There is a certain standard that every man is expected to meet. Don’t cry, don’t show emotion, don’t complain. But this expectation of what a man should be and do can be seriously damaging to one’s mental state. “To Be A Man” is the newest collaborative single by musical artists Dax and Darius Rucker. It delves into the topic of the expectations set upon men by society, and how these expectations can negatively alter how someone thinks and acts. “I can’t hide myself / I don’t expect you to understand / I just hope I can explain / What it’s like to be a man,” is a painfully raw chorus that made me view the situation from a man’s perspective. And being that I’m a woman, it’s extremely hard for me to fully understand just how important this issue is. But, I empathize. And now, thanks to this song, I’m more aware.
This song is moody, raw, emotional, and hits you right in the feels. I want to discuss each unique element, but I want to first discuss the collaboration between Darius Rucker and Dax. I’m a new listener to Dax’s music, and I’m a fan! On the other hand, I’m a HUGE fan of Darius Rucker. So, getting to hear a collaboration between the two was a real treat. Rucker has an incredibly deep and experienced sounding voice, and it really shows during the song. And Dax stunned with his quiet growls and emotion-packed voice. I think if this song were done by anyone else, I would not have enjoyed it this thoroughly. The lyrics and their voices blended in perfect unison, I have nothing but high regards.
Dax is a 29-year-old singer and songwriter from Canada. He began releasing music back in 2017, with his debut single, “Be Your Fucking Self.” Since the start of his career, he has surpassed over 3 million monthly listeners on Spotify! Darius Rucker, better known as a member of the popular 80s band, Hootie and the Blowfish. Aside from his involvement in his band, he has been releasing his own music since 2002. Currently, Rucker gets almost 8 million monthly listeners on Spotify. This was a collaboration that I think worked very well. I hope these two release a song together again someday, and “To Be A Man” is definitely a song that I will be playing on repeat for the next few days. Loved it!
Written By Isabel Mays
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