Only Wanna Be with You
| Name | Only Wanna Be with You |
| Cover |  |
| Type | single |
| Artist | Hootie & the Blowfish |
| Album | Cracked Rear View Kootchypop |
| Released | 1995-7 |
| Genre | * Alternative rock * soft rock * roots rock |
| Length | 3:50 |
| Label | Atlantic |
| Writer | * Mark Bryan * Dean Felber * Darius Rucker * Jim Sonefeld |
| Producer | Don Gehman |
| Prev Title | Let Her Cry |
| Prev Year | 1994 |
| Next Title | Time |
| Next Year | 1995 |
"Only Wanna Be with You" is a song by American alternative rock band Hootie & the Blowfish. After being included on the group's EP Kootchypop (1993), it was released in July 1995 as the third single from their breakthrough album, Cracked Rear View (1994). It peaked at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100, number one on the Billboard Top 40/Mainstream chart, number three on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, and number two on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart.
Internationally, "Only Wanna Be with You" topped the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart for three weeks, becoming Canada's second-most-successful song of 1995. It also found success in Iceland, rising to number four on the Icelandic Singles Chart, and reached the top 40 in Australia and New Zealand. In 2021, American rapper Post Malone released a cover of the song for the 25th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise.
Content
One verse of the song describes "putting on a little Dylan". The verse then references songs on Bob Dylan's Blood on the Tracks, quoting extensively from "Idiot Wind". The song then mentions "Tangled Up in Blue". According to Rucker, Dylan's management were aware of the lyrics and had no problem with them; however, when the song became a hit, they objected. He told Rolling Stone that "it never got to the point where we were sued... When we first did that song we sent it to the publishing company and everything was fine. We played it for years and had a really big hit with it. Then they wanted some money, and they got it." VH1 reported that Dylan received an out-of-court settlement in 1995 for $350,000.
Also mentioned in the bridge of the song is a reference, "I'm such a baby 'cause the Dolphins make me cry", alluding to Darius Rucker's favorite sports team, the Miami Dolphins.
Critical reception
Steve Baltin from Cash Box named "Only Wanna Be with You" Pick of the Week, writing that "this catchy upbeat gem shows why Hootie & The Blowfish can do no wrong when it comes to the charts." He added, "Hootie’s sound is never more mainstream than it is here, as the rocking and danceable beat is accompanied by a perky chorus of “I only wanna be with you.” Like their previous hit singles, this track will rocket up the charts, gaining huge support from AAA and CHR."
Music video
The accompanying music video for "Only Wanna Be with You", similar to the song, had a sports theme, incorporating many elements from ESPN's SportsCenter. The video featured appearances by then-current SportsCenter anchors Keith Olbermann, Dan Patrick, Mike Tirico, Charley Steiner and Chris Berman, reporting on the band playing in games with several professional athletes, including Dan Marino, Fred Couples, Gary McCord, Alonzo Mourning, Muggsy Bogues, Alex English, Walt Williams, and Charles Smith. Rucker said the video was his idea, adding, "It was just a way to meet all our idols."
A portion of the music video was filmed on the Poolesville Golf Course and Potomac Valley Lodge in Poolesville, Maryland, as well as on the floor of Reckord Armory at the University of Maryland. Additionally, the scenes in which Rucker and Dan Marino are playing catch were filmed on the football field of Hinsdale Central High School in Hinsdale, Illinois.
Track listings
Charts
Weekly charts
| Australia | 40 | rowheader=true}} |
| Canadatopsingles | 1 | access-date=March 29, 2019}} |
| Canadaadultcontemporary | 1 | access-date=March 29, 2019}} |
| El Salvador (El Siglo de Torreón) | 6 | |
| European Hit Radio Top 40 (Music & Media) | 26 | |
| Germany | 65 | access-date=March 29, 2019}} |
| Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40) | 4 | |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade) | 9 | |
| Dutch100 | 44 | rowheader=true}} |
| New Zealand | 17 | rowheader=true}} |
| Scotland | 83 | rowheader=true}} |
| UK | 85 | access-date=March 29, 2019}} |
| Billboardhot100 | 6 | access-date=November 17, 2010}} |
| Billboardadultcontemporary | 3 | access-date=November 17, 2010}} |
| Billboardadultpopsongs | 2 | access-date=March 29, 2019}} |
| Billboardalternativesongs | 22 | access-date=March 29, 2019}} |
| Billboardmainstreamrock | 2 | access-date=March 29, 2019}} |
| Billboardpopsongs | 1 | access-date=November 17, 2010}} |
| US Cash Box Top 100 | 5 |
Year-end charts
| Brazil (Crowley) | 63 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM) | 2 |
| Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM) | 23 |
| Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40) | 15 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 33 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) | 20 |
| US Album Rock Tracks (Billboard) | 15 |
| US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard) | 15 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 | 18 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 99 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) | 10 |
| US Adult Top 40 (Billboard) | 29 |
