Internationally, "Only Wanna Be with You" topped the Canadian RPM 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 the Icelandic Singles Chart, and reached the top 40 in Australia and New Zealand. In 2021, American rapper Post Malone released a cover of the song for the 25th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise.
One verse of the song describes "[putting] on a little Dylan". The verse then references songs on Bob Dylan's Blood 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 told Rolling 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, the Miami Dolphins.
Steve Baltin from Cash 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 rapper and singer Post Malone released a cover version for the 25th anniversary of the Japanese media franchise Pokémon.[48][49] Malone's version contains samples of music from the video games and the Dolphins reference changed to reflect him being a Dallas Cowboys fan.[50][51][52] The cover garnered attention for the unusual circumstances of its release.[51][52][53][54] Hootie and the Blowfish vocalist Darius Rucker gave his approval of the cover on Twitter.[52][55] "Only Wanna Be with You" is included on the track listing of Pokémon 25: The Album, released in October 2021 through Capitol 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.