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Kiss the Rain

{{Short description|1997 single by Billie Myers}}

{{About|the Billie Myers song|the Yiruma piano piece|From the Yellow Room|the FEMM song|Femm-Isation}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Kiss the Rain

| cover = Kiss the Rain US cover.png

| caption = Artwork used for American, Australian, and non-UK European releases

| type = single

| artist = Billie Myers

| album = Growing, Pains

| B-side =

  • "Sleeping Beauty"
  • "Tell Me"
  • "The Shark and the Mermaid"

| released = {{start date|1997|9|23|df=y}}

| recorded =

| length = 4:30

| genre =

| label = Universal

| writer =

| producer = Desmond Child

| next_title = Tell Me

| next_year = 1998

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|Kq-r4ZUpels|"Kiss the Rain" (European version)}}}}

}}

"Kiss the Rain" is a song by British singer-songwriter Billie Myers, from her debut album, Growing, Pains (1997). Produced by Desmond Child, the song was released on 23 September 1997 as the lead single from the album by Universal Records.{{AllMusic|class=song|id=t3222372|pure_url=yes}} Myers co-wrote it with Child and Eric Bazilian, and also recorded a Spanish version titled "Besa la lluvia (Piensa en mí)" ("Kiss the Rain (Think of Me)"). The song charted at number four on the UK Singles Chart and became an international hit, reaching number two in Canada and number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100. There are two different versions of the music video for the song.

Background

Desmond Child, who produced the album, got the idea for the title after hearing the Bush song "Glycerine". Child misheard the title as "Kiss the Rain". When he was told the correct title, he decided to use "Kiss the Rain" for a future song.{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|title=Desmond Child – The Billboard Interview|date=27 November 1999|volume=111|issue=48|url={{Google books|gggEAAAAMBAJ|pg=RA1-PA44|plainurl=yes}}|page=DC-20|issn=0006-2510|access-date=12 April 2022}}

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "The gripping, acoustic sounds of the track's mood-setting guitar makes the palpable echoes of Billie Myers' voice really stand out." He noted further, "In fact, the chaotic, ever-sure echo full of Myers' emotions charmingly reaches the audience and has a lasting effect. The drum beats wonderfully complement the compelling guitar sounds. This wonderful single [...] is full of depth, emotion, and musical clarity".{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1998/BB-1998-02-21.pdf|title=Single Reviews|editor-last=Flick|editor-first=Larry|editor-link=Larry Flick|magazine=Billboard|volume=110|issue=8|page=64|date=21 February 1998|access-date=9 February 2020}} Joe Jackson from Irish Times noted "her witty, slightly left-of-field lyrics, lines such as In the space of a five-hour time difference/ My imagination has run a marathon of thought. And, yes, she does manage to sing that potentially prosaic line, with the necessary lilt, in the hit single "Kiss the Rain"."Jackson, Joe (29 May 1998). "Rock/Pop". Irish Times.

A reviewer from Music Week said, "It's easy to see the crossover appeal of Billie Myers. She's successfully married her distinctive soulful voice and strong presence to a trendy soft-rock backing. The song has a strong chorus, but if anything is a little formulaic."{{cite magazine|first=|last=|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1998/Music-Week-1998-03-21.pdf|title=Single reviews|magazine=Music Week|date=21 March 1998|page=14|access-date=13 September 2023}} In a separate review, the magazine also complimented its "melancholic beauty".{{cite magazine|first=|last=|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1998/Music-Week-1998-04-11.pdf|title=Album reviews|work=Music Week|date=11 April 1998|page=25|access-date=15 September 2023}} Gerald Martinez from New Sunday Times stated that "her arresting voice immediately makes the song a bit special." He described it as "a song of jealousy and insecurity and vulnerability, over a long-distance lover."{{cite magazine|first=Gerald|last=Martinez|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ouYVAAAAIBAJ|title=Late Bloomer Delivers|magazine=New Sunday Times|date=15 March 1998|page=13|accessdate=21 October 2021}}

