More senseless internet outrage.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, I’m sure you’ve at least been mindful of the fact that the World Cup has been here in the U.S. this year. Though I wouldn’t claim to be a soccer fan in any way, shape or form, it’s been pretty incredible to see as of late. We’ve seen some major upsets like Paraguay besting Germany, the U.S. performing quite well and making it to Round 16 and Lionel Messi becoming the all-time leading scorer in the tournament’s history with 19 goals.
Most notably in the social media world, the viral Germany fan on X (formerly Twitter), Freddy, is on what can only be described as a generational run, meeting country superstar Ella Langley and recently being invited to the White House.
Beyond Langley and Freddy, country music has surprisingly been a major hit for the U.S. men’s team. The connection was predominantly highlighted when John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” beat out Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ On a Prayer” and Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” to become the victory song of the US Men’s National Soccer Team at this year’s World Cup. This was put on full display after the U.S.’s 2-0 victory over Australia on June 19th, when the squad serenaded the Seattle crowd after the win. They’d play it again weeks later after their 2-0 win over Bosnia & Herzegovina as well.
Additionally, coach Mauricio Pochettino, an Argentina native, would take to his Instagram story to share that he was prepping for a recent game by listening to Lainey Wilson and Weston McKennie was recently seen celebrating the aforementioned win over Bosnia & Herzegovina by singing along to Langley’s record-breaking smash hit, “Choosin’ Texas.”
During the same celebration, McKennie and the rest of the squad were also vibing to none other than Darius Rucker’s hit cover of Old Crow Medicine Show’s “Wagon Wheel,” and it sparked some pretty stupid controversy.
As most know by now, the history of “Wagon Wheel” is one of the most complicated in all of music. At first, the song was believed to be written by Old Crow’s frontman, Ketch Secor, after hearing an old Bob Dylan work tape, “Rock Me, Mama” from 1973. However, even Dylan’s version wasn’t the original.
Dylan would tell Secor that he heard it from Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup, a blues singer from Mississippi who had multiple songs recorded and made popular by Elvis Presley. As it turns out, Crudup didn’t write it either. Instead, he heard it from a fellow blues singer, Big Bill Broonzy, an African American blues singer who was born in Mississippi but moved with his family to Chicago in the 1920s.
If you’re keeping track, “Wagon Wheel” (or at least the concept) would essentially change hands four times before Rucker recorded his version of the song in 2013 on his fourth studio album, True Believers. And as we all know by now, the former Hootie & the Blowfish frontman made it one of the most popular country songs of all time, getting a Diamond certification from the RIAA and recently passing over one billion streams on Spotify.
Of course, Darius has never claimed “Wagon Wheel” as his own song and always lets his crowds know that it’s Old Crow’s original. This, however, hasn’t stopped people from blaming him for “stealing” the song and constantly reminding people that it’s not his — something most dedicated country fans already know.
This was brought up once again over on X when Rucker would post the aforementioned video of the team celebrating using his cover of the song. Obviously, it was all in good fun, and the “Alright” singer was happy that the team was celebrating their victory by blasting his version.
That still didn’t stop a miserable X user from getting upset at him, calling him fake (while using the wrong “you’re) and telling him to “put some respect on Old Crow’s name.”
“Don’t act like your fake but came up with this song. Put some respect on Old Crows name.”
Rucker would fire back at him, reconfirming the fact that he always gives Old Crow Medicine Show credit for completing the song. Additionally, he’d point out the absurdity of getting mad that a cover became a hit, asking the X user if he tells people that “Tennessee Whiskey” is a cover at a Chris Stapleton show.
“I never once said I wrote it. In fact most nights when I play, I yell. ‘The Old Crow Medicine Show’ Not the first cover to be a hit and won’t be the last. Do you go to Stapleton’s site and tell folks Tennessee Whiskey is a cover?”
The user would respond with a pair of pretty incoherent tweets, telling Rucker he’s not a fan of Stapleton and he used to be a fan of his until he “ran his mouth about Tennessee.”
“I’ll keep it a buck with you I just really don’t like you I’ll still pray for ya and I used to be a fan of yours till You wanted to run your mouth about Tennessee.”
So… nothing to do with “Wagon Wheel” then?
Add this interaction to the long list of miserable, brain-dead interactions artists have to deal with online these days…
Before you go, fire up both versions of “Wagon Wheel.”
Old Crow Medicine Show’s version
Darius’ version
