MANILA, Philippines—There is something about the rain that is very romantic and poetic. Maybe it’s the rhythmic sound of the raindrops falling or the gloomy atmosphere that rain brings. Or maybe it’s the fact that raindrops are like teardrops, falling hard during the stormiest days.
Rain is also the perfect backdrop for both the romantically hopeful singles stuck at home and the sweet couples enjoying cappuccino in a coffee shop or at home.
It’s the perfect soundtrack, too, for the unattached ones peeking out their windows and daydreaming of love and of head-over-feet-in-love couples running hand in hand for some cover.
The following are musical odes to heaven’s tears, preferably listened to when the clouds are crying for maximum effect.
‘Rainy Days and Mondays’
The Carpenters
About: Finding yourself running to someone who loves you whenever you’re depressed because of “rainy days and Mondays”
Great line: “Funny but it seems that it’s the only thing to do/ Run and find the one who loves me.”
‘My Sunshine Has Come’
Angie Stone
About: Having had enough of all life’s drama and problems
Great line: “My sunshine has come/ And I’m all cried out/ And there’s no more rain in this cloud.”
‘Come In Out of the Rain’
Wendy Moten
About: Being welcomed back into a relationship even after straying
Great line: “Some people spend a lifetime looking for love/ And I had love right here all the time.”
‘Crying in the Rain’
Art Garfunkel
About: Someone hurting but who doesn’t want the cause of his heartache to know so he’ll just cry in the rain so that she “won’t know the rain from the tears in my eyes.”
Great line: “I’ve got my pride and I know how to hide/ All the sorrow and pain/ I’ll do my crying in the rain.”
‘Flood’
Jars of Clay
About: Being overpowered by problems to the point of falling into temptation
Great line: “Downpour on my soul/ Splashing in the ocean, I’m losing control/ Dark sky all around/ I can’t feel my feet touching the ground.”
‘Here Comes the Rain Again’
The Eurythmics
About: Unrequited love as compared with falling rain
Great line: “Here comes the rain again/ Raining in my head like a tragedy/ Tearing me apart like a new emotion.”
‘I Can See Clearly Now’
Johnny Nash
About: Being positive after overcoming adversity
Great line: “Here is the rainbow I’ve been praying for/ It’s gonna be a bright, bright sunshiny day.”
‘I Made It Through the Rain’
Barry Manilow
About: Surviving life’s storms and not losing one’s self-respect in the process
Great line: “I made it through the rain and found myself respected/ by the others who got rained on, too, and made it through.”
‘I’m Only Happy When It Rains’
Garbage
About: Happiness derived from misery, rain, sad songs
Great line: “I’m only happy when it rains/ You wanna hear about my new obsession?/ I’m riding high upon a deep depression/ I’m only happy when it rains/ Pour some misery down on me.”
‘Kiss the Rain’
Billie Myers
About: Missing someone who you are afraid might be tempted to cheat
Great line: “If your lips feel hungry and tempted/ Kiss the rain and wait for the dawn”
‘Umbrella’
Rihanna
About: Sticking it out with a friend no matter what
Great line: “These fancy things will never come in between/ You’re part of my entity, here for infinity.”
‘Rhythm of the Rain’
Floyd Cramer
About: Having a hard time moving on after being dumped
Great line: “Rain, please tell me, now, does that seem fair/ For her to steal my heart away when she don’t care?/ I can’t love another when my heart’s somewhere far away.”
‘No Rain’
Blind Melon
About: Wanting to have someone
Great line: “I just want someone to say to me/ I’ll always be there when you wake.”
‘Through the Rain’
Mariah Carey
About: Believing that one can survive life’s challenges
Great line: “And when the rain blows, as shadows grow close/ Don’t be afraid, there’s nothing you can’t face.”
‘Come Clean’
Hilary Duff
About: Wanting to go back to the good old days and starting over
Great line: “I’m shedding, shedding every color/ Tryin’ to find a pigment of truth beneath my skin.”
‘Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head’
Burt Bacharach
About: Staying positive despite problems
Great line: “Cryin’s not for me/ ’Cause I’m never gonna stop the rain by complainin’”
‘Rain’
Donna Cruz
About: Unrequited love
Great line: “Somebody owns your heart? It will never be mine.”
‘Ulan’
Rivermaya
About: Remembering past rainy-day moments
Great line: Daan-daang larawan ang nagdaraan sa aking paningin/ Daan-daang nakaraan ibinabalik ng simoy ng hangin.
‘Pumapatak ang Ulan’
Apo Hiking Society
About: The life of someone who is lazy and poor during a rainy day
Great line: “Pumapatak na naman ang ulan sa bubong ng bahay/ Di maiwasang gumawa ng di inaasahang bagay.”
‘Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling Kita’
Regine Velasquez
About: Happy rainy moments spent with a loved one
Great line: “Pagmasdan ang ulan unti-unting tumitila/Ikaw rin magpapaalam na.”
‘Basang-basa sa Ulan’
Aegis
About: Life’s challenges
Great line: “Heto ako, basang-basa sa ulan/ Walang masisilungan, walang malalapitan.”
E-mail the author at marksablan_2bu@yahoo.com
