Poll-ish: What is the best rain song?

sad that i missed the episode, but Stormy by The Meters is a perfect mellow rainy instrumental https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-uAWYOy0YI

Marie Isabelle Lunais-Adora

The first song that came to my head was “no rain” by blind melon.

Eileen

Missy Elliot the rain

NinjaTylerBlack

I may be late to the party, but "It's Raining Men" by The Weather Girls should absolutely get a mention. Few other songs are about a weather phenomenon like human males falling from the sky. Also, what else were The Weather Girls going to sing about? Cars?

Kidd Campbell

Aguas de Marco. Antonio Carlos Jobim. Love the vibe. Love the fact that when he translated it to English he had to recontextualize it as spring snow melt instead of late summer storms. Yes, it’s a bit far afield but Simmon and Garfunkel covered it to it counts!

Nicholas

Rainy Tapestry by Lamp! It is the one song that immediately puts you into a light, peaceful rain shower with a dash of hopeful sadness. A BEAUTIFUL TRACK! I love the instrumentation and the lullaby-like vocals

no one

I’m just now getting into Garbage and yeah I definitely think it’s Only Happy When it Rains.

Madelyn Carey

Rainism by Rain. Very rainy

OopsyDaisy

Rain by th Seatbelts from Cowboy Bebop. It just hits that existential vibe for me. Could be because of the show though.

antonidylan

YEAHHH i was not actually expecting to see anyone else suggesting a TMG song 💖🤝

Calla the Crick

oh, high contender on my list of songs that are SO fun to sing along with

Calla the Crick

this might be my only chance to posit a song by the Mountain Goats, so obviously I'm obligated... but considering that they've been consistently putting out music since '91 I have QUITE A FEW to choose from. I could say Rain Song, off of one of their earlier albums, or I could suggest Rain In Soho, which IS a gorgeous, richly resonant piece that opens one of my favorite of their albums, but instead I think I'll propose the more melancholy option of Ezekiel 7 and the Permanent Efficacy of Grace, which is probably the saddest sounding song ever written about "people torturing one another to death in the desert" as Mr Darnielle himself once put it. "Drive til the rain stops / Keep driving" is one of my favorite lines to sing along to out of their entire (CONSIDERABLE) catalog, so I feel like it deserves a place in this conversation.

Calla the Crick

Have you heard the remix of it with Linkin Park!? its too good. https://youtu.be/darTBxUlsj8

Spacegoose

Eternal by Evanescence. It is an instrumental bonus track on their demo album Origin. It features beautiful piano over thunder and rain sounds and is broken into 3 mini movements, I assume it's just left over bits from incomplete songs. I dunno why it lodged into my adolescent brain but I always put it on when it rains especially in fall. I can smell the rain when that song starts. But also I must mention Rain by Sleep Token because Im currently obsessed with Sleep Token.

Spacegoose

Haven't seen anyone mention this but "Too Much Rain" off Paul McCartney's 2003 solo album Chaos and Creation in the Backyard is really good. I hope Todd and Lina listen to it if they haven't, I know Lina likes solo Paul stuff (correct me if I am wrong though).

Dax

Or Black cherry - Rain wizard

Stabs Anderson

Magic dirts - I love the rain

Stabs Anderson

So many good choices here but I feel like I have to give it to Raining Blood for having rain sounds in it, referring to creating a kind of rain in it, and for passing the vibe check of "feeling" like a storm. It has a slow build into a chaotic and wrathful center, like a real storm before abruptly transitioning into a calm finish. It feels like you lived through a hurricane the first time you hear it. I'm not even a huge thrash fan really but it feels like since I heard it for the first time it is just part of my brain chemistry, much like how rain is just a part of nature.

Octo

Taylor Swift has a bunch of rain songs and I've seen several mentioned, but I don't think I've seen anyone mention my favorite - Come In With the Rain from the Fearless deluxe edition. One of her best and most underrated country songs.

Les

Yesss I love Like the Rain. Great rain sound effects in that song too

Les

Here Comes the Rain by the Mavericks

Les

I just remembered The Rain by Oran Juice Jones!! Maybe the actual song is not the best by far. That confrontation part at the end will always be remembered, even if it is very dated.

Krista Ramhoff

I feel like Purple Rain is almost too obvious. Rain by SWV came to mind. I think that it at least deserves a mention.

Krista Ramhoff

My favorite one hit wonder lost to time is "Kiss The Rain" by Billie Myers. I remember it being on the radio constantly when it first came out and then was swept under the rug. But it always stuck with me how much you could feel the deep desperation in the singer's voice.

Tippy

Do Rain*bow* songs count? If so then Rainbow Connection. If not then Rain by Sid

Colin Raiden-McRae

Gotta say, that’s the best Adele song and probably the best rain song after Only Happy When It Rains

Hillel fraenkel

MacArthur Park by Donna Summer - the full seventeen minute suite Watching Drag Race lip syncs really brings a new appreciation for the intense emotion behind a cake melting in the rain

Benji

Mango!!!!

Calazcatz

It is! Just type in Price Super Bowl Halftime Show and it should pop up

Morgann Booth

The best rain song is Stan by Eminem. It's a rain song because it incorporates rain in the instrumental and the chorus contains the line "the morning rain clouds up my window/and I can't see at all". It's the best rain song cuz...I mean come on, it's Stan by Eminem, the ultimate example of exquisitely dark storytelling in Hip Hop

TheMasonator

Points for first comment to make me want to actually go listen to a song

Lanth

This is still the only halftime show that's NOT on YouTube and it's driving me crazy. Someone please tell me I'm wrong about this, that would make my day.

seasons

As a portrait of down and out, pre-Internet loneliness, "Early Morning Rain" by Gordon Lightfoot might as well be a song from a whole other planet. Maybe it's not too hard make the argument that that's precisely what it is. No cynicism or "vibes" to hide behind here: homesick AND broke, not to mention probably bored out of his gourd, Gord's got nothing to do but go planespotting at his local airport. Popping a spot in the wet grass, he longs for nothing more than his turn to finally see one of those 707s from the inside, ideally on a flight straight back to Toronto, we can only bet. Maybe he never quite captured the spirit of the age like Dylan or Baez or PP&M, but man, could this dude capture a moment. (honorable mention to "Rain" by Kerri Chandler, deep house classic for the real heads)

seasons

I have to go with “Purple Rain” by Prince. No only is it just a great song, but that Super Bowl performance with him killing that guitar solo in the actual rain is just too perfect.

Morgann Booth

Best song from that movie is Grandma’s Gonna Sue The Pants Off Of Santa

Jack Darnell

I don’t know that I think it’s the _best_ rain song, but Songs About Rain by Gary Allen has a very specific vibe that really hits the spot when you want a sad song that just wants to commiserate with you and not cheer you up. It also has the interesting benefit here of being a meta “rain song” by mentioning other songs within it! "Rainy Night In Georgia" and "Kentucky Rain" "Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again" Blue eyes crying in the early morning rain They go on and on, and there's no two the same Oh, it would be easy to blame all these songs about rain

Chris P.

Fire and rain! James Taylor is a classic

Dax

I was going to nominate a "proper" one, but everything just PALES in comparison to "Come Clean" by Hilary Duff. And honestly, probably the best of those John Shanks-produced pop/rock hits of the 2000s.

Gabriel Bonato

Gonna go left of the dial and say "Rain in the Summertime" by The Alarm

KaiserBeamz

I'd throw Rain by The Cult into the mix, but I'm starting to think it's not actual rain they're talking about.

Castleknackers

When it Rains by Paramore

Erik Berg

Oh, god, I'm so late but "Standing in the Rain" by Husker Du. 10/10 song from their second-best album. Absolutely heartbreaking in that signature Bob Mould way. Also one of their most Midwestern-coded songs tbh.

flibbertygigget

It’s actually really simple: Rain makes corn Corn makes whiskey Whiskey makes my baby.. feel a little frisky

Sav

All the sweet Green Icing Flowing Down!

Allan Olley

My instant thought when I saw the poll was "it's No Rain by Blind Melon" and after a week of trying to come up with a better answer, all I can say is my life is pretty plain

Kyle King

Feel like this one is obvious but I'm going with No Rain by Blind Melon

Eric J

Worth it solely because Missy and Timbaland sampled it for her breakout "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)"

Dork Mode

It just occured to me that we all missed one big one that Todd covered on OHW: Missing by Everything but the Girl. "I miss you like the deserts miss the rain" has to be the one of the best rain metaphors in song no?

Angela

Against my window … can’t stop the rain Missy Elliot is such a bop the trash bag fit are you kidding meeeyuh?

Sedzellica

Motivation—Kelly Rowland feat lil Wayne. While not directly about rain it references it throughout song as a metaphor for being wet wink wink and the song is very synthy and minor key—evoking cold rain

Nia

Adele is also great for karaoke

Karl Voelker

Raining Again by Moby because…nostalgia I guess? It uses rain as a metaphor for sadness, which is so original! Okay, maybe it’s not a work of genius, but it’s catchy and activates a flashback sequence to adolescence, so I can’t help but feel it.

Karl Voelker

Through the rain—Mariah Carey

Nia

I can't do the one I personally like best because it's not in English (for the record, the Russian rock band DDT has a song called Rain), so I'm going to vote for Kiss The Rain by Billie Myers.

