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Better Days (Goo Goo Dolls song)

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"Better Days"
File:BetterDays album cover.jpg
Single by the Goo Goo Dolls
from the album Let Love In
ReleasedSeptember 20, 2005
Length3:35
LabelWarner Bros. Records
Songwriter(s)John Rzeznik
Producer(s)Glen Ballard
The Goo Goo Dolls singles chronology
"Give a Little Bit"
(2004) 		"Better Days"
(2005) 		"Stay with You"
(2006)
Music video
"Better Days" on YouTube

"Better Days" is a song recorded by the Goo Goo Dolls. It was released in September 2005 as the first single off the album, Let Love In. The song peaked at number 36 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, and also rose up to number 3 on the Billboard Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks chart.[1]

Content[]

The song was originally performed for a Target store-branded Christmas album;[2] the song, in a rare occurrence for a general pop song, makes several references to Christmas, including a direct reference to "the one poor Child who saved this world". A re-recording of the song appears on the 2020 album It's Christmas All Over.

In popular culture[]

During the time that Hurricane Katrina had been televised, ABC and CNN used it as their theme for the Katrina coverage. The song was featured on the pilot episode of CBS' 2006 TV series, Jericho. The song was performed live on September 25, 2006 prior to the New Orleans Saints return to the Superdome,[3] The song also featured as the theme of WWE Tribute to the Troops 2006, a special broadcast of WWE Raw which aired on Christmas night 2006. During a special "After the Storms" episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, the Goo Goo Dolls performed this song for the residents of Sabine Pass, TX, which was hit by Hurricane Rita in September 2005. It was also used in many tributes following the Virginia Tech massacre that occurred on April 16, 2007. At Orlando Magic home games, the song is played after every loss.

Canadian journalist and politician Michael Ignatieff used an altered version of the song for his campaign video at the Liberal Party of Canada's 2006 Leadership Convention. The version of the song featured in his video had some altered lyrics, and contained a verse in French.[4] When speaking at the convention, Ignatieff began his speech by saying "Tonight is the night the Liberal party begins again," mimicking a lyric from Better Days.[5]

Viewed by many as a great song for tough times, "Better Days" was chosen as the theme song for the Buffalo Sabres 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs run, and General Electric features the song in its spring, 2009, television ad campaign. In 2008, the police drama series Cold Case featured it as the first of six songs played throughout its fifth season finale "Ghost of My Child". It was used in the trailer for the 2009 film Love Happens and it is the theme song for the NBC show, Who Do You Think You Are?. The song can also be heard in the 2011 film New Year's Eve.

Goo Goo Dolls lead singer John Rzeznik performed an acoustic version of this, among other songs, from his front porch during the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was live-streamed on Facebook, and throughout the performance, Rzeznik encouraged his fans to do their part to prevent the spread of the virus by "staying home and watching Netflix", and ordering takeout to support local restaurants.

Music video[]

The music video for the song was filmed in Malibu, California.[6]

Track listings[]

Initial pressing[]

  1. "Better Days" – 3:35
  2. "We'll Be Here (When You're Gone) (Acoustic)" – 3:24

Alternate pressing[]

  1. "Better Days" – 3:35
  2. "Iris" – 4:51
  3. "Better Days (Acoustic)" – 3:31
  4. "Better Days" (Video)

Vinyl pressing[]

  1. "Better Days" – 3:35
  2. "We'll Be Here (When You're Gone) (Acoustic)" – 3:24

Charts[]

Certifications[]

Region Certification Sales/shipments
United States (RIAA)[16] Platinum 1,000,000double-dagger

xunspecified figures based on certification alone

References[]

  1. ↑ [1]
  2. ↑ Interview: Goo Goo Dolls ...Let Love In... – Takac Talks About Album, Touring, and Life The Tech
  3. ↑ "Goo Goo Dolls, U2, Green Day at Superdome bash". ESPN.com. 2006-09-22. Retrieved 2020-09-01. {{cite web}}:
  4. ↑ "Liberal hopefuls don't deliver big laughs". December 1, 2006. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061201/libs_humour_061201?s_name=I&no_ads=. Retrieved 2007-08-25. [dead link]
  5. ↑ "Liberal hopefuls don't deliver big laughs". December 1, 2006. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061201/libs_humour_061201?s_name=&no_ads=. Retrieved 2007-08-25. [dead link]
  6. ↑ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Goo Goo Dolls - Better Days [Commentary] (Video)". YouTube. {{cite web}}:
  7. ↑ "Goo Goo Dolls Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/artist/goo-goo-dolls/chart-history/cns/. Retrieved September 15, 2021. 
  8. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  9. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  10. ↑ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  11. ↑ "Goo Goo Dolls Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  12. ↑ "Goo Goo Dolls Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  13. ↑ "Goo Goo Dolls Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  14. ↑ "Billboard Pop 100 - October 15, 2005" (PDF). Billboard. Billboard. October 15, 2005. p. 72. Retrieved September 15, 2021. {{cite web}}:
  15. ↑ "Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2006". Billboard. Retrieved September 22, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  16. ↑ "American single certifications – Goo Goo Dolls – Better Days". Recording Industry Association of America. {{cite web}}: If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
Goo Goo Dolls
Members 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 • Miracle Pill
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"
Other songs "Laughing"
Tours Something for the Rest of Us Tour • 2013 Summer Tour • Canada 2014 • The Otis Midnight Sessions • 2014 Summer Tour
Related material Discography • Lance Diamond

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