The Power of Rain

For me and probably for a lot of people, the sound of rain is the most soothing sound to hear; from the roar of water hitting the ground to all the “pings,” “plops,” “thumps,” sounds that drops of rain can make on their decent. The sounds of rain have become so treasured that recordings of the rain have been made to meet the market of rain loving souls. There is a calm peace to the sound of rain. Maybe it’s human instinct that is found of the sound of what our lives have revolved and still revolve around. Rain, the bringer of fresh water, magic to plants and humans around the world. And there is a magic to this weather pattern. It gives relief to the dry, the thirsty, the dirty. Rain leaves the world refreshed if only for a moment. Water reflects of surfaces, catching light and releasing it. Rain is enjoyed during and after it has fallen, whether in puddles to be splashed or water droplets waiting to be caught. Something so amazing and magical can hardly ever be recreated. So, at best the emotions behind it, that it carries, that it leaves behind, can be captured and made into something. And that something I have found in a song.

Grand Escape by the RADWIMPS featuring Toko Miura, is the song that closest thing I have been able to find that brings forth what the rain brings to me. Nowhere in the song is there a track of actual rain but nevertheless rain still falls in the song.

The beginning starts with a piano (as a good song interpreting rain should), layered with multiple twinkling sounds, creating an ethereal moment as well as mimicking the being of a rain shower, drops hitting different objects. Soon the soft voice of Toko Miura comes in; and this is where the song is instantly throws the average English speaker/listener. The song is sung in Japanese. I don’t know Japanese, but that doesn’t matter. I let her soft and calm voice come in out, and just when one begins to settle in for a rainy-day ballad (maybe already putting the song on your sad playlist), the music swells. The music picks up pace, and more instruments come in, energizing the song. This rainy day is not sad but fun and bright, and hopeful. I release the breath I was holding. The song changes. Around the end, just when the song has finally established itself, new voices join in. When the voices rise above the instruments in a climax all I can picture are people looking up at the rain or just enjoying the rain in whatever way they want.

Does it matter that I can’t understand the lyrics, no. Music is one of the languages that can be understood by anyone. I listen to the instruments, and vocals and the tones they create. This song reminds me not only of the rain that I enjoy but it also reminds me that I won’t always feel slow and sad stuck in a muck. The magic power that the rain has within itself I find in music and doubly so in Grand Escape. It truly is an escape; it takes me away from the worry, the stress and sends me to place of clam and serenity not unlike a rain storm. The air is fresh after and I can’t help want more; fortunately I can always press repeat. This song has gotten me out of the many funks, and I can’t help but smile by the end of it. I guess that’s the power of this song, the power of rain.