Iris was released by Goo Goo Dolls in 1998 for the film City of Angels and became one of the band's biggest hits. Its instantly recognisable melody has kept it in circulation for decades, and stripped-back covers, including flute versions, are often reused in short-form video edits and memes to add a wistful or ironic emotional punch. Because the tune works without lyrics, it travels easily across edits, reaction clips and nostalgic compilations, which is why it still appears long after the original release.