Best Rain Song - Final Battle
Added 2024-11-24 16:20:36 +0000 UTCWell, we talked about rain songs at length (listen, if you haven't already). And for the first time, we're posting the poll afterward. Plus, we're including the two most popular choices from the comments. AND, we've got a playlist of every rain song you recommended. Nearly 10 HOURS of nonstop drizzle.
At long last, the third (and, in this case, fourth) party options can win! So vote! Let us know what the best rain song is.
And in the comments let us know: what did you think of this episode? While the classic SvS style will always be our usual, we are looking to break with tradition more in the coming year, so tell us what you liked about this new formula and how you'd like to see episodes like this evolve.
Comments
I was busy and travelling and I am sorry that I missed out on all of the fun!
Kelley Runyon
2024-12-18 01:02:26 +0000 UTCReally liked the open ended format !
Victor bucaille
2024-11-30 23:29:39 +0000 UTCGod help us if they open it up to songs with "Baby" or "Blue" in the title.
Michael Murphy
2024-11-29 18:35:08 +0000 UTCI really liked this format, but I personally would also like to see more episodes where you compare songs with the same title. Cruel Summer vs Cruel Summer? XD
Angela
2024-11-28 13:09:32 +0000 UTCSorry Y’all. I’m Minnesotan. Rain is Purple. George Floyd Square, the site where he died, was a nonstop block party for months celebrating his life and the movement across the world. I’ll always remember the crowd; young girls dancing, best friends hugging, classmates from highschool and medics and friends i’d get to meet. Hugging and crying while Purple Rain played out of a semi-truck filled with speakers. Everyone shouting the call and refrain of “Say His Name”/“George Floyd” as that song ended. The DJ was head of security and gave the curfew warning while on an electric scooter. https://youtu.be/GKKZ2pgF6S8 clip starts 5 minutes in if anyone wants to see what it was like. RIP George Floyd & Prince.
I hope you have a good day!
2024-11-28 02:05:07 +0000 UTCSomething that was said about "No Rain" really stuck out to me, the notion that it didn't sound like anything on the radio at the time. I'm listening to a top 40 countdown from 1993 that has that song on it, and when surrounded by Brian Adams, Xscape and UB40 it definitely stands out. But I only just realized WHY it stands out. First of all, it starts out with really jangly playful guitars. I'm hard pressed to think of any hippie jam bands that used this kind of guitar sound, and I'm coming up empty. Certainly not Blues Traveler or Spin Doctors. Maybe DMB or Toad the Wet Sprocket? I still can't place that guitar sound in any other song, so I'll need to think about it. Secondly, and perhaps most important, is the percussion. The drums don't come in until the spot where the second chorus is supposed to be -- and then, it becomes a drum-guitar interlude instead. After listening to a lot of music, your mind expects drums to come in by the start of the first chorus AT THE LATEST, and the second chorus to be sung. But when that DOESN'T happen during "No Rain", your mind notices because it bucks the trend, and it sticks in your brain like a splinter. It's a song that FORCES your attention. Finally, unlike a lot of the songs from that era, each instrument is its own "voice". The guitar has a story to tell. The drums have a story to tell. The bass has a story to tell. Even the finger snaps and shuffle beat tell a story. And they all blend beautifully and capture the spirit of the song perfectly.
Dork Mode
2024-11-26 22:09:49 +0000 UTCI like this format! Looking forward to the next one.
Patt Schneider
2024-11-26 18:24:41 +0000 UTCI really liked this format because even if I didn’t know all of the songs you mentioned I still know what *I* think makes a good rain song and then get to listen to what your opinions are.
Lizzord
2024-11-26 17:41:17 +0000 UTC...until Prince performed it in the rain at the Super Bowl. :)
Jon Heiman
2024-11-25 20:57:13 +0000 UTCPurple Rain is an amazing song that does nothing to evoke a rainy feeling in me. Best song that mentions rain? Sure. Best song that *embodies* rain? Not a chance.
panpolypuff
2024-11-25 18:03:37 +0000 UTCI’ve seen enough. Maintaining a lead of almost 40% of the vote Prince will form a majority government in the next parliament with Garbage finding a healthy status as the official opposition. I went for Rainy Day People in the first post because I was hoping I’m Only Happy When It Rains or I Can’t Stand the Rain would be in the top two, but then I realized I should have gone for Louisiana Rain by Tom Petty. When I was moving out of my hometown in 2020 I made a playlist around saying goodbye, and that song felt like the centrepiece for how I was feeling as I was leaving to the big city for the next chapter in my life.