Alina

that song hits the 11 year old in all of us

Ann Noyola

For me, the quintessential rain song is 'Its Raining Again' by Supertramp. Being a British person i know a thing or two about the feeling of liquidy nectar splashing on my furrowed brow. Supertramp being an English band themselves perfectly encapsulated the sadness that comes with looking out of your window at home and watching it pour down outside. Also as if thats all not enough, the song ends with the nursery rhyme 'Its Raining, its Pouring'

David Fisher

There’s only one *The* Rain Song, so naturally the answer is Led Zeppelin.

Jakob Eyjólfsson

Sit Down. Stand Up - Radiohead, aka the song where Thom Yorke say the raindrops 47 times

Herman de Haan

I'll add the outro ("Ascendant Her On...") as an addendum because it's basically part of the song and it goes back to the rain sound and adds a choir. Good stuff!

DIPDOP

"Rain in the Summer Time" by the Alarm. Mostly because it brings back many memories and was a favorite of my best friend, who is no longer with us. It was fun to see them do their U2 impression (they even hired the same producer).

Matt R

I'm throwing in "Happy Returns" by Steven Wilson as my pick. The album it comes from is loosely based on a true story of a woman (Joyce Carol Vincent) who died alone in her apartment and wasn't discovered for 3 years. This ends off the album and it opens with the sound of a thunderstorm, which imo perfectly sets the scene for how beautifully haunting the song is.

DIPDOP

It Can’t Rain All the Time, by Jane Siberry, The Crow soundtrack. Is it the best song? No… but it is near to my heart.

Gabe Fox

I nominate "Rain, Rain, Rain" by Roxy Music. It has 3x the rain as any of these others songs making it best purely by volume!

oxbow79

Rain Rain Go Away, the original 17th century version where rain is spelled "raine" and it specifically told the rain(e), rain(e) to go(e) to Spain... not the dozens of sell out bullshit versions that came in its wake.

Joel Thomas

Also "Ocean to Ocean" by Pitbull (aka his Africa cover for Aquaman)

A Bucket of Water

Since "Africa" by Toto is ineligible, I nominate "Africa" by Weezer

A Bucket of Water

Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer

A Bucket of Water

Seconded

Beau Dure

On that note, Thank You by Dido works really well, as the song Stan is sampling from.

Katie Gunn

Rainy Days and Mondays - The Carpenters. Brother and sister Richard and Karen Carpenter were seriously talented artists and deeply troubled people. Hit after hit, they were juggernauts of transforming the emotions of despair and frustrated desire into short catchy pop tunes.

Chaz Mania

Came looking for someone talking about musicals, just to add in "Stranger to the Rain" from Stephen Schwartz' "Children of Eden". Bonus points for being about the Old Testament flood, which is probably the most rain ever depicted in fiction.

Rich Kee

And a very nice cover by A-ha, which I only know about thanks to One Hit Wonderland.

Rich Kee

And I’ll never have the recipe again! Oh nooOOOOOOOOO

Franco del Rosario

Rain Over Me by Pitbull (but unironically)

Johnny Riches

Clean—Taylor Swift

Nia

"Like Tears In Rain" or "20Hz" by Covenant!

House Chaos

yes this one!

House Chaos

I'll toss in Stan by Eminem because the music video features rain quite heavily and I can't hear the opening chorus without imagining the rain in the background.

ramskick

Sweetest Taboo—Sade

Nia

Don’t know if this would count but, “melodies from heaven”—Kirk Franklin

Nia

Rain—Madonna

Nia

New edition of course—can you stand the rain

Nia

Modern classic—rain on me Ari/GaGa

Nia

Rain—swv

Nia

I can’t stand the rain—Ann Peebles

Nia

Temple of Love by Sisters of Mercy “In the Temple of Love/ Shine like thunder. In the Temple of Love/ Cry like rain.” There’s not an overall theme of rain but I love the song and “rain” is part of the lyrics so it counts.

Gene Younkin

Or fool in the rain. Absolute psycho timing

Smehmahh

Choosing thank you over “the rain song” is so unhinged that I have to respect it

Smehmahh

"Here Comes The Rain Again" by Eurythmics

Michael Russell

Yes, let Todd break out those famous high school German skills again!

Daniel Bickermann

MacArthur Park, the Richard Harris version.

Anna

I nominate CCR’s other song about rain, “Who’ll Stop The Rain”. John Fogerty seems to have conflicting feelings about rain

Margot Groves

I love a rainy night. I had to learn how to line dance to it in elementary school

rickey c

Exactly. I was a teen when it came out, and it really felt true to me then.

Dana Weir

Hell yeah! Dance of Death isn’t their best album, but it has some solid gems. Paschendale kicks so much ass

Katie Gunn

Riders on the Storm by the Doors

Katie Gunn

Adding my "vote" for Garbage - only happy when it rains. I am a 90s teen, so this always represented being a teen girl to me, and how that felt. I get sad when it is rainy for too long, and counter-intuitively this song actually makes me feel better. Sometimes you just have to lean all the way in. Also, to me this is the ultimate "don't bother thinking you can fix me" and as a middle aged person, that resonates as well.

Dana Weir

oh yeah I remember that one big time.

RedBedroomRecords

Same here, Fabian actually performed that song a few years ago and he sounded pretty good doing it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UDpQ0eS-vE

RedBedroomRecords

I'll cast my vote for Milli Vanilli-Blame it on the Rain, regardless of who's really singing(though Fabian did perform that song a few years ago and proved he actually can sing quite well) it's a damn fine song.

RedBedroomRecords

"I love the rain the most" by Joe Purdy. It's just so calming and captures that summer feeling after a rainstorm, but can also be a poetic metaphor for life.

Julia Savage

Can You Stand The Rain- New Edition

(William) Patrick Hodges

I know it's boring but Singin in the Rain is a classic for a reason. It's more iconic than any of these

Etelka Lehoczky

Little April Showers FTW!

Lizzord

I'd have to say Thank You by zeppelin. I know they have songs that are more directly about rain, but none of them sounds as beautifully put together. Relatedly, this inspired me to make a shitty rain playlist, where the only requirement was that rain had to be mentioned in some way. I haven't vetted it too much, but i know it's shit. https://tidal.com/playlist/43e9711e-0a22-4b5a-8f37-c0fa6f733671

crimkingson

Gonna nominate the outro of Paranoid Android.

Joannasaurus rex

I already made my as it were official pick, but I want to give a quick shout out to one I haven’t seen mentioned elsewhere. The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner by Iron Maiden. This is not a song about rain, nor a song where rain is in the title or used as a metaphor or anything, and in fact only has one mention of rain in the whole 13 minute runtime…. But that one mention is the emotional catharsis of the entire story, as Bruce Dickinson squeals with euphoria “then down in droves, comes the RAAEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYYYNNN….” Shouldn’t win. Probably shouldn’t even really be a contender, but do go treat yourself to that moment as you’re going through these. It’s so much fun.

Jack Darnell

YES Ugh Freddie melts my heart on that one.

Jack Darnell

I love Weezer, but booooooo lol

Jack Darnell

Suolaista Sadetta by Eppu Normaali. Translating from Finnish that is Salty Rain (it sounds better in Finnish). Nothing fancy but it's an all timer song to listen to post breakup.

Torak49

"Rain" by SWV

Dook

I can't stand the rain by Ann Peebles <3

Katie

I’d like to throw in a vote for “Rain King” by Counting Crows. This was my favorite song in middle school, specifically the version from the live album that my mom owned. It just felt so sweeping and epic. I wasn’t sure what he meant when he said, “when I think of Heaven, deliver me in a black winged bird,” but it sounded magical. I liked to imagine it being sung by various characters in fantasy books I was reading. Twenty years later, the song still feels mysterious and evocative to me. Plus, it rocks.

Qualifiers

riders in the storm by the doors

Khristopher

FWIW my mom suggested Rain on Me by Ashanti. Haven't seen anyone else mention that one so I just wanna put that out there.

Ren Michaels

There's a real musicality to rain itself and it's always great when songs adapt that into the music. In that way, Walking on Broken Glass sounds more like rain than Here Comes the Rain Again. With that in mind, I'd like to nominate Little April Showers from Bambi. It's a little unconventional but, to me, that song IS rain especially the way it builds up. I just wanted to put it in the running!

Ren Michaels

ITSY BITSY SPIDER

Dani Moor

blue eyes crying in the rain by willie.

Khristopher

I WAS THINKING THIS TOO

Dani Moor

set fire to the rain is great. adele's voice is so perfect for a Wall Of Sound production. (i actually appreciate the production in the songs on 21 in general. the way rolling in the deep keeps adding instruments through the first verse to build up to the chorus? iconic.)

Austin F

Hahahaha so much this. Like there’s a reason Nina Simone isn’t covering short people 😂

Benjamin Perry

re the later - made famous again by the monsters mini-series

ginny

Yes, I was thinking of the Adele song when I saw this post, but I couldn't quite think of the title. One of her best, I agree. I do think it's a powerful metaphor and visual image too

ginny

It doesn't have rain in the title, but Ms. Jackson I always listen to on a rainy day because the music video is so ingrained in my brain

Donald Weaver

It should actually be a double nomination, because just after Prayers for Rain on the album comes "The Same Deep Water As You", which starts with massive rain storm noises, which go on playing over the music for well over a minute and arguably never fade out but just integrate into the wall of sound. That was actually the first song that came to my mind when I thought of "rain music", because the rain is literally part of the song.

