Like the Rain
Encyclopedia
"Like the Rain" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music
artist Clint Black
. It was recorded as one of several new tracks for his 1996 Greatest Hits
package. Released in September 1996, the song became his 23rd chart single, and in October of that year, it became his tenth Number One hit on the Billboard
Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs
) charts. It held that position for three weeks. At the 1997 Grammy Award
s, "Like the Rain" was nominated for the Best Male Country Vocal performance.
and piano
, with heavy snare drum
accents. The narrator tells of how he "never liked the rain" until he walked through it with his lover. In the chorus, he adds that he "can't believe [he] never liked the rain", and then elaborates that he is "falling for [her] now, just like the rain". The album version features the sounds of rain and thunder at the beginning and end. These sound effects were removed from the radio edit.
Black also re-recorded the song, at a slightly slower tempo, for his 2007 compilation The Love Songs
.
magazine reviewed the song favorably by saying that the song is a "moody offering with a driving melody and strong lyric." She goes on to say that Black "turns in his reliably potent vocal performance."
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artist Clint Black
Clint Black
Clint Patrick Black is an American country music singer-songwriter, record producer, multi-instrumentalist and occasional actor. Signed to RCA Records in 1989, Black made his debut with his Killin' Time album, which produced four straight Number One singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country...
. It was recorded as one of several new tracks for his 1996 Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits (Clint Black album)
Greatest Hits is a 1996 compilation album by country singer Clint Black. It compiles a dozen hit songs from his first five albums...
package. Released in September 1996, the song became his 23rd chart single, and in October of that year, it became his tenth Number One hit on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
) charts. It held that position for three weeks. At the 1997 Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
s, "Like the Rain" was nominated for the Best Male Country Vocal performance.
Content
"Like the Rain" is a country ballad, backed mainly by acoustic guitarAcoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
and piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, with heavy snare drum
Snare drum
The snare drum or side drum is a melodic percussion instrument with strands of snares made of curled metal wire, metal cable, plastic cable, or gut cords stretched across the drumhead, typically the bottom. Pipe and tabor and some military snare drums often have a second set of snares on the bottom...
accents. The narrator tells of how he "never liked the rain" until he walked through it with his lover. In the chorus, he adds that he "can't believe [he] never liked the rain", and then elaborates that he is "falling for [her] now, just like the rain". The album version features the sounds of rain and thunder at the beginning and end. These sound effects were removed from the radio edit.
Black also re-recorded the song, at a slightly slower tempo, for his 2007 compilation The Love Songs
The Love Songs (Clint Black album)
The Love Songs is a 2007 album by country singer Clint Black. It consists of newly recorded versions of many of his love songs along with a cover version of Jim Croce's "I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song"....
.
Critical reception
Deborah Evans Price, of BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
magazine reviewed the song favorably by saying that the song is a "moody offering with a driving melody and strong lyric." She goes on to say that Black "turns in his reliably potent vocal performance."
Chart positions
"Like the Rain" debuted at #42 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of September 7, 1996.| Chart (1996) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary | 47 |