| "It Will Rain" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byBruno Mars | ||||
| from the albumThe Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | ||||
| Released | September 27, 2011 (2011-09-27) | |||
| Recorded | 2011 | |||
| Studio | Levcon (Los Angeles, California) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:17 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriters |
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| Producer | The Smeezingtons | |||
| Bruno Mars singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "It Will Rain" onYouTube | ||||
"It Will Rain" is a song by American singer and songwriterBruno Mars. It was released on September 27, 2011 by Atlantic Records as the lead single from the movie's soundtrackThe Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1. Mars composed the song with his production teamthe Smeezingtons. It was partially written during theHooligans in Wondaland Tour in the United States and finished after the singer watched an early version of the movie which inspired him. The soundtrack forThe Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 was a much expected release and Mars's song was chosen as the lead single by the album's executive producer, Alexandra Patsavas, to promote it. Musically, "It Will Rain" is apop andpop-soulballad. Its lyrics tell the agony and torment of a heartbreak and its various stages.
The song received mixed feedback frommusic critics who praised the vocals, but criticized the over-dramatization of the song. It drew comparisons to Mars's "Grenade" (2010) and "Wild Horses" (1971) byThe Rolling Stones. It was commercially successful reaching the top of the charts in theMainstream Top 40 of the United States, South Korea International Singles and Venezuela Pop/Rock General, number two in New Zealand and top-five in many markets. It reached number three on theBillboard Hot 100 and number five on theCanadian Hot 100. It was certified five times platinum by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and seven times platinum byMusic Canada (MC). It also received a two times platinum certification by theAustralian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).
The music video, directed by Phil Pinto and Mars, prominently features the singer going through different emotions such as love and anger with his lover as they struggle through a break-up. The video is interpolated with footage from the filmBreaking Dawn: Part 1, the fourth movie in theTwilight saga. Mars has performed the song onThe Ellen DeGeneres Show and onThe X Factor USA. He also promoted it duringThe Doo-Wops & Hooligans Tour (2010–12) andThe Moonshine Jungle Tour (2013–14) interpolated with "If I Knew" (2012). It was also part of the24K Magic World Tour (2017–18) interpolated withB.o.B and Mars's "Nothin' On You" (2009) and performed on theBruno Mars Live (2022-24). It has been covered by some artists, includingAustin Mahone,Pia Mia andBoyce Avenue onThe Voice.
Bruno Mars started writing the song while he was on theHooligans in Wondaland Tour, "I was just writing to write. I had my guitar with me on tour when I was in the States. I never finished it", he explained.[1] Afterwards he got a call to provide something to the soundtrack,[2] the singer saw some scenes of "Breaking Dawn" and thought to himself "that song I started might be perfect for this".[1] He admitted to have the tune halfway done before visualizing an early cut of the film and, inspired by its characters, put together the finishing touches.[3] In an interview withBillboard, he went on detail "I just had this melody in my head and basically laid it down after I saw the film." He had to watch "most of the movie" to feel "the vibe", as well as its direction.[2]
At the time of theBillboard interview, on September 23, 2011, Mars was unaware of the placement of his song in the movie, he hopefully said "As long as it's not after the credits. I hope it's in a good (scene)!".[2] Later, on November 7, 2011, the singer "hinted" that the single might feature in one of the movie's most pivotal scenes.[1] Before the release of the song, Mars described it as having the same vein as the movies, "the 'Twilight' movies for me (are) a love story. But it's a dark love story", therefore the track is "the darker side of love."[2] He explained that "It Will Rain" is just to be featured on the "Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn" soundtrack and not his second studio album, "I did this for the 'Twilight' soundtrack, then this is for the 'Twilight' soundtrack".[2]
Alexandra Patsavas, music supervisor for theTwilight films, explained the choice of Mars was due to the wedding, in whichPart 1 is centered, "who more appropriate than Bruno Mars to write a timeless, classic wedding song?"[3] "It Will Rain" is the third song featured in the end credits of, the franchise's fourth movie,The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1.[3][4]
