"Broadway"
German maxi-single artwork
Single by Goo Goo Dolls
from the album Dizzy Up the Girl
ReleasedMarch 27, 2000 (2000-03-27)
Length3:58
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)John Rzeznik
Producer(s)
Goo Goo Dolls singles chronology
"Black Balloon"
(1999) 		"Broadway"
(2000) 		"Here Is Gone"
(2002)
Music video
"Broadway" on YouTube

"Broadway" is a song recorded by the Goo Goo Dolls. The song was released in March 2000 as the last single from their sixth studio album, Dizzy Up the Girl (1998). Although not as popular as the albums previous singles "Iris" and "Slide", the song entered the top 30 in the United States, peaking at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 and coming in at number 84 on the Billboard year-end Hot 100 singles of 2000. The single also peaked number seven on the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart and number six on the Icelandic Singles Chart.

Content

The song refers to the Broadway-Filmore neighborhood of Buffalo, New York, a lower income, working-class neighborhood in which songwriter John Rzeznik grew up. It also describes Rzeznik's difficult relationship with his alcoholic father, who died when Rzeznik was 15, and the "cycle of destruction" that he witnessed in the neighborhood. The lyrics "See the young man sittin' in the old man's bar / Waitin' for his turn to die" specifically refers to a common occurrence he saw in the bar he and his father frequented:[1]

"When I was young, my dad used to take me down to the local bar, prop me up on the barstool, order a drink for himself, and a soda and chips for me. He'd give me a quarter for the pinball machine and sit there and drink. I'd look around and see all these kids who just turned 18, and they were hanging out there, sitting in the same chairs as their fathers. When they were old enough to drink with their dads, they took his place at the bar, carrying on the tradition. I decided I didn't want to be like that."

— John Rzeznik[1]

Track listings

German maxi-CD single[2]

  1. "Broadway" (album version)
  2. "Naked" (live version)
  3. "Black Balloon" (live version)

Australian maxi-CD single[3][4]

  1. "Broadway" – 3:57
  2. "Black Balloon" – 4:11
  3. "Slide" – 3:32
  4. "Naked" (live) – 3:55
  5. "Black Balloon" (live) – 3:42

Charts

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United States March 27, 2000
Warner Bros. [19][20]
March 28, 2000

References

  1. ^ a b Dye, Robert (April 15, 2020). "John Rzeznik Details Writing 'Broadway' During a 'Behind the Mic' Session". American Songwriter. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  2. ^ Broadway (German maxi-CD single liner notes). Goo Goo Dolls. Hollywood Records, Third Rail Records. 2000. 0111535HWR.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. ^ Broadway (Australian maxi-CD single liner notes). Goo Goo Dolls. Hollywood Records, Festival Records, Third Rail Records. 2000. D2089.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ "Australian-charts.com – Goo Goo Dolls – Broadway". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  5. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  6. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7220." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  7. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7215." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  8. ^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 7219." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  9. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 20 (8.6–15.6 2000)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). June 9, 2000. p. 12. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  10. ^ "Goo Goo Dolls Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  11. ^ "Goo Goo Dolls Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  12. ^ "Goo Goo Dolls Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  13. ^ "Goo Goo Dolls Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  14. ^ "Goo Goo Dolls Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  15. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 100". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 5, 2001. p. 10. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  16. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 2000". Archived from the original on March 4, 2009. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  17. ^ "Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 2000" (PDF). Airplay Monitor. Vol. 8, no. 51. December 22, 2000. p. 48. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  18. ^ "Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2000" (PDF). Airplay Monitor. Vol. 8, no. 51. December 22, 2000. p. 54. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  19. ^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1343. March 24, 2000. pp. 82, 104.
  20. ^ "Impact Dates". Gavin Report. No. 2297. March 24, 2000. pp. 8, 20.
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