Aaron Westaway
2024-11-25 17:51:22 +0000 UTC“Rainy Night in Georgia” by Brook Benton is what you’re looking for.
Clay Peterson
2024-11-25 17:46:19 +0000 UTCI danced to that in high school with the girl who is now my wife. It gets my vote!
Clay Peterson
2024-11-25 17:44:25 +0000 UTCi literally feel the best when it rains but garbage annoys me. going with todd's choice
no
2024-11-25 17:09:13 +0000 UTCsomebody had to say it
Birthe_bird
2024-11-25 06:37:59 +0000 UTCGonna go with "Only Happy when it rains" I feel it has the right mood for me staring out of the window while it's pissing it down again
Birthe_bird
2024-11-25 06:36:49 +0000 UTCWow, Purple Rain does nothing for me, I mean its not bad, but nothing stands out. I really like Rain Drops Keep Falling On My Head, guess I'm just a pleb.
Allan Olley
2024-11-25 05:17:06 +0000 UTCWhile Purple Rain is a good choice for the highest quality song that involves rain, I don't think that it's the song that best represents rain in music, and the idea of "best rain song" is ambiguous.
Laura Robinson
2024-11-25 04:48:24 +0000 UTCYou two did this episode and it finally rained in New York, can we use this power to manifest snow this winter, too?
Shiny Skunk
2024-11-25 01:22:53 +0000 UTCThey couldn’t choose that since it was already featured on the podcast
Lee Breezy
2024-11-25 00:49:38 +0000 UTCI voted for that one because it seemed like the closest thing to a contrarian choice, against the hosts at least. Which was maybe not that necessary because their picks are getting slaughtered.
Russet Burbank
2024-11-24 22:50:51 +0000 UTCPurple Rain is my personal favourite album of all time. No question here. It takes the win for me. That being said every song here is top tier. And could deserve the win.
Mr Spaghett
2024-11-24 22:44:24 +0000 UTCIt’s just unfair to put any song up against Purple Rain
The Common Man
2024-11-24 22:39:37 +0000 UTCAlso I think both The Sky is Crying and Texas Flood by Stevie Ray Vaughan epitomize rain songs. But I’m definitely showing my age here. November Rain was the first song I thought of when hearing the episode theme. I am an old.
JDL
2024-11-24 22:26:14 +0000 UTCNo November Rain? Todd, your lack of channeling 1991/92 continues ;)
A
2024-11-24 22:24:24 +0000 UTCthis was such a fun idea for an episode! I would love for this format to come into the rotation. Maybe at least once a quarter to start?
Samantha Bonaparte
2024-11-24 22:00:03 +0000 UTCUnderrated song in this category is I Wish It Would Rain Down by Phil Collins which features some nice guitar work by noted racist Eric Clapton
JDL
2024-11-24 21:57:04 +0000 UTCEarlier this year I listened to princes ENTIRE discography . Every album and live show on Spotify . This is still some of his best work. I’m going for the artist formerly known as the artist formerly known as prince
Robert_boy_genius
2024-11-24 21:30:30 +0000 UTCMy pick is total Garbage.
Dork Mode
2024-11-24 20:26:35 +0000 UTC"Only Happy When It Rains" fills that void for me. "Pour your misery down on me"?
Dork Mode
2024-11-24 20:25:58 +0000 UTCUgh. *changes radio to Steve Miller*
Russet Burbank
2024-11-24 20:05:14 +0000 UTCNone of them. I was hoping for a little comfort in melancholy, and here you all are trying to use rain to make me HAPPY. BAH.
Russet Burbank
2024-11-24 20:01:54 +0000 UTCLoved the episode, I’d welcome more of these type of episodes. Also the obvious correct answer is Garbage.
Lobstarooo
2024-11-24 19:51:08 +0000 UTCI screeched out loud when Lina's two top picks were the same as mine. Made me feel better that Todd's picks were songs I'm not enough of a music critic to have heard before.
