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."
The Christmas Song
Hootie & The Blowfish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yule-tide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
They know that Santa's on his way
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
And every mother's child is gonna spy
To see if reindeer really know how to fly
And so I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it's been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you
They know that Santa's on his way
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
And every mother's child is gonna spy
To see if reindeer really know how to fly
And so I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it's been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you
Merry Christmas to you
The Christmas Song by Hootie & The Blowfish describes the joyous feelings of the holiday season. The familiar opening lines, "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose," create a warm and cozy ambiance while invoking the imagery of a classic winter scene. The second line, in particular, sets the stage for the comforting imagery that follows. The lyrics capture the spirit of Christmas by referencing Yuletide, carols being sung by a choir, and people dressed as Eskimos. These elements create a sense of community and togetherness, something that is a hallmark of the holiday season.
The chorus reflects the sense of joy and anticipation that children feel during the holidays. The mention of turkey, mistletoe, and toys conjures up the excitement that comes with Christmas day. The description of "tiny tots" with "eyes all aglow" captures the wonder and awe that children feel during this time of year. The lyrics also exemplify the child-like spirit of Christmas with the mention of Santa and reindeer. The simple phrase of "Merry Christmas to you" at the end encapsulates the cheer and goodwill of the holiday season. As a whole, The Christmas Song reflects the traditional values and beliefs that many associate with Christmas.
Line by Line Meaning
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
The sound of the nuts being roasted on the fire creates a cozy atmosphere that is perfect for Christmas.
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Winter is the season where everything is covered in snow and frost. The cold weather is a reminder that Christmas is just around the corner.
Yule-tide carols being sung by a choir
During Christmas, hymns and songs are performed by a group of people that adds to the festive spirit of the occasion.
And folks dressed up like Eskimos
People enjoy getting dressed in their warmest clothes, like Eskimos, to enjoy the Christmas season and avoid the cold weather.
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
A turkey and mistletoe are traditional foods that are associated with Christmas and add to the excitement of the season.
Help to make the season bright
These foods are a reminder that Christmas is about sharing and joy, and they help to make the occasion more festive and memorable.
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Children are the most excited about Christmas and look forward to opening presents and enjoying the festive season.
Will find it hard to sleep tonight
Children are so eager to see what Santa will bring that they often find it difficult to fall asleep on Christmas Eve.
They know that Santa's on his way
Children believe that Santa will bring them presents, and they eagerly wait for his arrival on Christmas Eve.
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
Santa brings presents and other goodies for children on his sleigh to make them happy on Christmas Day.
And every mother's child is gonna spy
Children are so excited that they try to sneak a peek at Santa as he delivers presents on his sleigh.
To see if reindeer really know how to fly
Children are curious about Santa's flying reindeer and wonder how they are able to fly through the sky on Christmas Eve.
And so I'm offering this simple phrase
The singer is offering a simple message of goodwill and happiness to everyone who celebrates Christmas.
To kids from one to ninety-two
The message of goodwill is for everyone, regardless of age, who celebrates Christmas.
Although it's been said many times, many ways
The message of Merry Christmas is a familiar one, but it is still important to express it every year.
Merry Christmas to you
This is a simple but heartfelt greeting that the singer wishes to convey to everyone celebrating Christmas.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Mel Torme, Robert Wells
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind