Not that "Iris" ever really went away, but the Goo Goo Dolls' 1998 hit has been enjoying a bit of a social media-fueled boost as of late. Last year mgk released a studio cover, and earlier this year it was covered by Sombr and remixed by Steve Aoki. Now "Iris" is part of a viral TikTok trend, and not only has SZA participated, but she's done so by using her own cover of the song.
The trend in question, which features "Iris" set in the background, has seen users post old photos of themselves with a caption along the lines of: "What were you like in the ’90s?" (Courteney Cox, for example, took the opportunity to share some great Friends-era looks.) A couple of days ago, SZA got in on the fun sharing some old childhood photos, but instead of the Goo Goo Dolls' original "Iris," she set the video to her own trap-pop take on the track. "Trend had me so cooked I couldn’t stop singing it so I made my own deep fried goo goo doll tease," she wrote, to which the Goo Goo Dolls' band account responded with heart emojis.
After teasing the cover on her private Instagram, SZA shared a full minute of her "Iris" audio on her real Instagram yesterday. In a sea of same-y "Iris" covers, I'm glad hers actually sounds different! It doesn't feel very '90s, although SZA is a proud fan of '90s mainstream rock hits. Hear it below.
Meanwhile, the Goo Goo Dolls are still out here playing shows. Their upcoming gig in Lincoln, CA, in fact, boasts an "'Iris’ Front Row VIP Experience” option, which includes a meet-and-greet and drinkware item.
