1001 Songs Challenge #774: No Rain (1992)

On 11 February 2019 I set myself the challenging of reading 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die by Robert Dimery (ed.) and following the book’s advice to the letter. I’ve previously read 1001 Films… and started 1001 Albums… but felt 1001 Songs… would be a sensible place to start for what I have in mind here.

My challenge is to read about one song per day and listen to it (YouTube and Spotify, I need you tonight!) before sharing my own thoughts. Some songs I will love, others I’ll hate, and I’m sure there will be those that leave me perplexed but listen to them I shall.

I’ll also try, and most likely fail, to pinpoint the best song from the 1001 on offer but I’m nothing if not foolhardy. Instead of one song, I’m predicting I’ll have about 100 favourites by the end and may have to resort to a Top 10 so far to maintain any semblance of sanity.

So long as I post everyday (including Christmas) then this challenge should come to an end on Wednesday 8 November 2021. Staying with the Barney Stinson theme I am hoping that the whole experience will prove to be…

 

Blind Melon – No Rain (1992)

 

 

We’re remaining in the US today, dear reader, but are making our way over to California for a spot of psychedelic and alternative rock. Formed in Los Angeles in 1990 Blind Melon enjoyed their peak years in the early 1990s. We join them in 1992 with the release of their self-titled debut album and from there 1001 Songs have lifted a track that was also a single for the band – No Rain.

No Rain was largely written by bassist, Brad Smith, at a time when he was in a relationship with a woman who was struggling with depression. The song traces the negative impact of having the black dog alongside you. The individual here talks of being stuck in bed all day, reading a book to try and stay awake and longing for days when it will rain, which seems to offer more comfort than sunshine and blue skies. This person is pleading for emotional support through these dark days but it sounds like the road ahead is riddled with monsters. 

Blind Melon are another group I was not familiar with prior to this challenge. No Rain addresses a delicate subject in mental illness but captures the difficulties faced when one’s days are consumed by darkness. The song would be the band’s biggest hit and the years that followed would not be as kind. Lead singer, Shannon Hoon, died in 1995 at the age of 28, the result of a drug overdose. The band tried to replace him only to disband in 1999. They have since reformed a couple of times but their biggest success was in the early 1990s.

 

Favourite songs so far:

The Animals – House of the Rising Sun (1964)

Simon & Garfunkel – The Sounds of Silence (1965)

The Beatles – A Day in the Life (1967)

The Doors – The End (1967)

Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here (1975)

Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell (1977)

Ultravox – Vienna (1980)

The Smiths – How Soon Is Now? (1984)

Tracy Chapman – Fast Car (1988)

U2 – One (1991)