| US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard) | 80 |
Release history
| United States | May 1995 | Adult contemporary ⋅ album rock ⋅ modern rock radio | Atlantic | |
| July 1995 | Cassette | |||
| July 25, 1995 | Contemporary hit radio | |||
| United Kingdom | August 21, 1995 | CD ⋅ cassette | ||
| Australia | October 2, 1995 | CD |
Post Malone version
| Name | Only Wanna Be with You (Pokémon 25 Version) |
| Type | single |
| Cover |  |
| Alt | Cover art featuring the Pokémon Pikachu's yellow lightning-bolt-shaped tail against a plain background. |
| Artist | Post Malone |
| Album | Pokémon 25: The Album |
| Released | 2021-02-25 |
| Label | * Republic * Capitol |
| Writer | * Mark Bryan * Dean Felber * Darius Rucker * Jim Sonefeld |
| Producer | * Louis Bell * Andrew Watt |
| Prev Title | Spicy |
| Prev Year | 2020 |
| Next Title | Life's a Mess II |
| Next Year | 2021 |
| Misc |
On February 25, 2021, American musician Post Malone released a cover version for the 25th anniversary of the Japanese media franchise Pokémon. Malone's version contains samples of music from the video games and the Dolphins reference changed to reflect him being a Dallas Cowboys fan. The cover garnered attention for the unusual circumstances of its release. Hootie and the Blowfish vocalist Darius Rucker gave his approval of the cover on Twitter. "Only Wanna Be with You" is included on the track listing of Pokémon 25: The Album, released in October 2021 through Capitol Records.
Charts
| Canada | 58 | artist=Post Malone}} |
| Croatia (HRT) | 73 | |
| Czech Republic | 17 | access-date=June 14, 2021}} |
| Hungary | 28 | access-date=July 1, 2021}} |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 55 | |
| Latvia (EHR) | 40 | |
| Netherlands (Single Tip) | 1 | |
| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) | 7 | |
| Norway | 34 | access-date=March 22, 2021}} |
| San Marino (SMRRTV Top 50) | 43 | |
| Slovakia2 | 17 | access-date=September 6, 2021}} |
| Sweden | 33 | access-date=March 22, 2021}} |
| UK | 76 | access-date=March 6, 2021}} |
| Billboardhot100 | 74 | artist=Post Malone}} |
| Billboardalternativesongs | 37 | access-date=March 26, 2021}} |
References
- Listen to Post Malone's "Only Wanna Be With You" (Pokémon 25 Version), February 6, 2022, Texas Monthly, March 5, 2021, Hootie & the Blowfish's 1994 alt-rock hit 'Only Wanna Be With You'
- Jacklin, Ben, August 6, 2019, Hearing New Heights: Hootie and the Blowfish, October 1, 2020, February 6, 2022, Immersive Audio Album
- Trapp, Philip, Post Malone Covers Hootie & the Blowfish's 'Only Wanna Be With You', Taste of Country, July 18, 2021, March 2, 2021
- Wood, Mikael, Review: Hootie & the Blowfish were pretty good after all, February 6, 2022, Los Angeles Times, November 5, 2019
- Remember when Bob Dylan sued Darius Rucker?, Dukes, Billy, Taste of Country, July 6, 2013, April 6, 2018
- Darius Rucker on 'Wagon Wheel' and the Future of Hootie, Greene, Andy, July 19, 2013, Rolling Stone, April 7, 2018
- Steve, Baltin, Pop Singles, Cash Box, June 10, 1995, October 20, 2022
- Only Wanna Be With You by Hootie & the Blowfish - Songfacts, www.songfacts.com, June 20, 2020
- Maine, D'Arcy, The 5 worst athlete cameos in music videos, ESPN.com, June 20, 2020, February 8, 2013
- Kennedy, Dana, Hootie & the Blowfish hit it big, Entertainment Weekly, June 20, 2020, July 28, 1995
- Solomon, Steve, Tsironis, Alex, December 22, 2017, 11 Songs You May Have Heard With Ties To MoCo, July 1, 2020, The MoCo Show, en-US
- Torchinsky, Rina, June 11, 2020, Seventeen UMD facts every Terp should know, June 30, 2020, The Diamondback
- Discos populares en Latinoamérica, El Siglo de Torreón, December 9, 1995, August 10, 2021, es
- ERH Top 40, Music & Media, 13, 24, October 28, 1995, October 11, 2019
- Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (7.10. '95 – 13.10. '95), Dagblaðið Vísir, is, October 7, 1995, October 1, 2019
- Tipparade-lijst van week 47, 1995, nl, Dutch Top 40, March 16, 2023
- Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 1995, Crowley Broadcast Analysis, April 3, 2018, January 30, 2022
- RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1995, RPM, Library and Archives Canada, March 29, 2019
- RPM Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1995, RPM, Library and Archives Canada, March 29, 2019
- Árslistinn 1995, Dagblaðið Vísir, is, January 2, 1996, May 30, 2020
- Billboard Top 100 – 1995, Billboardtop100of.com, May 30, 2020
- The Year in Music: Hot Adult Contemporary Singles & Tracks, Billboard, 107, 51, December 23, 1995, August 27, 2021, June 28, 2021, live
- The Year in Music: Hot Album Rock Tracks, Billboard, 107, 51, December 23, 1995, December 27, 2023, June 28, 2021, live
- The Year in Music 1995: Top 40/Mainstream Top Titles, Airplay Monitor, 3, 51, December 15, 1995
- Cash Box Year-End Awards: Top 50 Pop Singles, Cash Box, 18, LIX, December 30, 1995, November 25, 2025
- Billboard Top 100 – 1996, Billboardtop100of.com, May 30, 2020
- The Year in Music: Hot Adult Contemporary Singles & Tracks, Billboard, 108, 52, December 28, 1996, December 27, 2023
- Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Adult Top 40 Singles & Tracks, Airplay Monitor, 4, 53, December 27, 1996
- Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Top 40/Mainstream Titles, Airplay Monitor, 4, 53, December 27, 1996
- Between the Bullets, Mayfield, Geoff, Billboard, 107, 21, May 27, 1995, ...the third single, 'Only Wanna Be With You,' is starting to make the rounds at AC, album rock, and modern rock.
