Hootie & the Blowfish formed in 1986. The quartet met when they were freshmen at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. Bryan heard Rucker singing in the showers of the dorm they shared and was impressed by his vocal ability. They began playing cover tunes as The Wolf Brothers; eventually they collaborated with Felber, a former high school bandmate of Bryan's, and Jim "Soni" Sonefeld as Hootie & the Blowfish.
Brantley Smith was the original drummer for the band. He left the group to pursue music ministry, but he has made scattered guest appearances with the band (he played cello on their MTV Unplugged performance in 1996, and played drums at Gruene Hall in Gruene, Texas, on June 27, 2008).
The group independently released two cassette demo EPs in 1991 and 1992. In 1993, they pressed 50,000 copies of a self-released EP, Kootchypop. Their mainstream debut album was Cracked Rear View (1994). It was an instant success, ultimately going platinum 16 times in the U.S. and becoming the best-selling album of 1995. The album was propelled by four hits, "Hold My Hand" (U.S. #10), "Let Her Cry" (U.S. #9), "Only Wanna Be with You" (U.S. #6), and "Time" (U.S. #14). Miami Dolphins' Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino appeared in the band's video for the song "Only Wanna Be with You", along with several other athletes.
The band won the "Best New Artist" award at the 1996 Grammy Awards. Hootie & the Blowfish appeared on MTV Unplugged on the eve of the release of their second album, 1996's Fairweather Johnson. Though sales began promisingly, and it contained the hit single "Old Man and Me" (U.S. #13), the album sold four million copies in the U.S.
In 1995, Hootie & the Blowfish contributed the song "Hey Hey What Can I Do" to the Encomium tribute album to Led Zeppelin. Their cover of Canadian group 54-40's "I Go Blind", originally released on the soundtrack to the TV series Friends in 1995, did not appear on Cracked Rear View or Fairweather Johnson, but nevertheless became a hit at radio in 1996 after three singles from Fairweather Johnson had been released. Both "Hey Hey What Can I Do" and "I Go Blind" were later released on the collection Scattered, Smothered and Covered.
Hootie and the Blowfish started their own record label, Breaking Records, in 1996 as a subsidiary of Atlantic. They had planned to focus on signing local Carolina acts. Edwin McCain and Cravin' Melon were both associated with the label at one point, but did not release any material on it. Meat Puppets, Jump, Little Children, Treadmill Trackstar and Treehouse released one album each on Breaking Records. The label folded in 2000.
In 1998, they performed on Frank Wildhorn's concept album of the musical The Civil War.
In 200, the band released a B-sides and rarities compilation in 2000 entitled Scattered, Smothered and Covered.
The band covered the 1968 Orpheus hit "Can't Find the Time" in 2001 for the soundtrack of the Jim Carrey movie, Me, Myself and Irene. Orpheus leader Bruce Arnold performed the song with the band during several concerts on the West Coast of the United States in 2001.
In 2009, Hootie and the Blowfish performed live in a ballet which chronicled their rise and success in the 1990s.
In 2008, Rucker announced in an AOL Sessions interview that Hootie and the Blowfish would be going on hiatus so Rucker could pursue his solo career as a country music performer. Although the band will no longer be recording or touring, Rucker confirmed that they will still perform their scheduled charity concerts, stating, "We have four charity gigs every year and we will still do them, but we will not do a record or tour." Rucker also said that the split will last "for five or six years, or until I record three or four country albums". He later amended his statement, saying, "To be honest with you, we're not even split up right now, and we're not really thinking about splitting up."
Miss California
Hootie & The Blowfish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I didn't know if she was hot or cold
I told her on the day that I met her
I was never gonna let her go
There's a spark in her eyes when she's smilin'
Lights a fire in my soul
When she touches me, the flames get higher
And it's burnin' outta control
The years go by, my heart knows I miss California
Highway 1, halfway to Hollywood, miss California
Sunset dippin' in the water never looked this good
I just wanna watch her all day
When she comes in and out like a wave
She puts her moonlight lips on my face and she goes
There she goes, miss California
Putting X's on the page, counting down the days
Until the summer was gone
Sex on the beach, and her older brother's weed
Polaroids and Coppertone
The years go by, my heart knows I miss California
Highway 1, halfway to Hollywood, miss California
Sunset dippin' in the water never looked this good
I just wanna watch her all day
When she comes in and out like a wave
She puts her moonlight lips on my face and she goes
There she goes, miss California
Oh, Miss California
Yeah, oh
Oh, Miss California
Highway 1, halfway to Hollywood, miss California
The sunset dippin' in that water never looked this good, oh
I just wanna watch her all day
When she comes in and out like a wave
She puts her moonlight lips on my face and she goes
There she goes, miss California
Oh, she's Miss California, yeah
Oh-oh, Miss California
The lyrics of "Miss California" by Hootie & The Blowfish tell the story of a narrator's deep affection and longing for someone referred to as Miss California. The song begins with vivid descriptions of the physical appearance of Miss California, with the singer mentioning her outfit of blue jean shorts and a sweater, unsure if she is hot or cold. Despite this uncertainty, the singer expresses his immediate and unwavering commitment to her from the moment they met. There is a clear sense of attraction and passion conveyed through the imagery of sparks in her eyes and the intense fire it ignites within the singer's soul. The physical touch of Miss California only intensifies the burning desire and connection between them, indicating a strong emotional and physical bond that is beyond his control.
