B-Sides About Rain
As someone who has lived in Seattle for nearly a decade, a city in the U.S. known for its rainy days, I have built a love-hate relationship with rain. But after listening to “When This Rain Stops” by WENDY on my way home, I decided to highlight some K-Pop B-sides about those cold drizzle days for this week’s entry.
“I Can’t Stand The Rain” by SuperM
The first taste of SuperM came with the release of “I Can’t Stand The Rain” in 2019. Infused with traditional instruments, “I Can’t Stand The Rain” was a hidden gem of 2019 K-Pop. The cinematic build-up of the track creates space for an intense performance of the song.
“When It Rains In Night” by PENTAGON
Included on the group’s mini-album Thumbs Up!, “When It Rains In Night” by PENTAGON is a melodic rap song about emotional nights. With lyrics by members Yuto, Kino, and Wooseok, “When It Rains In Night” perfectly captures how rainy nights can weigh you down even more if you are feeling emotional.
“Rain” by BTS
A self-reflective track, “Rain” by BTS is an old-school hip-hop track. On the track, BTS find themselves becoming people who are stuck in an endless cycle, and they stop to reflect upon themselves in an attempt to sort out their mind. The track was co-written by j-hope, SUGA, and RM and uses rain puddles as a metaphor for a mirror that can help them reflect.
“Dancing In The Rain” by NCT U
Sometimes getting soaked in the rain isn’t all that bad. With lyrics written by NCT’s Jaehyun, “Dancing In The Rain” is a celebration of love, life, and being carefree. The track appeared on NCT’s 2021 album Resonance Pt.1.
“Rain In Springtime” by GFriend
Rain after a warm spring day is just as refreshing as GFriend’s sooothing vocals on their song, “Rain In Springtime” from their fourth mini-album, The Awakening. The change in key paired with the member’s voices adds to the softness of the song creating a relaxing atmosphere.
Bonus: “Stay With Me” by Chanyeol and Punch
One of the most popular OSTs from the drama Guardian: The Lonely and Great God a.k.a Goblin, “Stay With Me” is performed by EXO’s Chanyeol and Punch. The track became popular after being featured in the scene where the main leads of the drama cross paths on a rainy day. The slow motion scene with Gong Yoo wearing an overcoat holding a black umbrella is one of the most popular scenes from the drama. Listen to this song while imagining yourself walking in the rain and have the sound of rain be the track’s backdrop.