Darius Rucker - from Hootie to bonafide country star?! (1 Viewer)

[Wingnut]

Did anyone else know that the former lead singer of Hootie and the Blowfish has had five straight number one country singles since 2008??

I had no idea until I heard a Hootie and the Blowfish song on the radio and the DJ mentioned that this is what the Country star was doing years before he was climbing the country charts. WHAT?! The last thing I remember seeing him in since the Blowfish days was

where he was a singing cowboy all decked out in ridiculous garb, and I remember thinking "Poor Hootie. So this is what he has resorted to". Apparently that must have gave him the idea to give Country music a go. He did that commercial in 2005, and in 2008 signed a country record deal with Capitol Records.Five straight #1 Country singles later, in 2008 he was the first African American to chart a number one on the Hot Country Songs charts since Charley Pride in 1983, and In 2009, he became the first African American to win the New Artist Award from the Country Music Association, (only the second African American to win any award from the association).

Sidenote: 13 years prior, Hootie and the Blowfish also won best new artist at the 1996 Grammy awards.

Gotta give it to the guy. He had huge hits with the Blowfish in the early-mid 90s, and over a decade later found success in country music.

Good for you, Hootie. Good for you.

 

[The Commish]

I figured something was up when he sang the National Anthem at the Coke 600 and made it out alive.

 

[Apple Jack]

Hootie's first reunion album, Whiter Than Wilco.

 

[playin4beer]

You guys have seriously never heard

I don't listen to country music and I knew Hootie was a cowboy now...

 

[Wingnut]

You guys have seriously never heard

I dont hear ANY country songs. None. Unless they are in commercials, and even then I dont listen to them. I thought he had disappeared into obscurity.

 

[JZilla]

Happy for my Charleston homey, but I'm pretty sure any two-bit hack can make it in country

 

[NCCommish]

Happy for my Charleston homey, but I'm pretty sure any two-bit hack can make it in country

Only thing easier is Christian Pop. Take a country love song and change the name of the targeted love to Jesus. Profit.

 

[ajm27501]

I actually saw him in concert last night, touring with Lady Antebellum. The wife LOVES both of them. He threw a couple old Hootie songs into the set list. But actually my favorite part was closing with Purple Rain.

 

[NJDawgPound]

Hootie and the Blowfish did nothing for me, but I listened to Darius Rucker's Learn to Live and the damned thing moved me. It evoked emotions.

 

[Jobber]

While staining a deck this weekend, I heard him on the radio and thought "man, that sounds like Hootie".



disclaimer: I'm not the one who tuned it to a country station

 

[playin4beer]

You guys have seriously never heard

It's popular at wedding receptions too....Edit to add:

They played it at the "Daddy/Daughter" dance that our local school does...

I was dancing with my 6yr old and 9yr old and trying not to like a baby... Read the lyrics or listen to the song...

 

[peaces]

Hootie and the Blowfish did nothing for me, but I listened to Darius Rucker's Learn to Live and the damned thing moved me. It evoked emotions.

Like when the Dolphins make you cry.

 

[Sand]

I figured something was up when he sang the National Anthem at the Coke 600 and made it out alive.

He did the National Anthem at a baseball game (NLCS, if memory serves) a good decade back and it may have been the best version I have ever heard.

 

[Wrighteous Ray]

Any updates on the Blowfish?

 

[NCCommish]

Any updates on the Blowfish?

The blond guy does a lot promoting new local bands as I recall.

 

[Dr. No]

Any updates on the Blowfish?

when the country thing goes bust he'll call them up for a hootie reunion tour... :mansion:

 

[Buck Bradcanon]

You guys have seriously never heard

And he's a very good country artist.

 

[17seconds]

I thought the only work this guy got was showing up when Mike and Mike is on location and PGA charity events

 

[Wingnut]

Any updates on the Blowfish?

From Ruckers wiki page: In regards to the future of Hootie & the Blowfish, Rucker was quoted by CBSnews as stating in late 2011 that "I don't think we'll ever break up totally. We're Hootie & the Blowfish ... We'll make another record and do another tour someday. I don't know when, but it will happen. There's one more in us."

 

[Phil Elliott]

I have enjoyed Hootie's music especially his country songs.

Lionel Richie seems to be making a move over to country also.

 

[playin4beer]

On a side note... Saw Hootie at Val-Du-Lakes in 1996...

Great concert from what I remember of it..

 

[belljr]

I have enjoyed Hootie's music especially his country songs.

Lionel Richie seems to be making a move over to country also.

No schtick, I had to google. I thought he died a few years ago

 

[Kenny Powers]

Any updates on the Blowfish?

when the country thing goes bust he'll call them up for a hootie reunion tour... :mansion:

 

[Kenny Powers]

The last thing I remember seeing him in since the Blowfish days was

One of the best commercials ever BTW

 

[RBM]

Great singer. First time I ever purchased a country album.

