Kiss the Rain

"Kiss the Rain" is a song by British singer-songwriter Billie Myers, from her debut album, Growing, Pains (1997). Produced by Desmond Child, the song was released on 23 September 1997 as the lead single from the album by Universal Records. Myers co-wrote it with Child and Eric Bazilian, and also recorded a Spanish version titled "Besa la lluvia (Piensa en mí)" ("Kiss the Rain (Think of Me)"). The song charted at number four on the UK Singles Chart and became an international hit, reaching number two in Canada and number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100. There are two different versions of the music video for the song.

Background
Desmond Child, who produced the album, got the idea for the title after hearing the Bush song "Glycerine". Child misheard the title as "Kiss the Rain." When he was told the correct title, he decided to use "Kiss the Rain" for a future song.

Critical reception
Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "The gripping, acoustic sounds of the track's mood-setting guitar makes the palpable echoes of Billie Myers' voice really stand out." He noted further, "In fact, the chaotic, ever-sure echo full of Myers' emotions charmingly reaches the audience and has a lasting effect. The drum beats wonderfully complement the compelling guitar sounds. This wonderful single [...] is full of depth, emotion, and musical clarity". Joe Jackson from Irish Times noted "her witty, slightly left-of-field lyrics, lines such as In the space of a five-hour time difference/ My imagination has run a marathon of thought. And, yes, she does manage to sing that potentially prosaic line, with the necessary lilt, in the hit single "Kiss the Rain"."

A reviewer from Music Week said, "It's easy to see the crossover appeal of Billie Myers. She's successfully married her distinctive soulful voice and strong presence to a trendy soft-rock backing. The song has a strong chorus, but if anything is a little formulaic." In a separate review, the magazine also complimented its "melancholic beauty". Gerald Martinez from New Sunday Times stated that "her arresting voice immediately makes the song a bit special." He described it as "a song of jealousy and insecurity and vulnerability, over a long-distance lover."

Music video
There were produced two different music videos for "Kiss the Rain"; one for the US market, directed by Matt Mahurin, and another for the European market, directed by David Betteridge. Myers told in an interview, "I wasn't entirely happy with the American video and didn't feel it was quite right for Europe. When you work with some video directors they forget that when someone writes a song they have a vision. The new European promo reflects the real me far more accurately."

Track listings

 * US 7-inch single
 * A. "Kiss the Rain"
 * B. "Tell Me"


 * US, Australian, and Japanese CD single
 * 1) "Kiss the Rain"
 * 2) "The Shark and the Mermaid"


 * UK CD single
 * 1) "Kiss the Rain" (radio edit) – 4:09
 * 2) "Kiss the Rain" (album version) – 4:30
 * 3) "Kiss the Rain" (unplugged) – 7:23
 * 4) "Sleeping Beauty" – 3:57


 * UK cassette single
 * 1) "Kiss the Rain" (radio edit) – 4:09
 * 2) "Kiss the Rain" (album version) – 4:30


 * Italian 12-inch maxi-single
 * A1. "Kiss the Rain" (dance mix) – 5:28
 * A2. "Kiss the Rain" (radio mix) – 3:52
 * A3. "Kiss the Rain" (original version) – 4:30
 * B1. "Kiss the Rain" (TP2K club remix) – 7:52
 * B2. "Kiss the Rain" (Urban Discharge Trippy dub) – 7:55

Personnel
Personnel are adapted from the US CD single liner notes.
 * Billie Myers – vocals, background vocals, writing
 * Eric Bazilian – background vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, drum programming, writing
 * Desmond Child – background vocals, writing
 * Randy Cantor – organ
 * Kenny Aronoff – drums and percussion