirs over 10 years ago, and they are still my all time favorite.  Through all the musical phases I've gone through, Goo Goo Dolls have stayed.

And it's no wonder, with songs like IRIS, NAME, BROADWAY, and my current favorite and theme song of EDEN, SOLDIER (click the links for the Youtube videos).  These guys are simply awesome.

I thought I was going to die when they came to Seattle last year and I didn't hear about it until the morning before and had no possible way to go (due to being on the island and having 2 kids with nowhere to take them).  I've made it one of my lifes goals to see them live someday.

Words have a powerful effect, whether they are written in a novel, placed in prose, or sung in harmony.  For me these guys capture it all.

And so I leave you with the lyrics to SOLDIER and the Youtube video to their latest song, part of the new Transformers movie.

SOLDIER by THE GOO GOO DOLLS

When you came back I knew you'd have a story.
You need someone to ease the pain of living life.
You're like a soldier in the fray, seeking shelter
from all the madness that you've seen raining down now.

I know things change, your world has slipped away.
I know things change, but you're living like a soldier
who's caught in the fray.
Don't lose your faith,
it's not so cold,
it's not too late.

When you were naive you were so invincible,
and you laughed at anyone and anything that ever got in your way.
But now the mirror shows the change and you don't see that
you're sinking back into the crowd, an echo fading.

I know things change, your world has slipped away.
I know things change, but you're living like a soldier
who's caught in the fray.
Don't lose your faith,
it's not so cold,
it's not too late

And I never thought I'd see
you living on your knees,
A slave to some disease
that holds you captive.

And you can look inside of me
but the answers that you seek
and everything you need
is all inside you.

I know things change, your world has slipped away.
I know things change, but you're living like a soldier
who's caught in the fray.
Don't lose your faith, it's not so cold, it's not too late.