Daniel Bickermann

Screw all these love/relationship metaphor songs, I want my song to be about LITERAL RAIN: The best (and most topical) matchup would be to compare two songs that are both about the most devastating heavy rainstorm/flood catastrophe in US history: Randy Newman's semi-ironic "Louisianna 1927" vs. the social Blues realism of "When the Levee Breaks" (Memphis Minnie's original version would be preferable, but the Led Zeppelin one would do, too, if you want to make it a 70s battle). "Rained real hard and rained for a real long time" vs. "If it keeps on raining, the levee's gonna break".

Daniel Bickermann

My personal favourites are probably “Happy when it rains” by The jesus and mary chain and “Rain” by Tones on tail.

hilma

I nominate the song I'm Your Daddy by Weezer, off the album Ratitude, whose name was suggested by Rainn Wilson.

giascle

For me, there's only one answer: "I Wish It Would Rain" by The Temptations (not to be confused with "I Wish It Would Rain Down" by Phil Collins, which is also very good but not AS good). I'm a sucker for vintage Motown, and for my money this song is David Ruffin's finest hour as a vocalist. I know building a song around crying in the rain had been done before (most notably by "Crying In the Rain," yet another classic) but The Temptations put so much gusto and soul into it, it's impossible not to be moved. LET IT *RAIN!!!*

Cranston Zoot

Since the obvious mentions have been made, I must once again be the one to put forward all time swedish greats (and unironically maybe my favorite pop act of their era), The Cardigans! Slow is a great Song, and the rain imagery in it is so compelling to me somehow, despite being a bit of an Alanis bite.

Marxist Magpie

So here's the songs that came to my head: "Have you ever seen the rain" CCR "Isn't it ironic" by Alanis Morrisette "Blame it on the weatherman" by B*witched "Rainmaker" by Iron Maiden (personal favourite)

Birthe_bird

Rain on me- lady gaga!!!

kitty

yeah if CCR isn't in there something is going really wrong

Birthe_bird

It's wild that Randy Newman himself thinks that song is maudlin garbage and yet it might be the best song he ever wrote.

sammy aurora

As a Police fan, major props on that pick 💖

sammy aurora

Shout out from a fellow Billy Talent fan 💖

sammy aurora

I'll also throw in "Like The Rain" by Clint Black, for my fellow country fans

sammy aurora

I'm sure it's a basic answer but I really think Set Fire To The Rain by Adele deserves to be in the conversation. Just a phenomenal song, one of her best 💖

sammy aurora

someone has mentioned this but they did it alongside a bunch of other songs, Acid Raindrops by People Under The Stairs, one of my go to songs if I want to chill out

crispysteve42

It’s only part of the lyrics, but Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day just has that rain FEEL to it in my opinion

Staghorn

Yes. Thanks for the correction.

Yvette

An impossible choice, but I choose April Showers by BG de Sylva and Louis Silvers. It both has an important life lesson (when April showers come your way think of the flowers that bloom in May) and it is Bugs Bunny's go to when singing in the shower.

Allan Olley

I assume you mean "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on my Head" from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

Allan Olley

I think it would except they have already done it episode 5 was Africa vs. Down Under

Allan Olley

The second I read your comment my brain became nothing but an endless echo chamber of it'sgonnarainit'sgonnarainit'sgonnarainit'sgonnarainit'sgonnarainit'sgonnarainit'sgo

Lanth

It better!

Cole Cox

I don't have enough time to read all 320 comments (clearly you've struck a nerve) so I'm SURE someone has already posted, but my two fave rain songs are Only Happy When It Rains by Garbage, and No Rain, by Blind Melon. Both of which are about being depressed and negative and only feeling peace once the worst has already happened, and thus are absolutely my songs.

Lanth

I don't know why, but when I first heard this, my brain immediately went to Can You Stand the Rain by New Edition v Blame It on the Rain by Milli Vanilli. The two big rain songs of 1989.

Cody Sharp

Purple Rain by Prince. Nostalgia reasons because my mom was obsessed over the man and I listened to many of his songs in my life and have seen the film too many times. But it's almost 9 minutes of glory in a world with a 6 second attention span and shouldn't be forgotten.

Syl W

The fact that I had to scroll so far to find Purple Rain hurts me

Syl W

*half jokingly, but only half* come clean by hilary duff

Ann Noyola

Further explanation: it might be a generational thing (girls who grew up on Disney Channel pre-High School Musical and therefore had the music video blasted into their eyeballs seven times a day), but this has always been my definitive rain song. Other songs use rain as a metaphor and leave it behind when the metaphor no longer suits the subject. Set Fire To the Rain is not about rain. Purple Rain is not about rain. Come Clean is about rain. It's about standing outside in the rain thinking your deep thoughts. Come Clean continues to torture the metaphor of rain to the point where the lyrics truly make no sense anymore. What do you mean you're shedding? What pigment of truth beneath your skin? Why are we going back to the beginning? The lyrics make so little sense that it must be about rain. Also, Hillary Duff's first album was great and every time I revisit it I stop being embarrassed that it was the first album I ever bought.

FunFawn21

I Cant Stand The Rain by Ann Peebles. genuinely incredible rain song

Dawny Warren

One of my favourite albums ever

Jane Doe

Clearly the answer is not just one song but an entire band. I'm going with Credence Clearwater Revival. Not only do they have one song about rain, not only do they have two songs about rains, not only do they have other songs about water, but the band has water in their name. Clearly they are the most in tune with water and by extension rain.

Evan Z.

not enough people have said this!!!

flutegirl0422

Missing. Everything but the Girl

Taekook

CCR's "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" I'll bet no one else posts that one.

Dana Bates

“Fool in the Rain” by Zeppelin, “Lover, You Should’ve Come Over” by Jeff Buckley. And a bonus one: I always have “ITS LIKE RA-A-AAAAIN ON YOUR WEDDING DAY” from “Ironic” by Alanis Morisette stuck in my head immediately whenever rain is mentioned

Michael Gibler

Set Fire to the Rain by Adele if you want just vocal power.

Nawf4

Here Comes the Rain Again by Eurythmics is a unique feeling one. Maybe not the best but worth a mention.

Nawf4

For as much as they get dismissed in the grunge conversation, Candlebox recorded a monster, gear-switching blues jam called "Rain" off their debut album (same album as "Far Behind"). It gets downright swarthy and well worth your 6:59.

DadRock

For a recent favorite, midnight rain by Taylor swift is a great one. Very low key, but I think it’s probably one of the better “midnight contemplation” songs on the record, and no not because it has midnight in the title. I think of it as a bit of a sequel to “back to December” which is another great song from a 19 year old Taylor. Now at age 30, her regret is more mature, less hopeful that things can change. She still feels bad about how she treated this partner, but instead of apologetic regret, she is more resigned and seems to find her own desire for fame something that she cannot change. As she wonders of what could have been with this nice, typical boy she broke the heart of, she also accepts that the life of a simple, happy marriage is not one that she is capable of fulfilling. Her own selfish desire to be the center of the world, the pop superstar is one she feels she can never outrun. She will always desire more. “I broke his heart cause he was nice” is a brutal and honest statement from Taylor. It’s her giving up on that naive hopeful romantic we have seen through her career. The final death to the girl who used to sing about finding a Romeo to save her. From this angle, “midnight rain” is a song not about the loss of a relationship, but the loss of herself. She has changed, and a simple life is something she doesn’t want anymore. She instead desires fame, and the pain that comes with it

Nolan Thompson

Jermaine Jackson and Pia Zadora - When The Rain Begins To Fall Look, we all know "Purple Rain" is the obvious and correct pick, so let me lobby for something less obvious here. This song ROCKS. It goes HARD. This is 80's perfection and while yes, it is upbeat and dramatic and therefore probably not the first song you'll put on while staring outside a rainy window, it does capture a different mood perfectly: Knowing that it is going to rain and running out of time to seek shelter. It's a perfect metaphor for an unfortunate couple who know their love can't last but they still want to make it. Listen, this song has the line "You'll ride my rainbow in the sky". It's awesome. You can't beat that. Also, this is the title track to "Voyage of the Rock Aliens", which is a future Bonus Episode in the waiting. Y'all need to see this!

TimeBombMan

Listen to the Rhythm of the Falling Rain is a good one too

Russet Burbank

Rain Song, obvi

Russet Burbank

I already nominated the Hip but there's another song that's been on my mind and I think fits better, and that's Rusted from the Rain by Billy Talent. It's a breakup/divorce song, but the thing I enjoy about Billy Talent's break up songs is how utterly sad sack and pathetic they make their POV characters(intentionally or not). Sometimes borderline unhinged, or, in one case, a straight up stalker. But there's always that hint of sad loser about them, which is not as common as you would think. This guy in particular is so pathetic he's likened to a pile of scrap destroyed by something as gentle as rain.

Angela

Probably a dumb obvious pick but Riders of the Storm blew my mind when I first heard it and it still hits for me some 5+ years later. I think The Doors are one of the more overrated bands of the 1960s but that song is about as good as people say it is. Maybe even better I reckon

Mr Spaghett

For my money, it is obviously “The Rain Song” Also worth noting that “Love Reign O’er Me” is my fave song of all time but I don’t predominately think of it as a rain song.

Christian Reiswig

Let It Rain by E17 I don't necessarily believe it's the best, but it bangs and i doubt that anyone else mentioned it

Steve Bock

"Fall on Me" by REM is about acid rain even though the term isn't directly stated in the lyrics.