Lanth
2024-11-24 19:43:05 +0000 UTCWhenever possible, always go Bacharach
Gal Hazor
2024-11-24 19:32:25 +0000 UTCI’m too much of a Gen-Z jackass who thinks he grew up in the 90’s. My vote lies with Garbage. Sorry Prince :/
Connor Rankin
2024-11-24 19:31:03 +0000 UTC🤣
Albert Farkas
2024-11-24 19:07:55 +0000 UTCThe thing is, I'm not at all convinced that Purple Rain the song is even the best track from Purple Rain the album. I have to go with Only Happy When It Rains.
Michael Murphy
2024-11-24 18:43:06 +0000 UTCWasn't there going to be a playlist of all the rain songs mentioned in the previous Poll or did I misunderstand?
Nico Niconi
2024-11-24 18:18:39 +0000 UTCI think Purple Rain has to win. It’s not my personal choice, but it’s the right choice.
Robert Mischief
2024-11-24 18:17:19 +0000 UTCLike this format, worth doing again every once in a while. The thing I especially like about it is the voting after the episode takes place & think it would be particularly useful to bring back the next time y'all do an episode where one of the songs/artists is substantially more popular than the other.
Daniel Shaltes
2024-11-24 18:11:01 +0000 UTCOnly Happy When It Rains feels like one of those songs that’s always been there. I remember hearing it for the first time and it felt familiar, not in a “this reminds me of something but I can’t put my finger on it” kind of way, but in a “if Garbage hadn’t written it, someone else would’ve” way. There’s something about the melody and the structure and the lyrics that feel so timeless and universal.
EvilImposterGeorge
2024-11-24 17:27:42 +0000 UTCFuck it I'll say it, purple rain is kind of overrated.
Evan Z.
2024-11-24 17:22:01 +0000 UTCI mean, come on. Although, that said, without the obvious winner in there, "No Rain" is the correct choice out of the remaining three.
Preston A. Rickwood
2024-11-24 17:08:31 +0000 UTCIn an alternate universe, BJ Thomas played the Super Bowl and went to a kick-ass brass solo right as it was a downpour like Prince did. Unfortunately we do not live in that universe, so I'll be giving this one to "Purple Rain."
JazzySpF
2024-11-24 16:56:33 +0000 UTCI went with Lina's pick. 2nd would of been Garbage's and I do not see how it could be any other way. I enjoy the format of going general theme and narrowing it. Comic Book Guy moment- 1st use of "Close to You" was in "The way we was".
Eric
2024-11-24 16:53:20 +0000 UTCThe purpleness of the rain he’s singing about kinda dampens the song’s ability to evoke boring real-life rain for me tbh
Ned Curran
2024-11-24 16:52:58 +0000 UTCIt’s Prince. Whatever argument you’re making in your head, it’s invalid - it’s Prince.
Jakob Eyjólfsson
2024-11-24 16:51:01 +0000 UTCWould absolutely welcome more episodes like this! This was super fun! My vote goes to No Rain. Excellent choice Lina.
Jack Darnell
2024-11-24 16:50:55 +0000 UTCFifth party vote for Here Comes the Rain Again. I'm shocked Eurythmics didn't get even a single mention in the podcast XP All that aside, I really like this format. Please do it again 😁
Angela
2024-11-24 16:39:40 +0000 UTCI feel pretty bad voting against Prince here but, man, "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" is such an amazing song.
StuTheShoe
2024-11-24 16:33:45 +0000 UTCI'm the trash man. I eat Garbage.
Keirik
2024-11-24 16:31:17 +0000 UTCThe format was a great change of pace! I guess one question I would have is whether being an honorable mention in an episode like this could get you excluded from future match ups? Feels like it could take out a lot of potential SvS choices in one go
Brandon Hay
2024-11-24 16:28:09 +0000 UTCYou let loose "Purple Rain." It won't be a contest. And I didn't even vote for that one.
Dan Hogg
2024-11-24 16:25:06 +0000 UTCWhen I was a kid, our family had a Fischer Price music box that played "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head". But I still have to give it to Prince. That song is immortal.
Jim Storch
2024-11-24 16:24:56 +0000 UTCPerhaps I’m biased because I won the first-ever SvS award, but I truly enjoyed the format. The insight into both host’s thought process was fascinating and it was neat to hear about a wider breadth of songs, including from listeners. Still love the original format, but this feels like a nice expansion of the idea.
Andrew Behm
2024-11-24 16:24:24 +0000 UTCLina convinced me. Sorry Prince.
apocalypsethen
2024-11-24 16:24:02 +0000 UTC