"It Will Rain" was written and produced by Mars,Philip Lawrence and Ari Levine, whom are collectively known asthe Smeezingtons. Engineering for "It Will Rain" took place at the Levcon Studios, while the mixing was done at Larrabee Sound Studios, both inLos Angeles, California. Along with the song's composition, Levine also engineered the track. Phredley Brown did the arrangement of the strings, Oscar Hidalgo played the bass, Andrew Duckles was responsible for the viola, Charlie Bisharat played the violin with Josefina Vergara, and Suzie Katayamaconducted the orchestra. The mixing team includedManny Marroquin, Chris Galland and Erik Madrid, the latter two served as assistants. It was mastered byStephen Marcussen at Marcussen Mastering in Hollywood, California.[5]
"It Will Rain" was first made available worldwide, excepted in the United Kingdom, as an iTunes exclusive viadigital download on September 27, 2011 byAtlantic Records. On the same day, the single could be listened on Mars official website.[6][7] Atlantic Records sent the track to Americancontemporary hit radios playlists on October 4, 2011.[8] On October 10, 2011 the single was issued for radio airplay in Italy byWarner Music Group.[9] On October 28, 2011, the song was released in Germany, Austria and Switzerland as a CD single byElektra Records and in the United Kingdom via digital download on October 31, 2011.[6][10]
"It Will Rain" is apop andpop-soulballad.[11][12][13] Itsinstrumentation is reminiscent of "Wild Horses" (1971) byThe Rolling Stones and Mars's "Grenade" (2010).[14] The song's main structure is backed by piano, percussion that resembles an 80's drum track, backup vocals, a "digital echo" on Mars's voice and "sweeping strings".[15][16][17] It starts with a piano chord in a menacing, dissonant crescendo with "solemn chord progression" and "haunting backup vocals". Suddenly, the a "light simple piano riff" starts, accompanied by a chorus.[14][16][18]
"It Will Rain" was composed in a key ofD major with atempo of 72 beats per minute.[19] Lyrically, the record shows the agony and torment of a heartbreak.[17][20] It describes the universal emotional pain of relationship bonds likemorphine ("If you ever leave me, baby / leave some morphine at my door"),[18] romantic attachment andbehavioral addiction.[21] It shows the results of being ripped apart that leads todepression.[20] Several publications noticed the over-dramatization of the lyrics.[13][18][21]
Simon Vozick-Levinson of theRolling Stone and Tris McCall fromNj.com dubbed "It Will Rain" as Mars's next radio hit.[13][16] Mars's vocals have been highly praised, withBillboard writing "pitch-perfect vocals" while PopDust felt that "it shouldn't be surprising that he sings this well."[14][21] Upon the single release, Mars started regretting the key he wrote the song in.[22] In 2012, on theBillboard Cover Story, the artist revealed his displeasure and annoyance with the final mix of his vocals on the song, and whenever the song was playing he had to "turn off the radio" as he "felt like a mosquito singing."[23]
"It Will Rain" received generally mixed reviews.Billboard gave the song a 4 out of 5 stars, denoting that the song explores "the darker insecurities first seen in..."Grenade"".Billboard compared the song's piano riff to the ones used by the artist himself, while the percussion and chord progression was reminiscent of "OneRepublic's oeuvre more than Mars' sunny hits". The review concluded with positive feedback for the singer's "pitch-perfect vocals and his knack for warbling about women troubles, the man once again delivers."[14]
In a mixed review,HitFix's Melinda Newman felt the recording "has the dated feel of a song from the '80s, perhaps because of the drum track." The "few chord changes" reminded her of "Wild Horses" byThe Rolling Stones. Newman also said that "Against All Odds" byPhil Collins would be a more suitable choice for the soundtrack than "It Will Rain".[15] Similarly, Simon Vozick-Levinson ofRolling Stone also drew a comparison to "Wild Horses" by The Rolling Stones, feeling an "overheated romantic dialogue" and "similarly melodramatic" as in "Grenade", adding that the "real point is the song's desperately yearning melody." Vozick-Levinson ranked the single three out of five stars.[13] PopDust compared the recording to "Grenade", "yet somehow...more dramatic". However, the song was "nothing if not competent" and Mars's vocals were praised. It was Mars's fourth-best single by that time if released "with no tie-in". The reviewer assured that the singer has done better in "dramatic and romantic" and by comparison it was "a gentle drizzle that comes and goes".[21]
On the other hand, Tris McCall fromNJ.com criticized the track for its "radio-friendliness", which is evident "from the digital echo on his voice to the sudden beat drop at the beginning of the second verse". Nevertheless, McCall admitted that "It Will Rain" was "another monster hit", and it had "genuine grit and emotional heft", notwithstanding, hard to find since it was "bathe[d]... in strings and marinate[d]... in backing vocals".[16]Dallas Observer's Shahryar Rivzi gave a harsh critique of the recording saying that it was an "accessible way to present unrealistic ideas about romance". Its lyrics "present Bruno as either a vampire or a werewolf" and the "iffy drug reference" ("If you ever leave me, baby / leave some morphine at my door.") is a "relatively "safe" reference to drugs" and Mars "meant to ease the pain of losing the subject instead of making the user "realize"." Rivzi continued its criticism to the lyrics, "I'll pick up these broken pieces till I'm bleeding", resembles the "masochism" in "Grenade".[18]