Christopher Herman

In case they haven't been suggested already, here are some obvious Classic Rock selections: "Let It Rain" by Eric Clapton; "Love, Reign o'er Me" by The Who; "The Rain Song" by Led Zeppelin; and "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall" by Bob Dylan.

Christopher Herman

I’m going for Why Does It Always Rain On Me by Travis, saw them live earlier this year and that was the biggest singalong by far. It’s anthemic while maintaining a slightly dreary vibe that suits the message. And that hint of karmic intervention in the chorus lyrics is icing on the cake

Sandy Nimmo

I will put forward Yoshiwara Lament by ASA Feat. Kasane Teto. One of the greatest and well known Teto songs; it's been 10 years and her tuning still sounds amazing. The blend of waggaki and rock sounds is super catchy, and that intro is instantly recognisable. It's always raining through out the song, yoshiwara, to match it's somber tone and rather dreary life the singer lives as a prostitute (she was forced to become one against her will). The line "Amongst the blooming umbrellas, I am rain" has always stuck with me... awesome song...

lemon ade

Pretty sure that's a marimba (or more likely, a marimba sample bank)

Subspace Jet Witch

Can't belive I had to scroll down so far to see this ! One of those songs whose video makes it twice as good.

Scott Ruisch

Oooh that reminds me, completely different song but "Rainy Night in Soho" by The Pogues. Typical Shane Mac Gowan delivery of memory, melancholy and joy.

Paul McA

Written by Paul Shaffer, musical director of early days of SNL and David Letterman's 2nd banana

Scott Ruisch

To me the mood that goes along with rain is a sort of transient melancholy, those mundane times where you're really not feeling it but you have to muddle through for sunnier times ahead. And to me the understated matter of fact tone of Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head really captures that.

Laura Robinson

Ann Peebles and Garbage have a lot of mentions already, so I’m going to rep for Rainy Day People by Gordon Lightfoot.

Aaron Westaway

clean by taylor swift. i know it's not the most expected choice, but it's an honest one, because it actually is my rainy day song. it's got such a perfect atmosphere for a cloudy but not too intense rain. i think my favorite thing about it is that it's not really a "things are ok" song, it's more of a "things really are not ok but all i can do is keep going" song. there's a reason that it specifically resonated with people who were in recovery from mental illness or addiction, you know? (also i'm just always looking for any excuse i can find to talk up my favorite taylor song)

Austin F

I'm happy you were able to come out to show them (this piece)

Laura Robinson

This is the last one I'll post here and I'm not sure it really even counts, but "Rainbow in the Dark" by Dio is a classic of 80s metal. Doesn't really have much of anything to do with rain though. But if rainbows do in fact count, you can feel free to substitute any of the several dozen other songs Ronnie James Dio sang about rainbows if you like any of those better. Perhaps even any song he did with the band Rainbow, but I'm already pushing it.

Drakovek

Pretty sure that was “You Oughtta Know”

Griffin

Just for shits and giggles, I'm going to suggest Steve Reich's "It's Gonna Rain". It's an important and groundbreaking piece of minimalist music, kickstarted Steve Reich's prolific career, and has absolutely no business being discussed on a pop music focused show like this. I dare you to witness all 18 minutes of it's repetitive mind-numbing glory.

Drakovek

Does Africa by Toto count?

Luke Middup

Trains and Midnight Rains too. And Storms in Africa.

Lani Geiger

"39th-party vote" alone is worthy of a like.

Daniel Shaltes

Of the songs I haven't seen mentioned, I'll put forward "Rainmaker" by Iron Maiden. I don't expect anyone to even recognize that song since it's from 2003's "Dance of Death", well past Maiden's heyday. The only reason most folks remember that album is from it's infamously ugly CG cover art. But it's just a really solid track that holds up well even compared to their more classic discography.

Drakovek

There's enough about rain in it for me to nominate Rainbow by Kacey Musgraves. It's a song that's been a real comfort to me through difficult times, it's just one of those songs that makes me feel like things will be okay in the end no matter how hard things get.

James Brown

My first instinct was to say Mr. Blue Sky. But that song is about the joy of rain ending, it might still count but as someone who loves rain and thunderstorms and cozy days indoors as it beats down against the window is doesn't represent what I love about rain. For you see I love a rainy night, I love a rainy night, I love to hear the thunder, watch the lightning when it lights up the skies. You know it makes me feel good. And fortunately there's a song with those exact lyrics. Vote Eddie Rabbitt

James Smith

mother russia in my cup

Scott Haddlesey

If a stronger connection to rain is needed, I'll go with the "Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain" by Willie Nelson.

Bryan C

I felt like I was missing an obvious one and I was - Little April Showers from Bambi. THAT is my favorite rain song! I mean it literally sounds like rain and is just beautiful to listen to. I sing it when it rains in any month. Also, I love that it’s about loving the rain, and not in a “oh I’m depressed” way but in a “wow rain is just super pretty to look at” way. I love the short rain showers you get in the spring and summer, especially on days when the sun doesn’t quite disappear and the song captures that feeling so perfectly.

Lizzord

If rain in the title is good enough, I'll go for "Rain in Soho" by the Mountain Goats. Listening to it will be a better defense than what I can write, but I'll try. It's very haunting and emotionally intense in an abstract but satisfying way.

Bryan C

Lina JUST talked about A Little Fall of Rain from Les Mis in the last episode. And there’s Rain from Once on this Island too.

Lizzord

or even It‘s Raining Today by Scott Walker.

Albert Farkas

Prince Superball Half-Time Show. I know it's not a song but it still wins goddammit

Nir revel

Severe lack of songs from musicals in this comment section, but I supposed that fits with this show’s core demographic. Only saw one other person say Singin’ in the Rain, which is not only a great song but also one of the only happy songs about rain I can think of…

Lizzord

GREAT song, great message, and a great use of the actual rain sounds. That vs rain by swv would be a great episode

WB

Cool to see Sorry mentioned!! Seconded for Lies 👍👍

horse9000

I nominate Have You Ever Seen the Rain by CCR (classic) and Blame It On the Rain by Milli Vanilli (for cheese).

Jess

Agreed its probably his best song. I went to the scaring the hoes tour and was one of 10 people in the pit for when it rain, all the younger people in the crowd didnt know any of his solo stuff! was kinda crazy

SupaDupa_Jesus

Go ahead in the rain by a tribe called quest for me Not only newly inducted into the rock n roll hall of fame but most rain songs are associated with sadness and gloom with this song being the complete opposite about celebrating having a great time in the rain

Jane Elwood Strawberry

Unofficial second vote goes to “Down in It” by Nine Inch Nails. Rain, rain, go away, come again some other day…

Lobstarooo

DAMMIT I just double checked the description and saw we couldn't use that one. I'm seconding all the votes for "Only Happy When It Rains" and "Rain on Me" instead.

Shiny Skunk

I will officially vote for Asia “Who Will Stop the Rain?”. Absolute delicious cheese fest.

Lobstarooo

The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) by Missy Elliott

Shiny Skunk

Danny Brown is my favourite rapper and When It Rain is to me his best song. Insane that this didn’t come to mind but great shoutout. Also Blu & Exile.

Lobstarooo

Rain by SID! One of those that somehow sounds like raining to me, or perhaps its only the tears I shed at the end of Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood.

Hilja

Seconded for Raining Blood, but also a small thirded for Only Happy When it Rains which I’m sure Lina would love to talk about.

Lobstarooo

“Lemon Tree” by Fools’ Garden is a great song about the rain making things *not* happen

Champiness

The Doors - Riders on the Storm. Great song and it actually sounds like rain. And just an oddball, It Can’t Rain All the Time from The Crow soundtrack.

Milambus

Unwritten

Henry S Mayper

*I Love A Rainy Night

spainja

I Love a A RainNight--Eddie Rabbit

spainja

I’d put money down for night by Devin Townsend Maybe storm by the Devin Townsend band And just to balance the scales purple rain by the artist formerly known as the artist formerly known as prince. All amazing songs and I will move heaven and earth to give Devin Townsend any mention. That and prince is always amazing

Robert_boy_genius

also, Pitbull's "Rain Over Me": Marc Anthony's overdramatic ayayays are great, and, of course, it has Pitbull

squeerward tentacles

most of the quintessential picks have already been mentioned and argued for, so my 39th-party vote goes to "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" by The Police, their best song and maybe only tangentially about rain, but the whole thing feels like rain, with Copeland's skittering hi-hats and the pitter-patter interplay of synths, guitar, and piano, and i love how it captures the pathetic misery (the actual rain allusion in the lyrics is one of Sting's purest incel moments), but also the "Singing in the Rain"-like joy, of having a huge crush while in the rain.

squeerward tentacles

Damn, if the prompt was to get your listeners going in the comments, this was a huge success. So many great choices that I love but hasn't immediately thought of. It's probably mid tier at best, but I want to throw out 'Raining in Baltimore' by Counting Crows. I'm about the same age as Lena, and this was one of the songs that got me through the first time I had a major depressive episode.

BuckTurner

My first time hearing Cloudbusting was via Neil Cicierega's mashup with California Gurls, titled Orgonon Gurlz. This is funny because it sounds like a quaint anecdote from someone discovering it in college a decade ago or something, but no. It was this year, and I am 31. Anyway I fell immediately and deeply in love and listened to the entire Hounds of Love album immediately after.