As the song progresses, the lyrics reminisce about shared moments and experiences with Miss California, such as driving along Highway 1 towards Hollywood and enjoying the beauty of the sunset reflecting on the water. The nostalgia for these memories is palpable as the singer expresses a longing for those carefree days of summer when they were together. References to intimate moments like "sex on the beach" and indulging in simple pleasures like Polaroids and Coppertone sunscreen further emphasize the sentimentality and nostalgia attached to their time together.
Despite the passage of time, the singer's heart still longs for Miss California, indicating that she holds a significant place in his memory and emotions. The repetition of the phrase "I miss California" reinforces the depth of his feelings and the longing for a connection that seems to be lost or distant. The imagery of Miss California moving in and out like a wave symbolizes the ebb and flow of their relationship, with moments of closeness followed by separation, yet the enduring impact she has on him remains constant.
The chorus, featuring the line "There she goes, miss California," captures a sense of wistfulness and admiration for this enigmatic figure who embodies the spirit and allure of California. The repeated mention of her moonlit lips and the desire to watch her all day conveys a sense of wonder and admiration for Miss California's beauty and presence. The song closes with a final acknowledgment of Miss California's captivating essence and the enduring impression she has left on the singer, leaving a bittersweet sense of longing and nostalgia for a connection that may have faded but remains cherished in memory.
Line by Line Meaning
Blue jean shorts, and a sweater
She was dressed casually, unsure of the weather
I didn't know if she was hot or cold
I couldn't gauge her emotions or feelings
I told her on the day that I met her
I expressed my commitment to her from the start
I was never gonna let her go
I had no intentions of leaving her
There's a spark in her eyes when she's smilin'
Her smile is filled with joy and passion
Lights a fire in my soul
It ignites a deep emotional connection
When she touches me, the flames get higher
Her touch intensifies my feelings
And it's burnin' outta control
My emotions are overwhelming
Putting X's on the page, counting down the days
Marking time until a significant event
Until the summer was gone
Anticipating the end of a season
Sex on the beach, and her older brother's weed
Recreational activities during the summer
Polaroids and Coppertone
Memories captured in photographs
Oh, Miss California
Acknowledging the captivating presence of someone special
Highway 1, halfway to Hollywood, miss California
Referencing the journey and allure of California
Sunset dippin' in that water never looked this good, oh
Appreciating the beauty of nature in California
She puts her moonlight lips on my face and she goes
Her tender kisses leave a lasting impression
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: ANDREW DEROBERTS, DARIUS RUCKER, DAVID RYAN HARRIS, DEAN FELBER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Drew C.
If anyone wants the lyrics, i have posted them below ⬇️.
Blue jean shorts and a sweater
I didn't know if she was hot or cold
I told her on the day that I met her
I was never gonna let her go
There's a spark in her eyes when she's smiling
Lights a fire in my soul
When she touches me the flames get higher
And it's burning out of control
The years go by
My heart knows I
Miss California
Highway one
Halfway to Hollywood
Miss California
Sunset dipping in the water never looked this good
I just wanna watch her all day
But she comes in and out like a wave
She puts her moonlight lips on my face
And she goes
There she goes
Miss California
Putting Xs on a page counting down the days
Until the summer was gone
Sex on the beach and her older brother's weed
Polaroids and Coppertone
The years go by
My heart knows I
Miss California
Highway one
Halfway to Hollywood
Miss California
Sunset dipiing in the water never looked this good
I just wanna watch her all day
But she comes in and out like a wave
She puts her moonlight lips on my face
And she goes
There she goes
Miss California
Oh...
Miss California
Oh...
Miss California
Highway one
Halfway to Hollywood
Miss California
The sunset dipiing in the water never looked this good, oh, no
I just wanna watch her all day
She comes in and out like a wave
She puts her moonlight lips on my face
And she goes
There she goes
Miss California...
Oh
She's Miss California
Yeah...
Oh...
Miss California
Peach Bellini ♥️
Oh.. can this be real?! I have EVERY Hootie album.. and Darius's R&B and first 2 country albums.. I secretly wanted more Hootie.. dreams do come true!!
Peach Bellini ♥️
@PumpkinTuna .. NICE!! I saw them in concert August, 1995 with Edwin McCain opening and it was awesome.. I'm so glad DR has such great success in Country.. but the world needs Hootie too
PumpkinTuna
Right there with you! I was working at a record store in Chapel Hill in 1994 when Mark Bryan came in with bumper stickers talking about how Hootie had a new album coming out and it was going to be huge. He didn't even have a store-play copy yet. The only thing they were known for at that time was playing frat parties. We put the bumper sticker on the store vacuum cleaner. A few weeks later they were on Letterman and I said, "That guy was just in my store!" I've been a fan ever since.
I would like to see them bust out something from Darius's R&B album. It is underrated.
Robert James
Lol November 1st a new album
Natali Marusic
There is something about Darius’ voice ❤️❤️❤️
Sinndy Morr
One of my favorite voices. A blessing to have vocal abilities like this 💜.
Christie Keaton
Gosh this man can tell a story in a song like no one I've ever heard. My favorite singer ever.
Darren Evans
Just classic Hootie! What a contribution to my life...so thankful!!!
Lynda Cummings
My daughter and I have seen you (Hootie) at least 10 times....most recently in Yuba County , Ca. You never fail to hit the mark. I always said that one day I would be too old and my daughter wouldn’t want to go to a concert with me. You are the glue that keeps us going together. I’m 64 and she’s still hanging with the old mom! One day we hope to make it to Monday After the Masters. Thanks to Darius, Mark and the guys we are still singing along to your songs...together. Love you all and God Bless.
2degucitas
That's great! Hope you both always groove to Hootie.