Alright (Darius Rucker song)

"Alright" is a song co-written and recorded by American singer Darius Rucker, lead vocalist of the rock band Hootie & the Blowfish. It was released in April 2009 as the third single from his first country music album Learn to Live. Rucker co-wrote the song with producer Frank Rogers.

"Alright"
Single by Darius Rucker
from the album Learn to Live
Released	April 20, 2009
Genre	Country
Length	3:51
Label	Capitol Nashville
Songwriter(s)	Frank Rogers Darius Rucker
Producer(s)	Frank Rogers
Darius Rucker singles chronology
"It Won't Be Like This for Long" (2008) "Alright" (2009) "History in the Making" (2009)
Music video
"Alright" on Vevo.com

Content

"Alright" is a mid-tempo in which the male narrator lists off the various pleasantries that he does not need, such as fancy food and wine. He then lists off what he does have, and says that he is "alright" because of it. Rucker wrote the song with Frank Rogers, who produced the album. The two had already written the song "All I Want," in which the divorced narrator wishes to be left alone; after writing that song, Rucker decided to invert the theme and write a song about a man who is happily married.^[1]

Music video

A music video for the song debuted in June 2009. It is directed by Wayne Isham, who directed the videos for Rucker's previous two singles. Using various types of camera shots and angles, it features Rucker sing the song in various places in Venice, CA, sometimes within a crowd of people, and various depictions of everyday life. The video was voted in #34 on GAC's Top 50 Videos of the Year list.

Critical reception

Dan Milliken of Country Universe gave the song a D rating. He criticized the song's theme, which he considered highly overused and "dumbed-down", but added that Rucker's vocals showed a sense of personality.^[2] Engine 145 reviewer Karlie Justus gave a thumbs-down rating, saying that the song is "a peppy piece of commercial fluff that will fare well on country radio. Unfortunately, despite the pervasive steel guitar, [Capitol Records executive Mike] Dungan is correct—it's a lot more Hootie and a lot less Haggard."^[3]

Chart performance

"Alright" debuted at number 56 on the Hot Country Songs chart for the chart week of April 25, 2009. The song entered the Top 40 in its third chart week. The song has become Rucker's third consecutive Number 1 single on the country charts, as well as third consecutive solo Top 40 pop hit. With its ascent to Number 1, Rucker has become the first country music singer since Wynonna Judd to send his or her first three singles to the top of the country charts.^[4] It has sold 1,197,000 copies in the US as of May 2013.^[5]

Chart (2009)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100^[6]	30
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[7]	1
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[8]	61
Canada Country (Billboard)^[9]	2

Year-end charts

Chart (2009)	Position
US Country Songs (Billboard)^[10]	8

Certifications

Certifications for Alright

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)^[11]	3× Platinum	3,000,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Conaway, Alanna (2009-09-07). "Story Behind the Song: "Opposite" Song Delivers Smash". Country Weekly. 16 (30): 21.
2. Milliken, Dan (2009-04-09). "Darius Rucker - "Alright"". Country Universe. from the original on 12 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
3. Justus, Karlie (2009-05-20). . Engine 145. Archived from the original on 2014-12-18. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
4. Trust, Gary (2009-08-05). "Chart Beat: Darius Rucker, Mariah Carey, Brad Paisley, Wilco". Billboard. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
5. Paul Grein (May 8, 2013). "Week Ending May 5, 2013. Songs: Macklemore Pulls A Gaga". Yahoo Music (Chart Watch). Retrieved May 16, 2013.
6. "Darius Rucker Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
7. "Darius Rucker Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
8. "Darius Rucker Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
9. "Darius Rucker Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard.
10. "Best of 2009: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2009. Retrieved December 13, 2009.
11. "American single certifications – Darius Rucker – Alright". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 22, 2023.