Kyle B

My vote is for Lies, by Sorry. The song replicates like no other the feeling of a rainy afternoon in damp, chilly London. Any song that says “These days I just can’t keep it together/ And I feel like I’m lighter than a feather / And life feels like it’s just based on the weather” is a good candidate. Plus it’s British, I feel that if they get to win at any “Best Song” category it’s got to be “Best Song about Rain” Other good candidates Rainy Night in Georgia, Randy Crawford Riders on the Storm, the Doors Crying in the Rain, the Everly Brothers Roads, Portishead My Valentine, Paul McCartney Teardrop, Massive Attack Is a song about a famous blue raincoat allowed ? Of course, the obvious ones : Purple Rain and Rain by the Beatles. Excited for the episode, in any case !

Victor bucaille

I did love Todd's one hit wonder episode on Jars of Clay, and I do have very fond memories of that song!

BuckTurner

The controversy obviously overshadowed everything, but as a kid I just loved the song!

BuckTurner

I don’t know if it’s my favorite or not but Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield for “Feel the rain on your skin” is a great one Midnight Rain by Taylor Swift was a recent favorite Also Set Fire to the Rain by Adele is a classic One more is Something in the Rain by Tish Hinojosa, which made me sad whenever I heard it as a kid

Kathleen

I'm not sure if I believe that it's the -best- rain song, but it was for damn sure the -first- rain song that came to my mind!

BuckTurner

also good luck to you both because i feel like computing data from this comment section is gonna be quite difficult

Elsa Miesch

"The rain, the park, and other things" by The Cowsills. A few reasons, it's an earworm that takes me back to being a kid. I would sing the lyrics to myself to help myself sleep, just a little kid repeating "I knew, (I knew I knew I knew I knew) she could make me happy, happy, happy. The use of frying bacon to emulate the sound of rainfall should make it a tasty contender.

Emma Hart

That was one of the first songs that popped into my mind.

Sarah Niskanen

No one else is probably gonna say this but I always think of the Rain theme from the first Animal Crossing game. A very casual sounding song for doing things as it rains, it always comes to me first.

ShyRanger

The next three songs that came to me were Blame it on the Weatherman by B*witched, London Rain (Nothing heals me like you do) by Heather Nova and Rain by Priscilla Ahn

Elsa Miesch

It won’t win, but going to say “I think it’s going to rain today” by Randy Newman because it damn well deserves to be in this conversation. So haunting, it embodies that feeling of staring out the window, consumed by longing.

Benjamin Perry

Strangely the first song that came to my mind was The Bus is Late by Satellite High (only true wtnv fans will get this)

Elsa Miesch

Ahhh yes, the "Dora The Explorer" section

Nico Niconi

AJJ was the soundtrack to my late teens, early 20s so i second this one

Nico Niconi

Wish I could nominate the entire New Moon Soundtrack because the rainy vibes are incredible and it’s unironically a great album (and anyone who disagrees with that Can Meet Me In The Denny’s Parking Lot)

Josie

My hottest country take is that there's not an Ian and Sylvia song that hasn't been improved by a cover.

drd

I think this is my answer too

Kathleen

Kiss the Rain by Yiruma

Kijib

The piano breakdown after the title lyric is such a strong moment, just letting you know this is actually a very sad song. The sound effects make me wonder if Otis Redding and Steve Cropper had access to the recording before it was released and got inspired

Gal Hazor

This song was already mentioned twice here but without explanation so I too nominate "Rainy Days and Mondays". I'm originally from a place with relatively dry winters where weeks start on a Sunday, but the power of this song crosses climatic and calendrical differences. Like many many other people, I've had struggles with what "they used to call the blues", and this song is an open invitation to feel it. It just sounds like a rainy day, especially that maudlin harmonica but also Richard's subdued piano and Karen's exhausted delivery (her different sighs on each utterance of the word "hanging" are piercing in their ache). It's a powerful and relatable essay in words and sounds not just on how rainy days are a bummer, but also on how bummers are things you might wanna downplay and brush off or hide so as not to disturb people around you. "Nothing is really wrong", "No need to talk it out", "What I feel has come and gone before" - this whole song is a futile attempt to deny emotional validity from yourself so you don't pass your bummer on to someone else. Futile because the bridge is where the shield crumbles, the shrugged shoulders drop down in exasperation, and the realization dawns that some human contact is necessary to mitigate these emotions and make it to a sunnier Tuesday. So it's a missive against trauma dumps that also rejects the idea of sucking it up, and that's a perspective I can understand no matter where I am or what day it is. Although now I'm living with my wife and my depression pills in a country with far greater precipitation where Sundays are weekends. So yeah, rainy days and Mondays do kinda bring me down, but it's definitely nice to know somebody loves me By the way, strong competition between this and the other song with "rain" in the title co-written by Paul Williams

Gal Hazor

Probably the only Trance Xylophone that I’ve ever heard!

Champiness

Have to shout out The Alfee's enka-esque rock ballad/80s J-Pop classic 1月の雨を忘れない (roughly "I won't forget the January rain"). It has a rainy vibe (beyond just the title and lyrics) for sure! The vocals and instrumentation end up sounding wistful or nostalgic in a way that I find hard to describe, but rainy is a pretty good way of putting it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny0CiksSISg

Brice Onken

What about Dreams by Fleetwood Mac? Granted, in reality, thunder doesn't ONLY happen when it's raining, but I guess that's why Stevie Nicks is a musician, not a meteorologist.

Michael Murphy

I am going to go for the most "It's technically true" answer here, so bear with me for a minute. Love Reign O'er Me by The Who is THE quintessential rain song in my honest opinion. The song starts off with rain and THEREFORE IT COUNTS! AND THE TITLE IS A PUN! ITS A PUN TODD AND LINA!!! It closes out their double album Quadrophenia and it easily saves the best song for last. The lyrical content of the song is literally about the main character of Quadrophenia, Jimmy, who is contemplating the choices and life that they led, he starts to have a panic but just when things might end up giving in to his worst, it starts to rain. The rain acts as this sort of release for Jimmy and he realizes that even though life is against him, he can make it through. Pete Townsend said about the song and its meaning "[It] refers to Meher Baba's one time comment that rain was a blessing from God; that thunder was God's Voice. It's another plea to drown, only this time in the rain. Jimmy goes through a suicide crisis. He surrenders to the inevitable, and you know, you know, when it's over and he goes back to town he'll be going through the same shit, being in the same terrible family situation and so on, but he's moved up a level. He's weak still, but there's a strength in that weakness. He's in danger of maturing." Not to mention, its easily a showcase of what each member of The Who can offer. Roger Daltrys wailing and haunting vocals, Keith Moon with his maniacal but purposeful drumming, Pete Townsend with some of his best guitar work and John Entwistle being the absolute beast of a bass player. The four of them together in sync is something of a dream, truly a master class. Easily one of the best Who songs in their catalogue and it closes out what is already a fantastic album of theirs. Thank you for reading this essay! If any of this doesnt read all that well, in my defense, i just woke up and had my coffee. All of that said, if it doesnt count for a song, then i'll pick It's Raining Men because i fucking love that music video lol

Nico Niconi

Major snaps for Early Morning Rain, though I, personally, would prefer the Ian & Sylvia version.

Michael Murphy

"I Can't Stand the Rain" by Tina Turner was my initial gut answer.

notadocmartin

It’s gotta be either Only Happy When it Rains or Purple Rain, but Raining Blood by Slayer deserves a mention for being one of the greatest thrash tracks of all time

EvilImposterGeorge

Real off-the-wall pick (because this is a local artist I only know because he taught at my high school) but "Don't Like the Sun" by Ron Dalton. I know it's on Spotify, not sure where else. I don't know if I can unequivocally state it's the "best" song here, but my argument is it is 100% about the rain. No love song, no metaphors, just "goddammit it's too sunny out, I wish it'd rain." For me, it's definitely a mood song during the summer.

SweetAgnostis

“Early Morning Rain” by Gordon Lightfoot will always be my favorite. The way he sings the first few words of that song is so beautifully sorrowful. Really perfect song about being alone and feeling hemmed in by the modern world.

Skier o' the Steeps

There's never been a time when hearing It's Raining Men didn't immediately put a smile on my face, so I'm gonna go with that. Just a brilliant combination of energy, cheeky humor, and big ol' belting church ladies.

jayyy_rayyy

"Rain Must Fall" by Queen

minefreak555

I didn't know this one but looked it up and I kinda love it now, so cheers!

SweetAgnostis

In terms of *upbeat* songs about rain I’ve got a pair of vociferous dark-horse picks: “Raindrops” by Basement Jaxx and “Sunshower” by Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band.

Champiness

I think The Dramatics’ “In The Rain” does the best job of capturing the sense of “rain” as a value-neutral sonic component (though of course the lyrics are also a very good “raining = I’m sad” example).

Champiness

Raindrops are falling on my head. Purple Rain

Yvette

Tempted as I am to be some know-it-all asshole and name Acid Rain by Reagan Youth or Raining Blood, it's Purple Rain, obviously. (If the category were "best songs about being a degenerate, Reagan Youth would take it).

T. Ryder

Was gonna say the same but you beat me too it. The best! A deep cut for a great band would have been another bands greatest song. I'm sure lina would agree.

Tadhg Curtin

Yes. Patreon loading comments in reverse order really is annoying...

Jon Heiman

More relevant now than when it was released...