Music video

There were two different music videos produced for "Kiss the Rain"; one for the US market, directed by Matt Mahurin,{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12928128/|title=Billie Myers: Kiss the Rain (US Version)|work=IMDb|access-date=13 September 2023}} and another for the European market, directed by David Betteridge.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12928138/|title=Billie Myers: Kiss the Rain (European Version)|work=IMDb|access-date=13 September 2023}} Myers told in an interview, "I wasn't entirely happy with the American video and didn't feel it was quite right for Europe. When you work with some video directors they forget that when someone writes a song they have a vision. The new European promo reflects the real me far more accurately."{{cite magazine|first=|last=|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1998/Music-Week-1998-03-28.pdf|title=Artist Profile: Billie Myers|magazine=Music Week|date=28 March 1998|page=25|access-date=13 September 2023}}

Track listings

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

  • US 7-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Kiss the Rain|others=Billie Myers|year=1997|type=US 7-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Universal Records, Deston|id=US7-56192}}

:A. "Kiss the Rain"

:B. "Tell Me"

  • US, Australian, and Japanese CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Kiss the Rain|others=Billie Myers|year=1997|type=US & Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Universal Records, Deston|id=UDS-56140}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Kiss the Rain|others=Billie Myers|year=1998|type=Japanese CD single liner notes|publisher=Universal Records|id=MVCU-9003}}
  1. "Kiss the Rain"
  2. "The Shark and the Mermaid"
  • UK CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Kiss the Rain|others=Billie Myers|year=1998|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=Universal Records, Deston|id=UND56182}}
  1. "Kiss the Rain" (radio edit) – 4:09
  2. "Kiss the Rain" (album version) – 4:30
  3. "Kiss the Rain" (unplugged) – 7:23
  4. "Sleeping Beauty" – 3:57

{{col-2}}

  • UK cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Kiss the Rain|others=Billie Myers|year=1998|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Universal Records, Deston|id=UNC 56182}}
  1. "Kiss the Rain" (radio edit) – 4:09
  2. "Kiss the Rain" (album version) – 4:30
  • Italian 12-inch maxi-single{{cite AV media notes|title=Kiss the Rain|others=Billie Myers|year=1997|type=Italian 12-inch maxi-single vinyl disc|publisher=Universal Records|id=UNV 9810}}

:A1. "Kiss the Rain" (dance mix) – 5:28

:A2. "Kiss the Rain" (radio mix) – 3:52

:A3. "Kiss the Rain" (original version) – 4:30

:B1. "Kiss the Rain" (TP2K club remix) – 7:52

:B2. "Kiss the Rain" (Urban Discharge Trippy dub) – 7:55

{{col-end}}

Personnel

Personnel are adapted from the US CD single liner notes.

  • Billie Myers – vocals, background vocals, writing
  • Eric Bazilian – background vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, drum programming, writing
  • Desmond Child – background vocals, writing
  • Randy Cantor – organ
  • Kenny Aronoff – drums and percussion

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1997–1998)

!Peak
position

{{single chart|Australia|41|artist=Billie Myers|song=Kiss the Rain|rowheader=true|access-date=12 January 2019}}
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|2|chartid=3496|rowheader=true|access-date=12 January 2019}}
{{single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|6|chartid=3498|rowheader=true|access-date=12 January 2019}}
scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1998/MM-1998-04-18.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=15|issue=16|page=10|date=19 April 1998|access-date=19 June 2018}}

|24

scope="row"|Europe (European Hit Radio){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1998/MM-1998-05-23.pdf|title=EHR Top 50|magazine=Music & Media|volume=15|issue=21|date=23 May 1998|page=31|access-date=10 April 2024}}

|7

{{single chart|Germany|97|artist=Billie Myers|song=Kiss the Rain|songid=9387|rowheader=true|access-date=12 January 2019}}
scope="row"|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40){{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2969857#page/n7/mode/2up|title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (28.5.–4.6. 1998)|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|page=22|date=29 May 1998|access-date=9 February 2017}}

|20

{{single chart|Ireland2|10|song=Kiss the Rain|rowheader=true|access-date=12 January 2019}}
scope="row"|Italy (Musica e dischi){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1998/BB-1998-08-01.pdf|title=Hits of the World – Italy|magazine=Billboard|volume=110|issue=31|page=62|date=1 August 1998|access-date=4 June 2020}}

|12

scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade){{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/billie-myers/billie-myers-kiss-the-rain-15883|title=Billie Myers – Kiss The Rain|publisher=top40.nl|language=nl|access-date=19 June 2018}}

