True Fact: Darius Rucker's "Wagon Wheel" is WAY Better Than Old Crow Medicine Show's.

11/1/2018

So my buddy Nick and I have been talking about playing at an open mic... and we thought it would be fun to do a set of songs that is all G-Em-C-D. Because what a versatile chord progression, right?

Naturally, Wagon Wheel came to mind... But then Nick brought it to my attention that, according to mean (and potentially racist) people on the internet, no one should cover Wagon Wheel, ever -- not even Darius Rucker.

But, guys. Darius Rucker's version is way better than Old Crow Medicine Show's.

Obviously, before I made a big fuss about it, I wanted to listen to the O.C.M.S. version again...

But I fell asleep about 11 seconds in.

After I woke up, I tried again -- this time, with the assistance of Youtube's 1.25x playback tool. Compared to Darius Rucker's, the singing is kind of flat and uninspired. Visually, the video is just kind of... boring.

I think they realized how boring it was, so they threw in some "exotic girls," because boobies is always a good way to make a boring, uninspired, cheaply-shot video less boring, right?

OMG YAY BOOBIES!

As I watched, I felt like it was cheap... and kind of trashy. I felt like it... reminded me of something. Eventually, I realized what it was:

Except OCMS's version was a little classier.

I don't have a problem with the female form, mind you. But obviously, in a song about raping nonconsenting women, having a bunch of naked women stumbling around like they're on drugs is gross...

And having "exotic girls" in your video for no reason other than "boobies" -- or was there some kind of plot they were driving that I totally missed because I was asleep? -- is also kind of like, umm... okay. I'm sorry you had writer's block that day. (See also: 4 Reasons You Suck at "Self-Expression," and What You Can Do About It.)

The harmonies were neat, though...

Okay, but then -- there's Darius Rucker. Watch, listen, then tell me the Old Crow version is anywhere near as good as this:

You can't, because it isn't.

I mean, sure. There are a lot of similarities. But even if the only two differences, musically, were Rucker's faster tempo and much better voice (with respect to richness, roundness, and nuance)... it's still better than the original. The feel is also way more fun -- celebratory, nuanced, and relaxed, rather than soft, contrived, and nervous.

Not to mention Rucker being one of the only prominent black figures in country music -- a genre that is "perplexingly white" and allegedly very racist. In fact, if you believe some of the tweets that came out in 2013, when Rucker’s version made it to No. 1 on the country chart, it becomes instantly clear that lots of people didn't like his version specifically because he was black.

To me, there is just no comparison...

But Nick and I plan to give Rucker a run for his money at the open mic next month. :P

***

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10 Comments

Roger

10/16/2019 02:01:09 am

I had to let Rucker's version percolate a bit. His voice isn't as nasal as OCMS's tends to be, and that's generally what we heard of this song for a long while.

But -- Rucker sings country-style, and OCMS sings it bluegrass style (harmonies, kind of nasal, which means it's kind of flat). And if you're used to the one style, you might not like the other. Just because of style differences. Rucker himself mentions that he didn't like the song when it was played bluegrass-style.

Bill Ratekin

9/8/2020 01:14:20 pm

I could not disagree with you more... Rucker's version is over produced for 1 and number 2... I don't believe him... Old Crow is the best version....

Eva Glasrud link

9/15/2020 01:58:35 pm

Maybe if you're looking for a lullaby!!

Anonymous

8/24/2022 09:51:56 pm

Old Crow might be able to write music, but thats it. The fiddle has a screechy tone and can't sing worth a damn. Darius Rucker actually talent compared to that bum.

Greg link

10/26/2020 04:15:46 pm

I am not sure way better is where I would go. Admittedly I am just a fan, but both versions were wonderfully done. I appreciate a professional critique, so I leave it on your observation. I just wish I had been touched by God with the talent of All of these artists.

11/28/2022 10:08:03 pm

I absolutely love Old Crow's. Darius' version is bland and boring. When I hear Old Crows I cry.

Braggardy

6/22/2023 12:59:05 pm

I don't understand how you can expect anyone to respect your opinion when you joke about not even being able to get through the song because you lack the attention span to do so. You call OCMS' singing flat and uninspired but even in Rucker's version you can hear how he tries to imitate some of the original intonations and inflections in the original song. His voice also sounds "flat" because that's just the style of singing. Rucker also tries to copy some of the harmonies in his version but it falls short because I guess none of the studio producers understand how harmony works with the background harmonies being too quiet.
You also don't seem to understand that the reason why there are girls in the OCMS version is because it's a "Medicine Show", it's in the name. Old Crow MEDICINE SHOW. Medicine Shows had entertainment like dancers and such.
You also say that one of the differences was that Rucker's voice is better but I don't think this is true. The OCMS version had more harmonies than Rucker tried and failed to do in his version. So for what they were going for it was perfect.
Very easy to hate on something when you don't understand it.

YouDumb

4/19/2024 02:12:37 pm

Singing flat is not a "style" of singing. Darius Rucker has sung flat his whole career with Hootie and the Blowfish, and its a problem. It sounds like shit to anyone with an even halfway decent ear. I don't know if he's improved sonce Hootie, but if you're trying to defend it on this new song, then I'm guessing he hasn't.

Eric Korb

10/7/2023 09:08:33 pm

If you are not able to hear the annoying auto tune on every song Darius Rucker sings, then I envy your complete lack of a discerning ear and obliviousness. Your lack of ear allows you to bask in all of the god awful pop pablum that is out there. Darius Rucker without auto tune sounds like a dying cat. All of the Hootie stuff is pitchy AF…just plain terrible frat rock at its worst.

Music lover

3/25/2024 10:50:43 am

I came across your rant because I was searching trying to figure out why Darius Ruckers version was more popular than the original even though it even copies the intro and solos and stuff and adds nothing original. why does anyone care?
I got my answer from your rant and it's depressing.. because it sounds less country and has more money/production value thrown at it. bleh

Please check out Taj Mahal music needs authenticity not white washing

True Fact: Darius Rucker's "Wagon Wheel" is WAY Better Than Old Crow Medicine Show's.

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