Rain in May
{{Short description|1981 song by Max Werner}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2023}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Rain in May
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Max Werner
| album = Seasons
| B-side = In the Winter
| released = {{Start date|1981|04|df=yes}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 3:38
| label = CBS
| writer = Chris Meldon, Chris Pilgram, Max Werner
| producer = Chris Meldon, Chris Pilgram, Max Werner
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
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}}
"Rain in May" is a song by Dutch musician Max Werner from his first solo album, Seasons (1981). Written and produced by Werner, Chris Meldon and Chris Pilgram, it was released as the album's single in April 1981.
Composition and lyrics
{{Listen
| filename =
| title = Rain in May
| description = The refrain of the song.
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"Rain in May" is written in common time.{{Cite magazine|url=https://cdn.ustatik.com/musescore/scoredata/g/ae9f0f49ea682569c9c904c2f5f401552c0e1204/score%200.svg?no-cache=1666604168 |title = Notes from "Rain in May" by Max Werner |date = 17 June 2023 |website=cdn.ustatik.com}} The track has a tempo of 98 beats per minute and is played in the key of G major.{{Cite magazine|url=https://getsongbpm.com/song/rain-in-may/ElljY4 |title = Max Werner – Rain in May |date = 17 June 2023 |website=getsongbpm.com}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://musicstax.com/track/rain-in-may/3G9jX6EYnEODkDPB5Bv6A9 |title = Max Werner – Rain in May |date = 17 June 2023 |website=musicstax.com}} In the lyrics, the male narrator describes his depressive mood during the three seasons: autumn (first stanza), winter (second stanza) and summer in the last stanza. The only time of year he feels comfortable is spring, especially during the month of May. Various unpleasant phenomena that occur in every season are discussed, such as cold and slippery roads in winter. At the end of each verse and in the chorus, he expresses his euphoria in relation to the eponymous "Rain in May".
Commercial performance
"Rain in May" peaked at {{abbr|No.|Number}} 3 on the Netherlands' Dutch Top 40 chart in June 1981 and was also a chart success in certain other European countries as well. In May 1981, the song peaked at No. 74 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In September of the same year, the song reached No. 2 in West Germany.{{fact|date=March 2024}}
Live performances
On 17 August 1981, Max Werner performed the song first time on the music programme Disco in West Germany, broadcast by ZDF.{{YouTube|id=ftEJ8xSMQSo|title=Max Werner performed "Rain in May" at Dico on 17th August 1981}} In April 2005, Werner performed the song on the German TV show Die Hit-Giganten – die 30 größten Hits und Interpreten der coolen Achtziger.{{fact|date=March 2024}}
Track listing
7-inch single
- "Rain in May" – 3:37
- "In the Winter" – 4:57
Charts
{{col-begin}}
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=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1981) !Peak |
| {{single chart|Flanders|10|artist=Max Werner|song=Rain in May|rowheader=true|access-date=17 June 2023}} |
| {{single chart|Dutch40|3|artist=Max Werner|song=Rain in May|rowheader=true|access-date=17 June 2023}} |
| {{single chart|Dutch100|6|artist=Max Werner|song=Rain in May|rowheader=true|access-date=18 June 2023}} |
| {{single chart|Switzerland|10|artist=Max Werner|song=Rain in May|rowheader=true|access-date=17 June 2023}} |
| scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1981-05-30/|title = Billboard Hot 100|magazine = Billboard|date = 30 May 1981|access-date = 18 June 2023}}
|74 |
|---|
| {{single chart|West Germany|2|artist=Max Werner|song=Rain in May|songid=775|rowheader=true|access-date=17 June 2023|refname="ger"}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1981) !Position |
| scope="row"|West Germany (Official German Charts){{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1981|title=Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1981|publisher=GfK Entertainment|language=de|access-date=17 June 2023}}
|49 |
|---|
{{col-end}}
Cover versions
In 1981, German comedian Dieter Hallervorden covered the song as "Wo ist mein Toupet?".{{Cite magazine|url=https://cover.info/en/song/Dieter-Hallervorden-Wo-ist-mein-Toupet|title = Wo ist mein Toupet? (1981) – Dieter Hallervorden |date = 17 June 2023 |website=cover.info}}
References
{{Reflist}}
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