Jon Heiman

Fuck me I forgot Creedence! Slot "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" between the Beatles & Garbage, and pop "Who'll Stop the Rain" in before the Eurythmics.

Vince Whitacre

Gonna dodge the obvious Prince pick and say “17 Days” from the same era. “Purple Rain” might have the fame and the word in the title but this one’s the WAY rainier song imo.

Champiness

Crying in the Rain by the Everly Brothers is such an excellently produced song, and the simple idea of rain hiding your tears feels so direct. And those vocal harmonies!

seedmunch

This is going to be hard since Patreon loads comments in reverse order... I hope you don't give up on your "regular" episodes either. I have like half a dozen ideas if you ever run out them!

Jon Heiman

"Can You Stand the Rain" by New Edition. Haven't seen anyone throw it out yet, but it's my vote.

StuTheShoe

But just saying it could even make it happen!

Mouser

Also, because I may have missed it but I haven't seen anyone else say it-- Stormy Weather, particularly the Etta James version. For me, the primary emotion evoked by rain is longing, and no one yearns like Etta.

Sara

Early Morning Rain by Gordon Lightfoot. The song paints a melancholy picture of homesickness with its words, and Gordon has one of the most beautiful voices ever put to vinyl.

Nick Ozorak

Since nobody's brought them up and I'm not sure anyone will, I'm going to throw in the They Might Be Giant songs that have a rain theme. I don't think TMBG get enough love in general, so I figured why not do it here. -"It's not my birthday" (mentioned) -"When it rains it snows" -"Pencil Rain" (Best) -"Wearing a Raincoat" (thematic?) My favorite is Pencil Rain, a great use of rain as a powerful and unstoppable force that affects all it touches, with the building drums creating a great sense of dread and doom before the guitar comes in and really sells the overwhelming power of the pencil rain. Anyway, if anybody can think of any other Giants songs featuring rain, please let me know and y'all have a great day.

George E. Schneider

"Who'll Stop the Rain" by Creedence. If it isn't the best "rain" song, it's certainly the best song with "who'll" in the title.

Dork Mode

Definitely not well-known enough to win this, but my favorite has to be Chimacum Rain by Linda Perhacs-- I can't think of a song that better depicts the emotions evoked by the afternoon rain. Also, it's the opening to a perfect album, which helps.

Sara

Purple Rain

Steph

There are better songs on this list, but maybe no other song that truly captures the feeling of "maybe I LIKE when things are kinda shitty did you think of THAT???"

Dzee Szed

I was going through the comments and hadn't seen it so my pick is Umbrella by Rihanna I just love it its hard to explain but its just so catchy and it doesn't take away from the sentiment of the song and makes me kinda emotional every time I hear it especially the outro

Gueret Gee

Does Yaeji count as k-pop? I thought she lived in LA or something. With A Hammer was one of the best fucking albums of 2023 though.

Dzee Szed

Early Morning Rain- Gordon Lightfoot fantastic song. The song feels like a dreary rainy morning. Honorable mention for Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain.

drd

I can't in good conscience give this choice an upvotes, but I respect what you've chosen to do.

Dzee Szed

Same, it's perfect. I made a separate comment but deleted it because patreon's comment only shows you so few comments at a time it's kind of frustrating to check what other people say.

Bogdan Ionescu

Gotta support this. My dad didn't raise me on 80s music for me not to chime for a classic like Dragon

Ellen

Babymetal fan. Going to look this one up. Mission Accomplished.

A-Aron

Not my personal vote, but a really strong answer. Totally respectable.

A-Aron

My nostalgia goggles say Have You Ever Seen the Rain... but my ultimate vote has to go for Purple Rain because Prince, much like rain, is a fucking force of nature.

A-Aron

Jack Darnell, I apologies in advance for them requesting subtitles. "You're not taking that into the lift!" "I have to, the stairs will kill him."

Paul McA

YES to this. Been trying to get my band to watch The Commitments for ages! That soundtrack is solid gold, and I Can’t Stand The Rain hits every time.

Jack Darnell

Haven't seen it posted in here so far but I'm voting Torrent by Ásgeir. The whole Into the Silence album is one of my top to listen to when it's raining. And seeing as I live in the 🇨🇦Pacific Northwest...rain is pretty common 🤣

Taryn

It simply has to be Dylan's Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall

Lucy Daughter of None

Also a well constructed metaphor

Angela

I'm only Happy when it Rains Garbage

Christopher Ladd

I wish it would rain- The temptations I remember the first time I heard this song, some 7th palce winner of the voice did it late in the game and I then became obsessed with this song for a solid week. It’s just so beautiful, you understand the sadness so clearly, the music still sounds happy but that works so well! It’s one of those songs you can both cry to and dance along, and the nature sounds just pull everything together.

Tori Schmidt

"Make It Rain" by Travis Porter

Yurple

Rain Rain by Cher is an underrated gem from her 2001 album Living Proof. It’s an early production from Stargate and could’ve easily been a top 40 hit had it been a single!

Charlie Fern

Just on the subject of Singing in the Rain, there's a remix by Mint Royale that was used with a some clever video for a VW ad years back that's worth a look.

Paul McA

Purple Rain, and that’s the only acceptable answer

J.D. Laney

I'll throw out "You Call it Rain" by Old 97's as a song for people to check out. It's a short little album-closer about getting stuck in your car during a rainstorm, but finding the good in any situation because you and your girl can just talk things over and get a second wind.

Jonathan P

I was gonna post this one too, knowing g it had no chance, but I’m glad I’m not the only one

Xolec

Walking in the Rain by Grace Jones! the #1 criteria for a rain song is moody ambiance, so having a really good, new wave-y, reggae-funk groove with grace talk-singing over it is the pinnacle of ambiance. she's someone with a genuinely unique voice & presance. especially if you hear it live apologies to purple rain, candy rain, red rain, and the absolute best song ive discovered this year, rainbow in your eyes by leon & mary russell (which probably doesnt count lol)

Kite

I'd be surprised if anyone knows this one but I'm gonna throw it out there, Echoes in Rain by Enya.

Aurone86

“Rain” by the Beatles. You can close the poll, now.

Rex Crum

Also, however it goes I'm sure that I'll Do My Crying in the Rain (yes both of these have been covered in my lifetime, no I didn't know this was a cover for years).

Paul McA

I've just gotta say that I Can't Stand the Rain Introduced to me as part of and on the soundtrack for The Commitments which along with the Blues Brothers fostered an appreciation for a lot of blues from before my time.

Paul McA

Rainfall by A Flock of Seagulls is my favourite song of all time. People often talk about Space Age Love Song as their best song but I find the song almost perfectly constructed. From the haunting synth intro to the sadder slower composition of the first 2 verses. What makes the song really meaningful is the second half, the way song is able to acknowledge the pain of lost love but about getting over it. The Rain is both an overwhelming force but also cleansing. Happiness might go away, but so does sadness. If you haven’t heard the song before, please listen to it.

Jam Life

For using actual rain in the outro, an honourable mention for Raining Blood

Matt O

Chocolate Rain, period. Do the right thing people.

kaiserdan

I saw the cover image before reading this and my heart immediately sank bc I was thinking “Oh god, not another musical theater episode”. Thank the heavens that’s not the case.

kaiserdan

Like the Rain by Clint Black

Rookie XP

Oh fuck have you ever seen the rain is a good one

Doctor Starky

Tom's Diner totally counts as a rain song

Doctor Starky

Rest in peace Phil.

Jack Darnell

This is almost invariably the first song I think of when it starts raining.

Jack Darnell

Dark horse contenders, love both.

Jack Darnell

Caught in the Rain by Revis is the best song about rain most people have forgotten about.

EmperorTigerstar

I was just going down to find the original by Ann Peebles or (for me) the Graham Central Station cover, but the song is so good no matter who does it.

Eric Biesterfeld

True, but it does match the theme

undeednu

Sad but not surprised no one has yet mentioned Liquid Love by Above & Beyond. Richard Bedford belting out "Rain down on MEEEEEEE!!!" just hits the right spot for me

Subspace Jet Witch

Purple Rain because how do you not listen to that long ass instrumental outro and just automatically imagine a biblical deluge?

Isabela Martinez

Explanation: No it’s not a song with rain in the title, nor a song about rain exactly… but listen to Jeff sing these lines and tell me you can’t almost feel the rain he’s describing: “ Looking out the door I see the rain Fall upon the funeral mourners Parading in a wake of sad relations As their shoes fill up with water” and later “ Lonely is the room, the bed is made The open window lets the rain in Burning in the corner is the only one who dreams He had you with him” There are a ton of amazing rain songs, the vast majority of which will see much more sunshine than this deep favorite of mine. I’m not even sure this is my absolute favorite rain song, but time and time and time again it has been there for me when I need it most, and I owe it my vote in return.

Jack Darnell

Here Comes the Rain Again by Eurythmics - I can never get enough of Annie Lennox's voice and between the descending flutters and plucks in the strings, it really sets a mood that actually feels like rain feels.

Natalie Koppen

I vote for Raingurl by Yaeji. There is not gonna be a lot of k-pop in here, so I will be the representative of it! Also, this song slaps!

Yolorence

Gotta stan my idol. Such a haunting, evocative song.

Erik Gern

I’m going all in on No Rain, No Rainbow by BABYMETAL. If even one person looks it up, I will have accomplished something.

