Rain (Mika song)

"Rain"
Single by Mika
from the album The Boy Who Knew Too Much
Released23 November 2009
Recorded2008–2009
Genre
Length
  • 3:43 (album version)
  • 3:35 (radio edit)
LabelCasablanca[1]
Songwriter(s)
  • Mika
  • Jodi Marr
Producer(s)
Mika singles chronology
"We Are Golden"
(2009) 		"Rain"
(2009) 		"Blame It on the Girls"
(2010)
Music video
"Rain" on YouTube

"Rain" is a song by Mika, released as the second single from his second studio album, The Boy Who Knew Too Much.[2][3] The song was produced and mixed by Greg Wells and features violinist Owen Pallett.

Description

The song's lyrics are taken from a break-up letter that Mika wrote to an ex.[4]

In an interview with Q magazine, Mika says:

["Rain"] is an unapologetic '80s pop record. I bumped into producer Stuart Price while he was working with The Killers at Olympic Studios. He helped me program this. It reminded him of ABBA and Frankie Goes to Hollywood.

— Mika, Q Magazine[5]

Keira performed Mika's song at Australian Idol's grand finale along with "We Are Golden". On 5 February 2010 Mika performed a special operatic version of the song in a duet with opera star Danielle de Niese on the ITV1 show 'Popstar to Operastar'.

Reception

The song received positive reviews from most critics. Nick Levene from Digital Spy gave to the song 4 stars (out of 5) and said: "Those unconvinced that much had changed when Mika returned with 'We Are Golden' this summer should be pleasantly surprised by 'Rain', the second single from his second album. The shrieking has been reined in, the nursery rhyme hooks have been ditched and instead we're treated to a concoction of shimmering synths, layered vocals and throbbing, clubby beats. As it builds towards a crescendo that's both intriguingly dark and glitteringly magical, Mika proves he's perfectly capable of channelling his hyperactivity in the right direction. Here's hoping for more of this in the future".[6] Heather Phares from AllMusic stated that "Rain" is a kissing cousin to "Relax"'s pulsing, melancholy disco-pop.[7]

Music video

A frame from the "Rain" music video.

The music video for "Rain" was filmed in Epping Forest in Essex and premiered online on 16 October 2009. It was directed by Nez Khammal.[2] The video is set in a dark enchanted forest with Mika waking up in a colourful tent. He is soon joined by various strangely dressed imps and creatures who dance around him at first but chase him out of the forest amid exploding fireworks.

Notable performances

Mika sang "Rain" at the Royal Variety Performance in 2009 before Queen Elizabeth II.

Track listing

UK CD single[3]
No.TitleLength
1."Rain"3:43
2."Poker Face" (Radio 1 Live Lounge Session)3:09
3."Rain" (Seamus Haji Big Love Edit)3:05
French 2-Track CD single[8]
No.TitleLength
1."Rain"3:43
2."Rain" (Acoustic Version)3:04
French 4-Track CD single[9]
No.TitleLength
1."Rain"3:43
2."Poker Face" (Radio 1 Live Lounge Session)3:09
3."Rain" (Seamus Haji Big Love Edit)3:05
4."Rain" (Benny Benassi Remix)6:10
Italian CD single[10]
No.TitleLength
1."Rain" (Benny Benassi Edit)3:29
2."Rain" (Seamus Haji Big Love Edit)3:08
3."Rain" (Diamenco Torti Edit)3:36
4."Rain" (Benny Benassi Remix)6:10
5."Rain" (Benny Benassi Dub)6:13
6."Rain" (Seamus Haji Big Love Remix)8:25
7."Rain" (Diamenco Torti Extended Remix)6:17
8."Rain" (Magistrates Remix)4:34
9."Rain" (Radio Edit)3:26
UK Digital Download[3]
No.TitleLength
1."Rain"3:43
2."Rain" (Benny Benassi Remix)6:10
3."Rain" (Seamus Haji Remix)5:43
4."Rain" (Acoustic Version)3:04

Credits

Charts and certifications

The single was released on 23 November 2009 in the United Kingdom in both digital and physical formats. The single peaked at #72 on the UK Singles Chart, making this Mika's lowest charting UK single. Casablanca Records believed this was due to low promotional airplay on UK Radio. The song was received better in continental Europe, where it peaked at #4 in Italy, being certified platinum by the Federation of the Italian Music Industry.[11] It also peaked inside the Top 40 in the Netherlands and Spain, and debuted at #8 in Wallonia. The single debuted at #5 in French Singles Chart and peaked #16 in Digital Singles Chart.

References

  1. ^ Business Wire (14 June 2009). "Global Pop Phenomenon, MIKA, Releases Sophomore Album, WE ARE GOLDEN, 22 September", Business Wire. Retrieved on 14 July 2009.
  2. ^ a b "MIKA - singer and songwriter, home for his music, creative work, shows, art and collaborations". Archived from the original on 26 July 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  3. ^ a b c "MIKA - singer and songwriter, home for his music, creative work, shows, art and collaborations". Archived from the original on 26 July 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  4. ^ "Rain by Mika". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  5. ^ Allen, Matt (1 June 2009). "Exclusive: Mika's Second Coming Archived 18 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine", Q magazine. Retrieved 12 July 2009.
  6. ^ "Mika: 'Rain'". Digital Spy. 20 November 2009.
  7. ^ "Rain by Mika - Track Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  8. ^ "Rain". Amazon UK.
  9. ^ "Rain - Import 4 TRACK CD Single incl. Poker Face". Amazon UK.
  10. ^ "Rain - Import 9 TRACK REMIX CD Single". Amazon UK.
  11. ^ "Certificazioni Download FIMI" (PDF) (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 June 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  12. ^ "The ARIA Report - Week Commencing 30 November 2009 - Issue #1031" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 December 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  13. ^ "Mika – Rain" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  14. ^ "Mika – Rain" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  15. ^ Mika — Rain. TopHit. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  16. ^ "Hits of the World: European Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. Vol. 122, no. 4. 30 January 2010. p. 51.
  17. ^ "Mika – Rain" (in French). Les classement single.
  18. ^ "Mika – Rain" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  19. ^ "Charts". Ifpi.gr. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  20. ^ "Know You Are ON AIR". Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
  21. ^ "Mika – Rain". Top Digital Download.
  22. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Mika" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  23. ^ "Top Radio Hits Russia Weekly Chart: Oct 29, 2009". TopHit. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  24. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  25. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200943 into search. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  26. ^ "Mika – Rain" Canciones Top 50.
  27. ^ "Mika – Rain". Swiss Singles Chart.
  28. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  29. ^ "Rapports Annuels 2009". Ultratop. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  30. ^ "Популярные хиты 2009" [Popular hits 2009] (in Russian). TopHit. Archived from the original on 7 November 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  31. ^ "Top de l'année Top Singles 2009" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  32. ^ "Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart: 2009". TopHit. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  33. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2010 - ultratop.be". Ultratop.
  34. ^ "Rapports annuels 2010 - ultratop.be". Ultratop.
  35. ^ "Archived copy". www.snepmusique.com. Archived from the original on 11 January 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  36. ^ "European Hot 100 Singles". Billboard.
  37. ^ "FIMI - Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana - Ricerche e dati di mercato". Archived from the original on 21 January 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  38. ^ "Italian single certifications – Mika – Rain" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Select "Tutti gli anni" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Rain" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".