At the 2013ASCAP Pop Music Awards it was one of the winners of Most Performed Songs.[24] "It Will Rain" was nominated forChoice Music: Single by a Male Artist at the2012 Teen Choice Awards.[25]
In the United States, "It Will Rain" debuted on theBillboard Hot 100 at number 28.[26] It is Mars's first soundtrack single to chart on the Hot 100. "It Will Rain" also entered at number 19 on theAdult Top 40 top twenty chart, eventually peaking at number three.[27][28] It gradually climbed up the Hot 100 and peaked at number three.[29] "It Will Rain" was successful on theBillboard pop charts, reaching number one on theMainstream Top 40 chart.[30] It placed at number 26 on the year-end ranking forBillboard Hot 100 in 2012.[31] In Canada, "It Will Rain" was able to peak at number five on theCanadian Hot 100.[32] Not only was certified five times platinum by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA), but it was also certified seven times platinum byMusic Canada (MC).[33][34]
In Australia, "It Will Rain" entered at number 22 on theARIA Charts, and reached its peak of number 14 nine weeks after its debut, staying there for one week in total.[35] It gradually descended down the charts, present within the top 50 for a total of 17 weeks.[35] It was certified twice platinum by theAustralian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for shipment of 140,000 copies of the single.[36] At the year-end tabulation, the song ranked at number 87 on the Singles chart.[37] In New Zealand, "It Will Rain" debuted at number 28, it ascended the charts reaching the second spot of the chart, being kept of the first place byRihanna andCalvin Harris' "We Found Love".[38] The single gradually descended down the charts and was present for a total of 19 weeks.[38]Recorded Music NZ (RNMZ) awarded the track a triple platinum plaque.[39]
In the United Kingdom the song debuted at number 16, peaking at number 14, four weeks later, on theUK Singles Chart.[40] The song spent 16 weeks on the singles chart and was certified platinum by theBritish Phonographic Industry (BPI).[40][41] Across Europe, "It Will Rain" reached the top fifteen of the charts in Denmark,[35] Finland,[35] Germany,[35] Ireland,[42] Luxembourg,[43] and Scotland.[44] It received a platinum certification in Denmark for 90,000 copies.[45] In South America, "It Will Rain", reached the top of Pop/Rock General chart in Venezuela.[46] InSouth Korea, the song peaked at number 1 on the "International Download Chart".[47] Its successful chart performance was noticed by NJ.com critic, Tris McCall, who said that "It Will Rain" was "inescapable" during the winter.[16]
The song's accompanyingmusic video was directed by Phil Pinto and Mars.[48] It was set to premiere on the night of October 26, 2011 exclusively onMTV, followed by a "special live-stream event" on MTV.com.[49][50] However, two days before its suppose release, Mars announced, viaTwitter, the music video had been delayed for some weeks, "Hey guys, I'm still working on the 'It Will Rain' video. The MTV premiere will happen in a couple weeks."[50][51] It premiered on November 9, 2011 on MTV.[52][53] Filming for the video took place inLondon, England, United Kingdom[53] and features Mozambican and Portuguese model Vanessa Martins.[54]
In the video Mars reminisces about the moments spent between him and his girlfriend in an "sparsely" decorated apartment.[55][56] The singer expresses his emptiness and devastation recurring to solo shots in which he stands "around looking sullen" and by using "faded lighting" in order to convey such sentiments.[4][57] Flashes of the two of them kissing, snuggling and pouring out romance are shown, as the singer apparently misses their relationship.[56][55][57] After the opening sequence, Mars holds a private screening of "Breaking Dawn" to please her, the couple kiss in front of a cinema projector lights, while romantic scenes from theBreaking Dawn: Part 1, including the honeymoon and the one where Edward, played byRobert Pattinson, sweeps Bella, portrayed byKristen Stewart, "off her feet and into their new home", are projected on the wall.[4][56][57] As the video continues, the couple begins to fight, leading to more "heated arguments and lonely nights".[55][57] At this point, Mars, possibly, writes a song to persuade her to stay with him.[57] Nevertheless,MTV's, Jocelyn Vena stated "we see that the song Bruno wrote while his lady was asleep turned out to be romantic enough to win her back."[57] In the final shot the singer is alone as rain pours down and hits the window behind him.[57]
