Internationally, "Only Wanna Be with You" topped the CanadianRPM 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 theIcelandic Singles Chart, and reached the top 40 in Australia and New Zealand. In 2021, American rapperPost Malone released a cover of the song forthe 25th anniversary of thePokémon franchise.
One verse of the song describes "[putting] on a little Dylan". The verse then references songs onBob Dylan'sBlood on the Tracks, quoting extensively from "Idiot Wind". The song then mentions "Tangled Up in Blue".[6] 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.[7] He toldRolling 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."[8]VH1 reported that Dylan received an out-of-court settlement in 1995 for $350,000.[6]
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, theMiami Dolphins.
Steve Baltin fromCash Box picked "Only Wanna Be with You" as 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."[9]
On February 25, 2021, American rapperPost Malone released a cover version forthe 25th anniversary of the Japanese media franchisePokémon.[48][49] Malone's version contains samples of music fromthe video games and the Dolphins reference changed to reflect him being aDallas Cowboys fan.[50][51][52] The cover garnered attention for the unusual circumstances of its release.[51][52][53][54] Hootie and the Blowfish vocalistDarius Rucker gave his approval of the cover onTwitter.[52][55] "Only Wanna Be with You" is included on the track listing ofPokémon 25: The Album, released in October 2021 throughCapitol Records.[56]
^abMcKenna, Jerry (July 29, 1995). "Hot 100 Singles Spotlight".Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 30. p. 119.Look for high debuts next week from 'Only Wanna Be With You' [...] Both tracks have just been released as cassette singles.
^Only Wanna Be with You (European & Australian CD single liner notes). Hootie & the Blowfish. Atlantic Records. 1995. 7567-85561-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^"Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Adult Top 40 Singles & Tracks".Airplay Monitor. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 33.
^"Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Top 40/Mainstream Titles".Airplay Monitor. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 30.
^Mayfield, Geoff (May 27, 1995). "Between the Bullets".Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 21. p. 116....the third single, 'Only Wanna Be With You,' is starting to make the rounds at AC, album rock, and modern rock.
^"New Releases: Singles".Music Week. August 19, 1995. p. 31.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic.Note: Select 23. týden 2021 in the date selector. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic.Note: Select 35. týden 2021 in the date selector. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
