Growing up, I listened to a LOT of country music. If I was in the car, you could be certain I'd hear the voices of Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, and Brad Paisley flowing out of the speakers. One voice that I seemed to hear very often was Darius Rucker. Whether it was Wagon Wheel, Don't Think I Don't Think About It, or Homegrown Honey, I was jamming along to pretty much everything he had on the radio. What I didn't know at the time, was that he was originally part of a band titled Hootie and the Blowfish.
The band started in South Carolina in 1986, under a name based off of a couple of the group members' nicknames. In their time working together, they released 6 studio albums. Around 2008, they split up to do solo work, which seems to be very successful for Darius. Since beginning his solo career, Rucker turned to an R&B style for a few years, before switching to country music.
In this post, I want to compare two of his songs:
and
(While also discussing some of the songs written in between).
The first song is alternative rock. It has a lot of acoustic guitar, and an upbeat, yet relaxing feel to it. This song was written in 1994, when Darius was working only with H.a.t.B. The message of this song is really sweet and lighthearted, so it doesn't feel too serious. Only Wanna Be With You is one of the group's most popular songs, which I can agree with since it's so catchy and fun.
Personally, I like Rucker's solo work more. The songs I listed above were some of my favorites growing up. His country songs are as much, if not, more catchy and upbeat. Come Back Song, If I Told You, and This are some other 'recent' songs he's released, which I also enjoy. I feel like these songs have a similar vibe to Only Wanna Be With You, but there's definitely a difference between them. These ones feel a little more serious and heartfelt, but that's just my take on it.
Beers and Sunshine (2022) is right up there with the others. To me, it says "lazy/fun summer day" and I always find myself smiling as I sing along with the radio. Although most of Rucker's solo work seems to be about love and relationships, this one just seems to be about a nice afternoon relaxing with friends, although his lyrics do mention a "girl".
Hopefully, you took a look at a few of these songs, and I hope you like them as much as I do. If you disagree with any of my takes, feel free to let me know! Like I said before, I grew up on country music, so I am more than willing to talk about one of my favorite genres :)
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