Who Let In the Rain

"Who Let in the Rain"
Single by Cyndi Lauper
from the album Hat Full of Stars
B-side"Cold"
ReleasedJune 22, 1993[1]
January 1994 (U.K.)
Recorded1993
Genre
Length4:37
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Cyndi Lauper singles chronology
"The World Is Stone"
(1992) 		"Who Let in the Rain"
(1993) 		"That's What I Think"
(1993)
Music video
"Who Let In the Rain" on YouTube

"Who Let in the Rain" is a song by American singer Cyndi Lauper, from her fourth studio album, Hat Full of Stars (1993). Released as the lead single from the album on June 22, 1993,[1] it is a ballad about the end of a relationship that proved popular among Lauper's fans. Outside the United States, it was a modest hit peaking in the top 40 in the UK (where it was released in December 1993 as the second single from the album) and New Zealand. In the US, the song failed to make the Hot 100 and reached only as high as number 33 on the Adult Contemporary singles chart.

Its release featured a B-side called "Cold", an up-beat track from the Hat Full of Stars sessions. Junior Vasquez produced the song with Lauper. He produced most of the rest of the album as well. Lauper wrote the song with Allee Willis.

Lauper re-recorded "Who Let in the Rain" for her Shine album, which was released in Japan in 2004.

Critical reception

Mike DeGagne from AllMusic viewed the song as one of the "courageous attempts" on the Hat Full of Stars album.[4] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "It has been way too long since Cyndi's unique voice has filled pop radio's airwaves. She is likely to be warmly welcomed back to the fold with this sad, introspective ballad from her forthcoming album". He added, "Track grows from a soft stance", like on Lauper's classic "Time After Time", "building to an appropriately emotional climax."[5] The Daily Vault's Mark Millan noted that "the mood is lightened with the R&B flavored "Who Let In The Rain"", adding that it "find the Lauper of old creeping through".[3] Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "Take no pauper if you can get La Lauper. This first single from the forthcoming album Hat Full Of Stars is a nice drizzle, while the bonus track Cold is a real cloudburst."[6] Alan Jones from Music Week described it as "a pleasant, low-key affair which builds nicely without ever completely breaking out."[7]

Formats and track listings

Charts

Chart (1993) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[8] 109
Canada Top Singles (RPM) 76
Chile (Chilean Singles Chart)[9] 27
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[10] 90
Italy Airplay (Music & Media)[11] 9
New Zealand (RIANZ)[12] 12
UK Singles (OCC)[13] 32
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[14] 33
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[15] 19

References

  1. ^ a b "Digital Videos – Episodes (TV Series) – VH1". VH1. Retrieved July 8, 2017.[dead link]
  2. ^ a b Molanphy, Chris (November 20, 2021). "Be the One to Walk in the Sun Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Millan, Mark (February 24, 2014). "Hat Full Of Stars – Cyndi Lauper". The Daily Vault. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  4. ^ DeGagne, Mike. "Cyndi Lauper – A Hat Full of Stars". AllMusic. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  5. ^ Flick, Larry (June 19, 1993). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 86. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  6. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 18. May 1, 1993. p. 15. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  7. ^ Jones, Alan (December 25, 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 14. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  8. ^ "Response from ARIA re: chart in inquiry, received March 3, 2017". Imgur.com. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  9. ^ "Cyndi Lauper - Who Let in the Rain". March 6, 2004. Archived from the original on March 6, 2004. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  10. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. January 29, 1994. p. 21. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  11. ^ "Regional EHR Top 20: South" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 19. May 8, 1993. p. 27.
  12. ^ Charts.nz
  13. ^ "Cyndi Lauper UK Chart History". Official Charts.
  14. ^ "Cyndi Lauper – Awards – AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  15. ^ "Adult Contemporary Tracks" (PDF). RPM magazine. No. 2 October 1993. p. 14. Retrieved July 6, 2024.