Music
A Rainy Day of Music Ponderings
How To Cheer Up Your Soul When It’s Sad Outside
After a week of unusually hot weather for April where I live, yesterday was a dreary as a day could be.
Thankfully, I saw that Paul Combs issued a wonderful challenge about asking others what are others favorite rain songs. It cheered me right up. You can see that list here:
The ‘Great Songs To Sing in the Rain’ Writing Challenge
It’s springtime, after all
plethoraofpop.com
I figured I’d give it a shot myself. Why not? Maybe by talking enough about it, it will keep the dreary days away.
Hey, you can’t fault me for trying.
“Purple Rain” — Prince
I know Paula Shablo already chose this, but I couldn’t leave this song off! My syringe of the ’80s injection for this playlist was already loaded and I’m not gun shy!
The song’s more about heartbreak, but it does mention rain! Who cares what color it is? And isn’t purple cooler anyway?
I’ve always enjoyed this song for its spiritual and transformative themes, as well as being a great power ballad.
Speaking of which…
“November Rain” — Guns and Roses
This song has broken a lot of records. Not only is it one of the most expensive music videos ever released, it was also the longest song of its time to hit the Billboard Top 100.
The music video is an art piece in itself featuring a short story like composition reminiscent of the short story “Without You” by Del James. It’s quite the dark tale.
Another power ballad that I’ve rocked too for years. GnR was a staple of my teen years often playing the record Appetite for Destruction to ear-drum splitting levels.
As far as I know, no lasting damage occurred.
“Only Happy When It Rains” — Garbage
What a classic 90s jam. It reminds me of the same sort of nasally garage rock that comes from bands like Wheetus’s “Teenage Dirtbag” with equally “bad kid” vibes.
Who doesn’t enjoy wallowing in their pain sometimes? The best part about the rain? It can amplify those feelings.
Turn it up, dance, and let out that teenage angst.
“Africa” — Toto
Who doesn’t want to wail out this song when they hear it? Sure, it’s unfortunately often the guest of bad karaoke, but who cares?
David Paich was right to be blessing that rain, at least in this case with this banger of a song.
When listening, I always feel like I want to spread my arms and run out in a rainstorm.
Or maybe that’s just me.
Jimi Hendrix and the Experience — “Still Raining, Still Dreaming”
Take what Jimmy Smith does on his incredible jazz album “Back at the Chicken Shack” with an organ and amplify it with the psychedelic soulful sounds of Jimi Hendrix’s guitar and you have another banger that came off one of the best Double LPs of all time: “Electric Ladyland”
If you were brought down by the rain, these guitar solos would certainly warm your soul. Headbanging required.
“Dreams” — Fleetwood Mac
From one of the most beautiful pop records ever created, Stevie crafts her own laws of the universe relating to rain:
“Thunder only happens when it’s raining”
Stevie can believe what she wants, but for me, the thunderstorms I love the most are the ones that slowly announce themselves with no rain present until like an angry intruder, it washes away the ground itself.
A grooving ballad that is catchy and carefully curated ’70s pop, it’s hard to do better when you’re staring out a window, wondering when the sun will hit the window panes again.
Speaking of which…
“No Rain” — Blind Melon
After all the rain, the sun eventually has to come out.
And when it does, Blind Melon is there to jam with an upbeat earworm that’s sure to stay in your head for the next three days and infect anyone within humming distance.
As I listen even now, my foot taps. Have I heard this song a million and a half times? Yes.
Am I sick of it? Somehow no.
And regardless of how this song has continuously been played to death, it’s hard not to smile when you hear it.
Here Comes The Sun
The weather is changing soon, so enjoy these thematic songs while you can. Then again, this song was my high school graduation song and when we played it…guess what?
It rained. Hard. My cap turned in on itself. Yeah, you know cheap those things are. But who cares. Looking back, it’s a fun memory.
What are your favorite rain songs? What else should I have added? Thanks again, Paul Combs, for suggesting this challenge and all the other writers with fantastic lists I read including: Buddy Gott, Alex Markham, Terry Barr, and Paula Shablo!
Look forward to seeing what everyone else has got!
I’m Bill. I write about music and spirituality and I’m listening to 1001 Must-Hear Albums Before You Die in a year and documenting it on Youtube.
Give me a follow if you like my vibe.
