Charleston, SC. 1966
15/08/11 16:11 Filed in: Darius Rucker
Darius Rucker is best known as a member of the band Hootie and The Blowfish,
However, recently he has made two country albums with great success. His previous album achieved 3 top spots in the Billboard Country Singles Charts. His voice is tailor-made for country music. He is the first African-American to top the country charts since Charlie Pride in 1983, also he has won “New Artist” award with the CMA. Darius has co-written all of the 13 songs on this album. The title “Charleston, SC. 1966” is his birthplace and year of birth
I have selected a few tracks from this album to review, but all are worthy of a mention.
“This” has already reached number one in the US Country Charts. It is a song about a man who considers he is very lucky to be blessed with a wife and a baby girl lying in his arms. He has had his fair share of disappointments and bad experiences in his life, but now is perfectly content with just being a family man. A touching song, sung with conviction.
“Come Back Song” has also reached the top spot in the Country Charts. It is a bad day, he has burned his coffee, it is raining, and worst of all, he has lost the woman he loves. He did not think he would miss her, but he was so wrong. He prays she has her radio on and she will hear his ‘come back song’ plea.
“Might Get Lucky” He has fixed the porch door, he has taken the kids out for the day, done the dishes, told her he does not know how she copes, finally he dances her around the kitchen to a George Strait song, but the ulterior motive for his thoughtfulness is..he might get lucky ! (She may just cook him his favourite supper, but I am sure this is not what he had in mind.)
“Whisky and You” A very smooth treatment given to this song, it really suits his rich voice. A simple ballad about the two things in life that he needs the most, …his woman and his whiskey.
“Southern State of Mind”. He is in a café in New York City when he orders sweet tea the waitress says ‘We don’t sell that here’. He has momentarily forgotten he is no longer in a Southern state. When he is in California he holds the door open for a lady and she gives him the “evil eye”; again he is in a Southern state of mind. He soon realizes his Southern upbringing to be courteous is baffling in some parts of the country. No matter where he travels, he is homesick for the South.
“I Don’t Care”. On this track he is joined by Brad Paisley, (written by Darius, Brad and Chris Dubois ) It is a fun song. It’s ten o’clock in the morning, is it too early to drink beer?. I don’t know and I don’t care. The song continues “Hey man, do you think those are real or do think they are fake / It’s impolite to stare / Do you want the blonde or the brunette / Or the one with the long red hair / Is that her boyfriend over there / I don’t know and I don’t care /” The song continues in similar vein. A great party sing along ditty. Darius and Brad make a good team.
In complete contrast “We All Fall Down” is a dramatic song about the ups and downs of life. “What makes a man work till his kids get too old to kiss and hug / Keep on climbing that mountain / When is enough, enough / What makes a man build a kingdom / Only to lose his woman / We all fall down”. Interpret the lyrics in your own way.
I hope I have given an insight into the varied content of this album, which is outstanding both vocally and musically.
Darius Rucker is appearing with Brad Paisley on the 17th. August 2011 at the O2 Arena London, and on the 19th. at Olympia Theatre, Dublin.
However, recently he has made two country albums with great success. His previous album achieved 3 top spots in the Billboard Country Singles Charts. His voice is tailor-made for country music. He is the first African-American to top the country charts since Charlie Pride in 1983, also he has won “New Artist” award with the CMA. Darius has co-written all of the 13 songs on this album. The title “Charleston, SC. 1966” is his birthplace and year of birth
I have selected a few tracks from this album to review, but all are worthy of a mention.
“This” has already reached number one in the US Country Charts. It is a song about a man who considers he is very lucky to be blessed with a wife and a baby girl lying in his arms. He has had his fair share of disappointments and bad experiences in his life, but now is perfectly content with just being a family man. A touching song, sung with conviction.
“Come Back Song” has also reached the top spot in the Country Charts. It is a bad day, he has burned his coffee, it is raining, and worst of all, he has lost the woman he loves. He did not think he would miss her, but he was so wrong. He prays she has her radio on and she will hear his ‘come back song’ plea.
“Might Get Lucky” He has fixed the porch door, he has taken the kids out for the day, done the dishes, told her he does not know how she copes, finally he dances her around the kitchen to a George Strait song, but the ulterior motive for his thoughtfulness is..he might get lucky ! (She may just cook him his favourite supper, but I am sure this is not what he had in mind.)
“Whisky and You” A very smooth treatment given to this song, it really suits his rich voice. A simple ballad about the two things in life that he needs the most, …his woman and his whiskey.
“Southern State of Mind”. He is in a café in New York City when he orders sweet tea the waitress says ‘We don’t sell that here’. He has momentarily forgotten he is no longer in a Southern state. When he is in California he holds the door open for a lady and she gives him the “evil eye”; again he is in a Southern state of mind. He soon realizes his Southern upbringing to be courteous is baffling in some parts of the country. No matter where he travels, he is homesick for the South.
“I Don’t Care”. On this track he is joined by Brad Paisley, (written by Darius, Brad and Chris Dubois ) It is a fun song. It’s ten o’clock in the morning, is it too early to drink beer?. I don’t know and I don’t care. The song continues “Hey man, do you think those are real or do think they are fake / It’s impolite to stare / Do you want the blonde or the brunette / Or the one with the long red hair / Is that her boyfriend over there / I don’t know and I don’t care /” The song continues in similar vein. A great party sing along ditty. Darius and Brad make a good team.
In complete contrast “We All Fall Down” is a dramatic song about the ups and downs of life. “What makes a man work till his kids get too old to kiss and hug / Keep on climbing that mountain / When is enough, enough / What makes a man build a kingdom / Only to lose his woman / We all fall down”. Interpret the lyrics in your own way.
I hope I have given an insight into the varied content of this album, which is outstanding both vocally and musically.
Darius Rucker is appearing with Brad Paisley on the 17th. August 2011 at the O2 Arena London, and on the 19th. at Olympia Theatre, Dublin.