- Hot 100 Singles Spotlight, McKenna, Jerry, Billboard, 107, 30, July 29, 1995, Look for high debuts next week from 'Only Wanna Be With You' , ..., Both tracks have just been released as cassette singles.
- Going for Adds, Radio & Records, 1104, July 21, 1995
- New Releases: Singles, Music Week, August 19, 1995
- New Releases – Product Available from : 02/10/95: Singles, The ARIA Report, 294, October 1, 1995
- Shaffer, Claire, Post Malone Covers Hootie and the Blowfish for Pokémon Day Celebration, Rolling Stone, February 25, 2021, February 25, 2021
- Brandle, Lars, Post Malone Covers Hootie and the Blowfish For Pokémon's 25th Anniversary, Billboard, February 25, 2021, February 25, 2021
- Carpenter, Nicole, Post Malone covered Hootie and the Blowfish for Pokémon's 25th anniversary, and it's actually good, Polygon, Vox Media, February 25, 2021, February 25, 2021
- Breihan, Tom, Post Malone Covers Hootie & The Blowfish To Celebrate Pokémon's 25th Anniversary, Stereogum, February 25, 2021, February 25, 2021
- Curtis, Charles, Post Malone's Hootie and the Blowfish cover for Pokemon anniversary includes Dallas Cowboys tweak to the lyrics, USA Today, February 25, 2021, February 25, 2021
- Romano, Nick, Post Malone releases , Pokémon, -style cover of Hootie & the Blowfish, Entertainment Weekly, February 25, 2021, February 25, 2021
- Webster, Andrew, Listen to Post Malone cover Hootie & the Blowfish for Pokémon's 25th anniversary, The Verge, Vox Media, February 25, 2021, February 25, 2021
- 1364944031424405507, The smile in my face will not leave for a long time. This is awesome. My bro @PostMalone bringing it. Hell yes man!!!!!!!!!, Darius, Rucker, Darius Rucker, dariusrucker, February 25, 2021, February 25, 2021
- 'Pokemon 25: The Album,' Featuring Katy Perry, J Balvin & Post Malone, Set for Fall 2021, February 27, 2021, Ashley, Iasimone, Billboard, February 28, 2021
- Croatia ARC TOP 100, HRT, March 22, 2021, March 22, 2021, March 29, 2021, dead
- IRMA – Irish Charts, Irish Recorded Music Association, March 6, 2021
- EHR TOP 40 - 2021.04.23, European Hit Radio, August 30, 2021
- Dutchcharts.nl – Post Malone – Only Wanna Be With You (Pokémon 25 Version), MegaCharts, nl, July 30, 2021
- NZ Hot Singles Chart, Recorded Music NZ, March 6, 2021, March 6, 2021
- April 30, 2021, Top 50 – Radio San Marino RTV – 30/04/2021, it, San Marino RTV, April 30, 2021, August 19, 2024
Category:1993 songs
Category:1995 singles
Category:2021 singles
Category:American soft rock songs
Category:Atlantic Records singles
Category:Capitol Records singles
Category:Cultural depictions of Bob Dylan
Category:Hootie & the Blowfish songs
Category:Miami Dolphins
Category:Music videos shot in the United States
Category:Post Malone songs
Category:Republic Records singles
Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles
Category:Song recordings produced by Don Gehman
Category:Songs involved in plagiarism controversies
Category:Songs written by Darius Rucker
Category:Songs written by Jim Sonefeld
Category:Songs written by Mark Bryan