Blame It on the Rain

"Blame It on the Rain" is a song written by Diane Warren and performed by the German dance-pop group Milli Vanilli. It was released as a new track from the group's North American debut album, Girl You Know It's True (1989), and did not appear on All or Nothing (1988), their debut album in other regions. An extended remix of the song did appear on The U.S.-Remix Album: All or Nothing (1989), which served to release the new tracks included on Girl You Know It's True that did not appear on All or Nothing outside of North America.

"Blame It on the Rain"
Single by Milli Vanilli
from the album Girl You Know It's True
B-side"Dance with a Devil"
ReleasedJuly 1989
GenreDance-pop[1]
Length
  • 4:19 (album version)
  • 4:08 (single version)
Label
Songwriter(s)Diane Warren
Producer(s)Frank Farian
Milli Vanilli singles chronology
"Baby Don't Forget My Number"
(1988)		 "Blame It on the Rain"
(1989)		 "Girl I'm Gonna Miss You"
(1989)
Music video
"Blame It on the Rain" on YouTube

The song is written in the second person, and the protagonist is advising the listener to "blame it on the rain" and other natural elements after leaving their lover and regretting it. The song topped the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Milli Vanilli's third and final single to do so. It also reached the top 10 in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, as well as in several European countries. In the United Kingdom, the song did not enter the top 40, peaking at number 52.

Background

The song had originally been intended for the sibling group the Jets. When the band did not record it, Arista Records president Clive Davis suggested to Warren that it would be a good fit for Milli Vanilli.[2]

Composition

The verses are in the key of B♭ major and modulate up a half step to B major for the main chorus and modulate once more to C major during the final repetition of the chorus. It is originally 98 beats per minute and features a sparse bass line and heavy handclaps. The music video version of the song differs in a few ways, most noticeably in the longer length and brass synth introduction absent in the album and single variations.

Chart performance

"Blame It on the Rain" debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 on 7 October 1989, at number sixty-five.[3] Seven weeks later, for the week ending 25 November 1989, it reached number one, and occupied the spot for two weeks. It also spent a total of twenty-three weeks on the Hot 100. The song became Milli Vanilli's third number one single on the Hot 100 after "Baby Don't Forget My Number" and "Girl I'm Gonna Miss You". The song was ranked at number 21 on Billboard's Year-End Singles list for 1989 and at number 46 for 1990.

Critical reception

Harriet Dell from Smash Hits wrote, "Like "Girl You Know It's True" the dreadlocked boys of the too-tight-trouser fame have come up with another pleasant pop hit. It smooches along at a George Michael type pace, with some topper backing singers and some fab electronic goings on. This is surprisingly good...mmm, I'd even go as far as to say...I like it!"[4]

Track listings
  • CD maxi
  1. "Blame It on the Rain" (club mix) – 7:02
  2. "Baby Don't Forget My Number" (European mix) – 4:55
  • 7-inch single
  1. "Blame It on the Rain" – 4:08
  • 12-inch maxi
  1. "Blame It on the Rain" (club mix) – 7:15
  2. "Blame It on the Rain" (radio version) – 4:08

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[38] Gold 35,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[39] Gold 50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[40] Gold 5,000*
Sweden (GLF)[41] Gold 25,000^
United States (RIAA)[42] Platinum 1,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Smith, Troy L. (13 May 2021). "Every No. 1 song of the 1980s ranked from worst to best". Cleveland.com. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  2. "Diane Warren: Wild Stories Behind Hits for Beyoncé, Cher, Aerosmith and More". Rolling Stone. 6 February 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  3. "Milli Vanilli: Blame It On The Rain". crapfromthepast.com. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  4. Dell, Harriet (28 June 1989). "Singles". Smash Hits. p. 61. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  5. "Milli Vanilli – Blame It on the Rain". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  6. "Milli Vanilli – Blame It on the Rain" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  7. "Milli Vanilli – Blame It on the Rain" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  8. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6660." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  9. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 6628." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  10. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 6678." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  11. Danish Singles Chart. 17 November 1989.
  12. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 34. 26 August 1989. p. IV.
  13. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  14. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Milli Vanilli" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  15. "Milli Vanilli – Blame It on the Rain" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  16. "Milli Vanilli – Blame It on the Rain". Top 40 Singles.
  17. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  18. "Milli Vanilli – Blame It on the Rain". Singles Top 100.
  19. "Milli Vanilli – Blame It on the Rain". Swiss Singles Chart.
  20. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  21. "Milli Vanilli Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  22. "Milli Vanilli Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  23. "Milli Vanilli Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  24. "Milli Vanilli Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  25. "Top 100 Singles". Cash Box. Vol. LIII, no. 20. 25 November 1989. p. 35.
  26. "Offiziellecharts.de – Milli Vanilli – Blame It on the Rain" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  27. "Jahreshitparade Singles 1989" (in German). Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  28. "Jaaroverzichten 1989" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  29. "Top 100 Singles of '89". RPM. Retrieved 17 June 2022 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  30. "Eurochart Hot 100 1989" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 51. 23 December 1989. p. 6. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 17 January 2020 – via World Radio History.
  31. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1989" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  32. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1989" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  33. "Billboard Top 100 – 1989". Archived from the original on 17 January 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  34. "ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1990". ARIA. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  35. "Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1990". RPM. Retrieved 17 June 2022 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  36. "Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of '89". RPM. Retrieved 17 June 2022 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  37. "Billboard Top 100 – 1990". Archived from the original on 6 July 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  38. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1990 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  39. "Canadian single certifications – Milli Vanilli – Blame It on the Rain". Music Canada. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  40. "New Zealand single certifications – Milli Vanilli – Blame It on the Rain". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  41. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  42. "American single certifications – Milli Vanilli – Blame It on the Rain". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
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