The Rain (Oran "Juice" Jones song)

"The Rain" is a 1986 crossover hit single originally performed by R&B singer Oran "Juice" Jones, which he released on and from his debut album Juice.

"The Rain"
Single by Oran "Juice" Jones
from the album Juice
B-side	"Your Song"
Released	September 1986
Genre	R&B, synthpop, new jack swing
Length	5:07 (7" & Album version) 3:14 (Radio edit)
Label	Def Jam
Songwriter(s)	Vincent Bell[1]
Producer(s)	Russell Simmons, Vincent Bell
Oran "Juice" Jones singles chronology
"1.2.1." (1986) "The Rain" (1986) "You Can't Hide from Love" (1986)
Music video
"The Rain" on YouTube

The song's lyrics involve a man confronting his lover regarding her infidelity. At the end of the track is a long recitation which was written by Vincent Bell, who also composed the music.

Reception

The single was Jones's biggest hit. It reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart for two weeks, making it the first #1 R&B hit issued by the then newly created Def Jam record label. The single also peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[2] Outside the United States, "The Rain" reached #4 on the UK Singles Chart^[3][4]

"The Rain" was nominated for one Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male,^[5] but Jones never had another Hot 100 hit and left the music business after his third album failed to chart. "The Rain" is ranked #63 on VH1's 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the '80s.^[6]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1986–1987) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] 85 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[8] 16 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[9] 6 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[10] 8 Ireland (IRMA)[11] 6 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[12] 5 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] 10 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[14] 22 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[15] 12 UK Singles (OCC)[16] 4 US Billboard Hot 100[17][18] 9 West Germany (GfK)[19] 3

Year-end charts Chart (1987) Position Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[20] 91 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[21] 58 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[22] 50 West Germany (Official German Charts)[23] 37

Certifications

Certifications for The Rain

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[24]	Gold	50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[25]	Silver	250,000^
United States (RIAA)[26]	Gold	500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Production

The Rain music video featured actress Danita Davis as Jones' girlfriend.^[27]

Answer records

Several answer records were recorded after the success of "The Rain". All were released in 1986. “Thunder & Lightning”, performed by Miss Thang, was released by Tommy Boy Records.^[28] "Walkin in the Rain, Yes You Saw Me" by Pamala was released by Evejim Records.^[29] "The Drain", recorded by Leot Littlepage, was released on Select Records.^[30]

Cover Versions

• In 2001, the song was covered by NYC band Si*Sé on their self-titled debut album.
• In 2005, jazz artist Ledisi covered "The Rain" on the album Def Jazz, which featured vocals from Jones.

Samples

• The song was sampled for "Standing in the Rain" by Action Bronson and Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys ft Mark Ronson featured in the 2016 film Suicide Squad.

In popular culture

• The song was featured in a late 1986 episode of the US daytime soap opera General Hospital.
• In 2018, Donald Glover parodied the song in a Saturday Night Live sketch written by and co-starring cast member Cecily Strong and also featuring Kenan Thompson. Glover played "Raz P. Berry," singing "The Night (I Watched You)." Instead of ending with the usual string of threats and revenge, the whole song turns out to be a disastrous case of mistaken identity.^[31]

References

1. Jacobs, Dick (1988). Who Wrote That Song?. Betterway Publications. p. 196. ISBN 9781558701083. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 307.
3. "Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2019-12-29.
4. "The Rain (Song by Oran Juice Jones) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts".
5. "Oran 'Juice' Jones". GrammyAwards.com. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 2021-05-08.
6. Greenblatt, Leah (December 20, 2019). "VH1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the '80s: Do You Agree?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 10, 2021 – via ew.com.
7. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 161. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
8. "Oran %22Juice%22 Jones – The Rain" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
9. "Oran %22Juice%22 Jones – The Rain" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
10. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0759." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
11. "Chart Track: Week 29, 1986". Irish Singles Chart.
12. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 8, 1987" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
13. "Oran %22Juice%22 Jones – The Rain" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
14. "Oran %22Juice%22 Jones – The Rain". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
15. "Oran %22Juice%22 Jones – The Rain". Swiss Singles Chart.
16. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
17. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (1940-10-14). "Oran "Juice" Jones | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
18. "The Rain (Song by Oran Juice Jones) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts".
19. "Offiziellecharts.de – Oran "Juice" Jones – The Rain" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
20. "Jaaroverzichten 1987". Ultratop. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
21. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1987". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
22. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1987". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
23. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
24. "Canadian single certifications – Oran "Juice" Jones – The Rain". Music Canada. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
25. "British single certifications – Oran "Juice" Jones – The Rain". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
26. "American single certifications – Oran – The Rain". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
27. Davis, Danita. "Danita Davis, Professional Profile". Backstage. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
28. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 405.
29. "Walkin in the Rain, Yes You Saw Me". Evejim Records. Posted by World Music Channel. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20 – via YouTube.
30. "Leot Littlepage 'The Drain'". Discogs.com. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
31. "80's Music Video - SNL". 5 May 2018. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved 2021-05-08 – via YouTube.