Upon its release, the video received mixed response from critics.Spin's William Goodman felt the clip was "as dramatic as the blockbuster vampire films themselves."[56] However, he condemn it for only having the drama and a couple of scenes from the Twilight movie in common. Goodman described the music video as a "soap opera tale of a young couple struggling through a breakup, and revisiting all their good times in the process."[56] David Greenwald ofBillboard criticized the video for looking "more like a denim brand's lookbook than a peek at the vampire franchise's fourth film."[4] At the2012 MTV Video Music Awards Japan, the video was nominated in the categories ofBest Male Video andBest Video from a Film, winning the former.[58]
Mars first performed "It Will Rain" with his band atThe Ellen DeGeneres Show, on November 18, 2011.[59] Mars wore a hat and sunglasses as props, signing while fog appeared "throughout the dimly-lit studio".[60]Idolator's Becky Bain declared "the man proves again that he's got some killer pipes".[60] Madison Vanderberg from Stereotude also praised the singers' voice "soulful croons and amazing voice".[22] On the following week, the single was performed on the first season of the AmericanX Factor, which for Mars would be one of his career highlights.[61][62] The singer, who was wearing a fedora hat, raised his arms to the audience as the song started and a digital screen projecting a giant broken heart-shaped neon light as background appeared during the show.[62][63][64]
Mars performed "It Will Rain" onThe Doo-Wops & Hooligans Tour (2010–12), where it was the fourteenth song on the setlist. During the European leg, it was sung live withSkylar Grey.[65] Becky Bain of Idolator noted that the two "have melancholia perfected".[66] PopDust felt that "Grey's contribution is soft and minimal; it's all about Bruno and his rain-slick voice." the website concluded, "it's a shame that here, she feels so invisible".[67] DuringThe Moonshine Jungle Tour (2013–14), and his debutconcert residency,Bruno Mars at The Chelsea, Las Vegas (2013–15), "It Will Rain" was interpolated with "If I Knew" of Mars's second studio album,Unorthodox Jukebox (2012), in most concerts.[68][69] The single was part of some shows during the24K Magic World Tour (2017–18) interpolated with "Nothin' on You" (2009), a song included onB.o.B's debut studio albumB.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray (2010) featuring Mars.[70] Starting on October 4, 2024, "It Will Rain" was added to the set list ofBruno Mars Live (2022-24).[71]
American singer and songwriterPia Mia, posted a video of herself singing the track onYouTube, before being signed in a label.[72] American rock bandBoyce Avenue made an acoustic version of the track, which was included on their albumNew Acoustic Sessions, Vol. 3, released on January 2, 2012.[73] Ten days later, YouTuberMegan Nicole released her cover of the song as a single available for purchase.[74] Another American singer and songwriter,Austin Mahone, record a cover of the song along with a music video.[75] On February 10, 2013,Max Schneider released an album titledSchneider Brother Covers – Max Schneider, which contained a cover version of "It Will Rain" done byKurt Hugo Schneider with Olivia Noelle.[76]In 2015, DeAnna Johnson covered the song onThe Voice.[77]
Credits adapted from the liner notes ofThe Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 (soundtrack).[5]
|
|
Weekly charts[edit] |
Year-end charts[edit]
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[36] | 2× Platinum | 140,000^ |
| Canada (Music Canada)[34] | 7× Platinum | 560,000* |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[45] | Platinum | 90,000‡ |
| Germany (BVMI)[125] | Gold | 150,000‡ |
| Mexico (AMPROFON)[126] | Platinum | 60,000* |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[39] | 3× Platinum | 90,000‡ |
| Portugal (AFP)[127] | Platinum | 10,000‡ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE)[128] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[129] | Gold | 15,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[41] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[33] | 5× Platinum | 5,000,000‡ |
| Streaming | ||
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[130] | Gold | 450,000† |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
| Country | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | September 27, 2011 | Digital download | Atlantic | [6][7] |
| United States | October 4, 2011 | Contemporary hit radio | [8] | |
| Italy | October 14, 2011 | Radio airplay | Warner Music Group | [9] |
| Germany | October 28, 2011 | CD single | Elektra | [10] |
| Austria | ||||
| Switzerland | ||||
| United Kingdom | October 31, 2011 | Digital download | — | [6] |
Bruno Mars songs | |
|---|---|
| Doo-Wops & Hooligans | |
| Unorthodox Jukebox | |
| 24K Magic | |
| An Evening with Silk Sonic | |
| Featured singles | |
| Other songs | |
| Story books |
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| Cast andcharacters | |||||||
| Singles | |||||||
| Other | |||||||
| Related articles | |||||||