Jon Nepsha

My antipodean no-hoper nomination goes to Rain by Dragon. Special mentions to Dancing in the Storm by Boom Crash Opera and Summer Rain by Belinda Carlisle (which seems to have been a bigger hit here in Australia than everywhere else).

Callan K

They‘re not necessarily my favourites, but for a two-way matchup of rain-related songs that haven‘t been on the pod before I would nominate Dreams vs Ironic. They seem the two most gripping ones to me. They also somehow convey a smiliar sentiment of somehow having to get to grips with your current reality.

Albert Farkas

Lover, You Should Have Come Over by Jeff Buckley

Jack Darnell

Best is always a real hard question, but I’ve seen next to no hip hop, so here are some of my favorites in the genre: Dancin in the Rain - Blu & Exile When it Rain - Danny Brown Acid Raindrops - People Under the Stairs Purple Reign - Future Da Art of Storytellin Part 2 - Outkast No Hands - Waka Flocka (about making it rain) Bandz a Make Her Dance - Juicy J (also about making it rain) Drip Too Hard - Gunna & Lil Baby (debatably about making it rain) Acid Rain - Chance the Rapper Raingurl - Yaeji (not hip hop but absolutely deserves to be in the conversation) Bonus honorable mention to the forgotten Shaq & Notorious B.I.G. collab You Cant Stop the Reign, which isn’t the “best” song by any metric but I have a lot of fondness for.

SupaDupa_Jesus

No rain - Blind melon. Such a unique song. If I ever got drunk enough at a karaoke bar, this would be my song choice, it's just so fun to sing along to.

Jess

Unwritten by natasha bedingfield

Sewing Savage

Sooo this is a stretch and I don't know if anyone will vote for it outside of my fellow Canadian listeners, but I'm making a bid for Bobcaygeon by The Tragically Hip and here's why: there is one line that metaphorically implies rain: "the sky was dull and hypothetical/and falling one cloud at a time", and the entire song just feels like the audio/song equivalent of a rainy day, languid and morose and a little dreary, but anticipating nicer days ahead. I hear the song and I just imagine Gord Downie driving to work on a drizzly grey morning to downtown Toronto for a cop/security job he kinda hates. He's stuck trying to drag out a neo Nazi dipshit trying cause a riot at the Horseshoe Tavern and can't stop thinking about quitting and driving down to his girlfriend's place in the Ontario countryside where he can see the sky and the constellations, one star at a time.

Angela

I didn’t even think about this till you mentioned it. Absolute banger.

Jack Darnell

There’s a really important mini matchup that must be addressed between The Rain Song and Fool In The Rain. Two totally opposite sides of Zep.

Jack Darnell

Oh fantastic song

Jack Darnell

raaaaiiiiinnn down…. Rrraaaaiiinn down… come on RAAAAIIIN DOWN ON MEEEEEEEE…

Jack Darnell

I really would like to say Africa by Toto, but that has already had an episode. I guess Drops of Jupiter doesn't really count even though "She acts like summer and walks like rain" and it is by a band tRAIN.

charlie hume

Its Standin' in the rain from ELO for me. I feel like the best rain songs are about feeling dramatic and nothing gets me in a more dramatic mood than a whole orchestral breakdown in the rain.

Blemi

Specifically the Super Bowl version.

Jack Darnell

Rain by Madonna, anyone? also Aphex Twin's Xtal

no

Great pick. This song was the harbinger of my emo phase.

Jess

Massive choice here. Maybe my favorite song on Disintegration.

Jack Darnell

When It Rains - Paramore

goldfish~

Areola granola 🤣

Jack Darnell

She was just unstoppable in the early 10s. Instant classics every time.

Jack Darnell

Aw man it’s rain in’….

Jack Darnell

FROM A LACERATED SKY \m/

Jack Darnell

My mom always puts out a little Easter bunny animatronic in rain gear that sings this song when you squeeze his paw every spring.

Jack Darnell

I agree. Very underrated

Chad lamasa

Do you think Chocolate Rain could ever be a One Hit Wonderland?

Jack Darnell

Purple Rain embodies the grandiosity that is His Purple Majesty: Combining elements of Rock, Soul and Gospel with pure passionate melodrama this is epic song. “Like the Weather” by 10,000 Maniacs speaks more to me personally, with all its mood swings, but Purple Rain is the perfect Prince song.

Tracy Davis

Top tier Who song, and also top tier rain song.

Jack Darnell

It may not have rain in the name but I'm joining the crew saying it's Come Clean by Hillary Duff.

Jadecore

Chocolate Rain is also a classic.

Jack Darnell

Yes

Jack Darnell

One of Phil’s best vocals.

Jack Darnell

My band covers this regularly, so I am contractually obligated to like your post (especially as the singer).

Jack Darnell

What are the rules? Can we nominate more than one song? I missed that someone else had already posted Dreams and I want to make sure Morphine’s You Look Like Rain gets on the board! Best sax in the biz.

Theodora

Brett Eldredge's "Good Day." You may not have heard of this 2020 country song, but it's one of the best songs about warm contentment. And that soft joy comes when it's "42 cold the rainy." It's a really mature outlook on how happiness is not about things or events, but can just lie in living in a moment that belongs to the world, and knowing that will pass. You can't deny being happy "when the sun ain't even shinin," it's just a part of the way the world turns.

Jamie Daitch

Also, is anyone else going to say Box Of Rain on account of the fact that Phil Lesh just died? If not, that too.

Michael Murphy

Rain by The Beatles

MarioDaBean

Bus Stop - by The Hollies. There are so many songs that associate rain with sadness, but I like the dreamy way the minor key unsettles your confidence that this happy little story is real.

Elizabeth

Travis - Why does it always rain on me? https://youtu.be/PXatLOWjr-k?si=Z6RhNJDch8UuipR3

Jason Smyth

Blame It On The Rain by Milli Vanilli. Why? Because why the hell not?

Michael Murphy

“Riders on the Storm” by The Doors is the definitive rain song. If you don’t know it, listen to it.

Calazcatz

This is my choice. It's camp, it's fun, the best puns, and it's just a good song.

Deanna Banana

How are we this far in and no one's saying It's Raining Men what are we doing here guys

Emry

Nothing can touch that euphoria that is produced by Rain On Me. Truly an anthem for the harrowing journey of 2020 “I’d rather be dry…. But at least I’m alive.” Unrelated but one of those few and far between modern collaborations that legitimately sounds like a combined artistic vision rather than a cash grab for two fandoms, the song would suffer for only having one of them.

Justin Maceira

Purple Rain is the obvious answer but Only Happy When it Rains is an amazing second best

Jayden Egan

Rainy Dayz by Mary J Blige and Ja Rule. From what I remember, it was the last real radio hit for both of them. And in more obscure 80's songs -- The Trip to Bountiful (When the rain comes down), a big power ballad by Belfast's answer to U2, the Adventures.

Keith Badje

Rain by The Cult. It's quite relentless and almost hypnotic because they're still semi-goth at the time while starting to channel some more classic rock. Try to avoid the music video - I don't want to know what's going on with that microphone.

Stuart Reed

This is a super hard choice. But since Blind Melon, Eurythmics and Garbage have already gotten votes, I’m going with other top contender, Fleatwood Mac’s Dreams, because thunder only happens when it’s raining.

Theodora

have they done Ironic? They did one Alanis - Fionna Apple matchup, can‘t remember which songs

Albert Farkas

would still be a valid shout!

Albert Farkas

uh, deep Teutonic cut

Albert Farkas

Also, just for s’es and g’s: Rain Rain Go Away by literally every three year old ever

Tyler Crone

In terms of good songs with rain, I Can See Clearly Now. Whenever it stops raining, it must be said

Tyler Crone

it is great.

Albert Farkas

Paranoid Android, cause someone had to.

Albert Farkas

This is a great choice! This band should have done SO much better in the US

Keith Badje

Not the best by any stretch, but the first one I thought of was Check Yes Juliet by We The Kings. The lyrics “Check yes Juliet/Can you hear me? Rain is falling down/ On the sidewalk” has always bugged me. So rain in songs made me go there

Tyler Crone

Shoes vs. Chocolate Rain would be amazing lol

Franco del Rosario

Uh, all the good, obvious ones have already got a mention, but for the sake of my deep, yearning desire to participate in the game; Kate Bush - Cloudbusting. For every time it rains, it's there in my head.

Hilja

"No Rain" by Blind Melon is one of my favorite songs period. Just makes me feel like things are gonna be ok & that I'm gonna be ok. And I DO start to complain when there's no rain; granted, I live in the perpetually on fire state of California, so that might be influencing things here.

Daniel Shaltes

For me, it’s between Rain on Me by Lady Gaga and Have You Ever Seen the Rain by CCR, which are maybe the two most opposite rain songs out there. The side of me that’s a hippie from the South who’s here to rock out to some muuuusic, man is currently fighting against the fact that I’m also a bisexual theatre kid. …But I guess the backwater hippie learned some dirty tricks, because Have You Ever Seen the Rain just narrowly edges out Rain on Me. Sorry, Gaga. Still a little monster.

kate schwalls

ONLY THIS VERSION lol

Tyler Crone

It's a shame there are so many rain songs that I love - only happy when it rains, hate rain on me by ajj, rain in Soho by the mountain goats, rain king by counting crows, when it rain by Danny Brown - because none of them are ever going to compare to purple rain. I really like this idea for the podcast, but there needs to be a different word to rain because... it's undeniable. I don't need to explain to anyone why purple rain is great. It's purple rain. End of.

