"The Rain" is a song by American R&B singer K. Michelle. It was released on October 25, 2019 via eOne Music as the second single from her fifth studio album All Monsters Are Human.[1][2] Production of the song was handled by Jazze Pha, while the song was penned by Michelle, Pha, Rafael Ishman, Cory Moore, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
| "The Rain" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by K. Michelle | ||||
| from the album All Monsters Are Human | ||||
| Released | October 25, 2019 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:30 | |||
| Label | eOne Music | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Kimberly Pate, Phalon Alexander, James Harris III, Rafael Ishman, Cory Moore, Terry Lewis | |||
| Producer(s) | Jazze Pha | |||
| K.Michelle singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background edit
Michelle shared the song to her fans via her Instagram live in April 2019.[3][4] The track was produced by Jazze Pha and samples the 1988 hit "Can You Stand the Rain" by R&B group New Edition.[1][2]
Critical reception edit
Erika Marie of the website HotNewHipHop stated, "When K. Michelle first announced "The Rain," fans thought that she would be paying homage to R&B group SWV's 1998 classic "Rain." However, K. and Jazze Pha instead tapped New Edition iconic 1988 chart-topper "Can You Stand The Rain" for the singer's sexy track. "The Rain" isn't about the weather, either; We'll just leave it up to you to listen to the song and figure out what wetness K. Michelle is talking about."[5] Brittany Burton of Respect commented on Michelle's concept, stating: "Her desire to push the lines between sexuality and sensuality stand out vividly on this single. But most importantly, K. Michelle reminds fans that real R&B is here and thriving like never before. Her passion for her craft and creating a work of perfection, is why she has found so much longevity in the music business."[6]
Music video edit
The music video for "The Rain" was directed by Zachary Greaton and premiered simultaneously with the release of the song on October 25, 2019.[7]
Live performances edit
K. Michelle debuted the song with its first live performance on the Soul Train Music Awards on November 17, 2019.[8] During this performance, the singer wore an all-white dress, and was accompanied by four male backup dancers in white tuxedos. According to BET's Alexis Reese, Michelle delivered "sultry" vocals in front of the simplistic white stage set.[9] On January 30, 2020, Michelle performed the song on The Wendy Williams Show.[10][11]
Chart performance edit
| Chart (2019–2020) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[12] | 28 |
| US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)[13] | 25 |
| US Adult R&B Songs (Billboard)[14] | 8 |
References edit
- ^ a b Taylor Fields (October 25, 2019). "K. Michelle Samples New Edition on New Song "The Rain"". iHeart Radio. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
- ^ a b Brittany Burton (October 25, 2019). "K. Michelle Releases New Edition Inspired "The Rain" Single". Respect Mag. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
- ^ "Can You Stand The Rain K Michelle Snippet". YouTube. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
- ^ "K.Michelle-Can you stand the rain". YouTube. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
- ^ Marie, Erika (October 25, 2019). "K. Michelle Taps New Edition Sample On "The Rain" Single". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
- ^ "K. Michelle Releases New Edition Inspired "The Rain" Single". RESPECT. 2019-10-25. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
- ^ "K. Michelle - THE RAIN (Official Video)". YouTube. October 25, 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
- ^ "From SiR & D Smoke To Wale And K. Michelle: All The Performances At The 2019 Soul Train Awards [Video]". Bossip. 2019-11-18. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
- ^ Reese, Alexis (November 17, 2019). "Soul Train Awards: K. Michelle's Rendition Of 'Can You Stand The Rain' Has The Internet On Cloud Nine". BET. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
- ^ "K. Michelle Performs "The Rain"". The Wendy Williams Show. 2020-01-30. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
- ^ "K. Michelle Shines With 'The Rain' Live On 'Wendy' [Performance]". ..::That Grape Juice.net::.. - Thirsty?. 2020-02-01. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
- ^ "K. Michelle Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- ^ "K. Michelle Chart History (R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 28, 2019 – via Billboard.com.
- ^ "K. Michelle Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2020.