Blame It on the Rain (Milli Vanilli song)
Pop single released in 1989 by Milli Vanilli that reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100; notable for its chart success and its place in the group's later lip-syncing controversy.
Overview
"Blame It on the Rain" is a pop single recorded by Milli Vanilli. Issued in the summer of 1989, it became one of the group's most commercially successful singles, reaching the top position on the Billboard Hot 100. The tune combined contemporary pop production with a radio-friendly chorus and was widely played on mainstream stations and dance clubs.
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Songwriting and production
The song was crafted for the late-1980s pop market and is commonly described as a dance-pop ballad. It was written by a professional songwriter and produced within the team assembled to create Milli Vanilli's recorded material. Multiple mixes were made for radio and clubs, including a longer club mix that appeared on the group's album releases.
Release and chart performance
Released as a single in 1989, "Blame It on the Rain" climbed the charts quickly and reached number one in November 1989, where it remained for two weeks. It was the group's third and final number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 during their brief period of mainstream success. The single was issued in several formats with remixes that extended its play in dance settings.
Versions and album appearances
- The single appeared in an edited form for radio and as extended mixes for clubs.
- A club mix version was included on the album All or Nothing, while other releases collected the song on regional compilations and the U.S. album.
Controversy and legacy
Shortly after these chart achievements, the group's commercial story was overshadowed by revelations that raised questions about who performed the recorded vocals. The unfolding lip synching issues became part of a wider scandal that affected the group's reputation and led to the revocation of certain honors. As a result, the single is often remembered both for its chart success and for its place in the episode that altered perceptions of authenticity in pop production.
Notable facts
The track is frequently cited in discussions of late-1980s pop trends and the music industry's production practices. It remains a recognizable example of the period's radio-oriented songwriting and the remix culture that supported single releases in both radio and club contexts. For more detailed discography or chart data consult dedicated music references and chart archives.
Listen or read more about the song · Milli Vanilli · Billboard Hot 100 · Lip synching · Scandal · All or Nothing
Worth knowing
Diane Warren had originally written the song for The Jets, who decided at the last minute not to record it. She then played it to Clive Davis of Arista Records, who was looking for new songs for Milli Vanilli. Diane Warren didn't know Milli Vanilli and wanted her song to be sung by Whitney Houston, but Davis decided to go with Milli Vanilli. His plan was to replace four tracks from the European version with newly recorded songs for the US version of the debut album All or Nothing. In addition to a cover version of It's Your Thing by the Isley Brothers, Frank Farian also recorded Blame It on the Rain. Unlike the previous albums Girl You Know It's True and Baby Don't Forget My Number, this was the first time a Roland TR-808 was used as the drum machine.
It was released on July 13, 1989, in the United States it was her last number one hit shortly before her ghost singer scandal. Diane Warren, author of the song, stated that she was little affected by the scandal because as a songwriter she did not care who sang her songs, all that mattered to her was that she liked the result.
Cover versions
- 1992: Weird Al Yankovic (The Plumbing Song)
- 2000: Fab Morvan
Related articles
Author
AlegsaOnline.com Blame It on the Rain (Milli Vanilli song) Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/12079
Sources
- allmusic.com : "Blame it on the Rain"