Jane Doe

Agreed! Fantastic choice!

Tyler Crone

Time to talk about a lowkey good entry. Want excellent rain imagery, driving guitars, and the feeling you should know exactly what the song is getting at, but can't put your finger on it? Look no further than crossover Christian hit Flood by Jars of Clay! (Not sure if it's best, but it definitely deserves to be part of the conversation)

Charles Arthur

First thought I want to say "Man in the Rain" by Mike Oldfield just to spite Tod calling him a One Hit Wonder, but then I remembered driving through the landscapes of GTA San Andreas and I got to vote for Eddie Rabbitt's "I love a Rainy Night"

Schw4rztee

Purple Rain, live Super Bowl performance

meow nyan

Has anyone said "Come Clean" by Hilary Duff yet?

Charlie MCM

Led Zeppelin - The Rain Song

Ross Langager

I'm Only Happy if Garbage I'm Only Happy When It Rains wins

Ernesto Rodriguez

Rain Will Fall by I Mother Earth

Chad lamasa

“Purple Rain” no question. Has enough the vague nonsense of a Prince lyric to be considered abstract yet *feels* like being in a glorious baptizing storm of unearthly water. At least I hope that’s water. Seriously tho it has it all - epic guitar riffs and solos, killer slow burn rhythm section, range of weight from heavy feedback to shimmering glissandos, each section a new reward

Joni Shapiro

If Megan Thee Stallion is getting ready for a night of driving long distances, it has to be Riders on the storm - The Doors

Joe hutchinson

The Doors - Riders on the Storm I'm not even a big fan of The Doors, but the storm sound effects, the groove, and especially the rhodes piano is just perfect the rainy mood. It makes me feel like songs about the rain should naturally have a rhodes piano, but The Doors did it so well that nobody wants to come across as copying them. It also works for any level of rain whether it be light drizzle or full blown thunder storm. It also may be my pick for best Doors song.

JazzySpF

unwritten - natasha bedingfield 🕺

maddie

A very good pick, primarily because the song doesn't just name drop rain. It describes rain, it uses rain as a metaphor for how they are feeling.

GregD

Agree that it is "The Rain" by Oran Juice Jones or get on outta here ya alley-cat-coat wearin', Hush-puppy-shoe-wearing, crumb cake.

Knabur

It's not the first song involving rain I ever heard, that would be Fire and Rain. Also a song I love. But unlike other great songs out there, it actually feels like how rain makes me feel. More than anything else, rain tends to put me in a tired and melancholy mood, and Phil's song evokes that.

GregD

And for the record, my official vote’s going to “Raining Blood”

Griffin

The basic answer is Rain on Me but since people have already said that I'm going to flex my nerd card and say the rainy day version of Beneath the Mask off the Persona 5 soundtrack. We've had showtunes, who's to say we can't have video game soundtracks.

Brandon Hay

Peter Gabriel- Red Rain

Joseph Bergeron

It gets my vote! I love how the energy feels the way a big burst of rain feels, even though it's not actually about rain 🙊

S. R.

Dreams by Fleetwood Mac.

apocalypsethen

Gotta stand up for Phil Collins - Now I Wish It Would Rain Down

GregD

No Rain by Blind Melon.

Cheeseburger_666

Have you ever seen the Rain by CCR I just really love John fogerty’s voice, but also for the sake of internet nostalgia, Chocolate Rain by Tay Zonday

Pants

I only smile in the dark. My only comfort is the night grown black. I didn't accidentally tell you that, that's just what I'm doing while upvoting all of the comments for the correct answer by Garbage.

Graeme

Considering you two watched it somewhat recently, you'll know about "Rain" from Cowboy Bebop - doesn't matter whether it's Mai Yamane or Steve Conte on vocals, it's gorgeous regardless.

Colton Moore

CCR Who'll stop the rain and Have you ever seen the rain

Anna

Deep cut... It Can't Rain All The Time by Jane Siberry

Jeremy Kelley

The Who - Love Reign O'er Me

TJ

My nominee is "it's raining again" by supertramp That's only because "I'm only happy when it rains," "purple rain" and "here comes the rain again" have already been nominated and "rain" by dragon might be too obscure for any non Australian/NZ person in this poll

Foxylover92

It’s Raining Tacos

Connor Rankin

Hedging my bets with a pop song: “Rainy Days and Mondays” by the Carpenters

Andrew Behm

Not getting any votes for this but Chocolate Rain by Tay Zonday needs a honorable mention. A Youtuber Song vs. Song is long overdue anyway!

ZornAusAeonen

Rainy Night in Georgia

TempoRainy

It hasn’t rained here in NYC for a month so I’m a bit rusty on my rain songs, but I always listen to Coltrane’s take on “How Deep is the Ocean?” when it rains. That wilting saxophone sounds like a rainy city scene to me, plus it’s good and long so I can stroll while listening.

Andrew Behm

A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall by Bob Dylan

lukas

Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head - BJ Thomas

Franco del Rosario

Curveball pick: Come Clean by Hillary Duff

FunFawn21

I think rain is implied by Live's Lightning Crashes! All time weather song.

Ross Ward

I'm unnaturally obsessed with "The Rain" by Oran "Juice" Jones. Make it happen.

Dan Hogg

Here Comes the Rain Again by Eurythmics

MJS

Before Lina finished explaining the rules my first thought was “November Rain”. Then my mind went to the chorus of ironic, then wondered if it’d be a good idea for Todd to ever let her pick the matchup again.

Griffin

"I Wish it Would Rain" by The Temptations

KBucky

Has to be Rainy Days and Mondays right?

Alexandra Rutt

I'm only happy if Only Happy When It Rains wins

Cliff Excellent

Candy Rain--Soul For Real

spainja

I'm Only Happy When It Rains

Laura

I’m going to have to go with Seal’s cover of “I Can’t Stand The Rain” https://youtu.be/2piq0-I7tfk?si=GmZa0DYEVQ4naXd5 (I almost said “Stan” as a joke, but that’s not about rain, you just hear it in the song.)

A Good Brent - BlueSky Bitch for Let’s Talk About Snacks Podcast

A-N-N-A by Freundeskreis

undeednu

It's Raining Men--The Weather Girls

spainja

It's a pretty brief mention, but it qualifies so I'm going for it. September by Daughtry, one of their best deep cuts and our generations' "Summer of '69". 'In the middle of September, we still played out in the rain, nothing to lose but everything to gain'

Gator McKinley

Have you ever seen the rain CCR

Brian Axness

Third (Eighth?) party vote for Dry The Rain - The Beta Band

Julia

Slayer - Raining Blood

TJ

Purple Rain > Rain > I'm Only Happy when It Rains > Here Comes the Rain Again > the rest

Vince Whitacre

I am torn between 'Can't Stand The Rain' by Missy Elliot, 'Red Rain' by Peter Gabriel or 'Only Happy when It Rains' by Garbage (and my supercrush Shirley Manson)

Thomas Deja

I think both but I forgot about Purple Rain. I'd say that is the better one.

Jeydubbz

Easily Here Comes the Rain Again by Eurythmics for me

Julie Fredborg

My gf votes for Five String Serenade by Mazzy Star. I find myself remembering the time I took mushrooms at a cabin and listened to Electric Ladyland on the porch while it rained all day.

Dangmo

Adele-Set Fire to the Rain

Alex

On behalf of the metalhead crowd - Raining Blood.

Tom Shapira

The Beatles - Rain

Brian Theisen

Garbage - I’m Only Happy When It Rains

Brian Theisen

The obvious correct choice is Purple Rain. My personal choice is Umbrella

Sarah Bee

I'm pulling my basic bitch card and voting Rain on Me by Lady Gaga and Areola Granola because it's the first one I could think of

Keirik

It's Purple Rain but my honorable mention is Riders On the Storm

the purple shaman

Tom Holland's performance of Umbrella on Lip Sync Battle

Brian Laframboise

This isn't going to get any traction but Hate, Rain on Me by AJJ

Gavin Foster

Rain by SWV

Jonathan Baker

Eurythmics--Here Comes the Rain Again

spainja

My bf said “what you wouldn’t do for love” by Bobby Caldwell

Alex Zinn

Oh, Fool in the Rain easy. Literally iconic from the first note with the confidence to put a samba in the middle of a 70's rock song on top of coming back into it with some of the smoothest solo'ing on the market. Maybe Have You Ever Seen the Rain or Umbrella as runner ups.

DaMonth

King of Pain's main verse motif may be about a little black spot on the Sun today...but the chorus involves both pouring rain and wishing someone would end this Reign. I defy you to find another song that uses both rain/reign!

Charlie L

The Cure - Prayers For Rain

Brian Theisen

Rain by The Beatles

Ryan Moore

That's it. That's the song. End of poll.

Jennifer Layton

I mean, how can it not be Singing in the Rain? It's such a stone cold classic that makes me smile Everytime I hear it!

Tanner Richard Craft

Didn’t It Rain - Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Benjamin Maier

The Beatles - Rain

TJ

C'mon...it's Purple Rain. Do I even need a reason?

Empire Ants

Garbage did not put out “Only Happy When It Rains” for you to suggest that this is even a question…

Hillel fraenkel

I legit don’t think anything beats purple rain

The Fuzzy Legend

Rain by The Beatles, obviously

wjZephyr

CJ DiVencenzo