 

[sbonomo]

I really like his country music far better than the H&B songs....

 

[Jutz]

You guys have seriously never heard

Anyone that thinks 'any two bit hack' can make it in country is completely wrong. Like the previous post says... read the lyrics or listen to the song. The writing in country music these days has stepped it up to a completely new level. People that make fun of country say things like 'oh, all the songs are about... my wife left me, my dog died' and it's such a misinformed statement. I don't know if those songs existed back in the day, but they are not even close to representing what is on country radio today.Anyone that wants to dismiss the country genre... go ahead. I'm sure you will appear much cooler to friends, family, and anonomyous innernet message board posters because the number one rule of liking hip music is to say things like 'I listen to just about anything... except like... country'. But if you want to hear music that actually does inspire emotions, both good and bad, and actually move you, and give you lyrics that you can actually relate to... check out country. I guarantee you'll be surprised at what you find. Hell, ask Lionel Richie, he knows what I'm saying.

 

[NCCommish]

You guys have seriously never heard

Country today is pop with a steel guitar. Let's not get carried away. Doesn't mean it's all awful or anything but it isn't this bastion of complex lyrics and rhythms.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Happy for my Charleston homey, but I'm pretty sure any two-bit hack can make it in country

Only thing easier is Christian Pop. Take a country love song and change the name of the targeted love to Jesus. Profit.

Kenny Rogers made the switch from pop to country first, but nobody noticed because he wasn't as black.

 

[Wingnut]

Happy for my Charleston homey, but I'm pretty sure any two-bit hack can make it in country

Only thing easier is Christian Pop. Take a country love song and change the name of the targeted love to Jesus. Profit.

Kenny Rogers made the switch from pop to country first, but nobody noticed because he wasn't as black.

Coulda fooled me. Have you tasted his chicken?

 

[flapgreen]

Yep. He's huge here in Nashville. Great guy too.

 

[flapgreen]

Great singer. First time I ever purchased a country album.

I'm not a country fan either, but he's really good.

 

[flapgreen]

I figured something was up when he sang the National Anthem at the Coke 600 and made it out alive.

 

[oso diablo]

i doubt it was a BK commercial that prompted him to try country music.

 

[flapgreen]

Hootie and the Blowfish did nothing for me, but I listened to Darius Rucker's Learn to Live and the damned thing moved me. It evoked emotions.

Agreed. Rucker is immensely talented.

 

[ChainsawU]

Excuse me... are you Hootie?

 

[flapgreen]

Any updates on the Blowfish?

when the country thing goes bust he'll call them up for a hootie reunion tour... :mansion:

If you're smart and can pull it off well, country music is definitely the way to go. Ask Kelly Clarkson and others. Most genres of music wane in popularity at some point. Country never does. There will always be tons of country music fans.

 

[flapgreen]

Excuse me... are you Hootie?

Hold my hand?

 

[Abraham]

It's the exact same music he has always written, they just added some occassional violin and pedal steel.

 

[oso diablo]

It's the exact same music he has always written, they just added some occassional violin and pedal steel.

pretty much. slower-paced too. here are his #1 singles...This

Alright

Come Back Song

It Won't Be Like This For Long

Don't Think I Don't Think About It

 

[Da Guru]

Love Hootie.

 

[Wingnut]

It's the exact same music he has always written, they just added some occassional violin and pedal steel.

I was thinking this when I listened to some of his songs last night. They really do have the same feel as his Hootie songs, but with a country twist, and he's pretty smart for recognizing that and finding new success.

 

[Gordo]

You guys have seriously never heard

Red Solo cup, I fill you up / Let’s have a party, let’s have a party / (I love you) Red Solo cup, I lift you up / Proceed to party, proceed to party.The shop I work in has country on all day long. There is a good song here and there, but there is plenty of these kind of lyrics still as well.

 

[In The Zone]

Happy for my Charleston homey, but I'm pretty sure any two-bit hack can make it in country

I may be wrong on this but I always thought he was from Irmo.

 

[In The Zone]

I figured something was up when he sang the National Anthem at the Coke 600 and made it out alive.

He did the National Anthem at a baseball game (NLCS, if memory serves) a good decade back and it may have been the best version I have ever heard.

This, but it was at the Arizona/Carolina Panthers playoff game 4 or 5 years ago.

 

[eoMMan]

Not bad, but his hardcore gangsta rap phase was his best work, imo.

 

[Mr. Mojo]

That terrible Scotty from American Idol is big in country.

Now Hootie is big.

No wonder I don't listen to that stuff.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Charlie Pride must be proud.

 

[JuniorNB]

That terrible Scotty from American Idol is big in country.Now Hootie is big.No wonder I don't listen to that stuff.

I don't get it. Are you disputing that Rucker is a great vocalist?

 

[flapgreen]

Put on a hell of a show last night.