|4

{{single chart|Dutch100|53|artist=Billie Myers|song=Kiss the Rain|rowheader=true|access-date=12 January 2019}}
{{single chart|Scotland|5|date=19980411|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Sweden|15|artist=Billie Myers|song=Kiss the Rain|rowheader=true|access-date=12 January 2019}}
{{single chart|UK|4|date=19980411|rowheader=true|access-date=18 September 2011}}
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|15|artist=Billie Myers|rowheader=true|access-date=18 September 2011}}
{{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|28|artist=Billie Myers|rowheader=true|access-date=18 September 2011}}
{{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|6|artist=Billie Myers|rowheader=true|access-date=18 September 2011}}
{{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|7|artist=Billie Myers|rowheader=true|access-date=18 September 2011}}

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1998)

!Position

scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite magazine|url=http://rpmimages.3345.ca/pdfs/Volume+68-No.+12-December+14%2C+1998.pdf|title=RPM's Top 100 Hit Tracks of '98|magazine=RPM|volume=63|issue=12|page=20|date=14 December 1998|access-date=23 March 2019}}

|22

scope="row"|Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM){{cite magazine|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.2339&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.2339.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.2339|title=RPM's Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of '98|magazine=RPM|via=Library and Archives Canada|access-date=12 January 2019}}

|28

scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC){{cite magazine|title=Best Sellers of 1998 – Singles Top 100|magazine=Music Week|page=7|date=16 January 1999}}{{cite web|url=http://hosting1642755.az.pl/sp%20uk%20best%201998.html|title=Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1998 wg sprzedaży|language=pl|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150604184020/http://hosting1642755.az.pl/sp%20uk%20best%201998.html|archive-date=4 June 2015|access-date=30 April 2019}}

|87

scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1998|title=Billboard Top 100 – 1998|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309202636/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1998|archive-date=9 March 2009|access-date=28 August 2010}}

|46

scope="row"|US Adult Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 1998|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=6|issue=52|page=55|date=25 December 1998}}

|27

scope="row"|US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1998|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=6|issue=52|page=45|date=25 December 1998}}

|33

{{col end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Billie Myers|title=Kiss the Rain|award=Silver|relyear=1997|certyear=2013|id=10186-3076-1|access-date=22 February 2021}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref(s).|Reference(s)}}

scope="row" rowspan="3"|United States

|25 August 1997

|Alternative radio

|rowspan="3"|{{hlist|Universal|Deston}}

|align="center"|{{cite magazine|title=Be on the Lookout|magazine=Gavin Report|issue=2168|page=16|date=15 August 1997}}

26 August 1997

|Contemporary hit radio

|align="center"|{{cite magazine|title=New Releases|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1211|page=35|date=22 August 1997}}

23 September 1997

|{{hlist|CD|cassette}}

|align="center"|{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Kiss-Shark-Mermaid-Billie-Myers/dp/B000005B24|title=Kiss the Rain / Shark & the Mermaid|publisher=Amazon|access-date=4 July 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Kiss-the-Rain/dp/B000005B25|title=Kiss the Rain|publisher=Amazon|access-date=4 July 2021}}

scope="row"|Japan

|21 February 1998

|CD

|Universal

|align="center"|{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/134375/products/163202/1/|title=キス・ザ・レイン {{!}} ビリー・マイヤーズ|trans-title=Kiss the Rain {{!}} Billie Myers|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=30 September 2023}}

scope="row"|United Kingdom

|30 March 1998

|{{hlist|CD|cassette}}

|{{hlist|Universal|Deston}}

|align="center"|{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1998/Music-Week-1998-03-28.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=35|date=28 March 1998|access-date=4 July 2021}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [https://note-store.ru/upload/iblock/3c7/Yiruma-_-Kiss-the-Rain.pdf Kiss the Rain by Yiruma] Piano sheet music | pdf

{{Authority control}}

Category:1997 songs

Category:1997 debut singles

Category:1990s ballads

Category:Billie Myers songs

Category:Music videos credited to Alan Smithee

Category:Rock ballads

Category:Songs written by Billie Myers

Category:Songs written by Desmond Child

Category:Songs written by Eric Bazilian

Category:Universal Records singles