View source for No Rain

{{Short description|1993 single by Blind Melon}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox song
| name          = No Rain
| cover         = No Rain by Blind Melon.jpg
| alt           =
| caption       = U.S. CD maxi-single
| type          = single
| artist        = [[Blind Melon]]
| album         = [[Blind Melon (album)|Blind Melon]]
| B-side        =
* "Drive" (live)
* "Soak the Sin" (live)
| released      = {{start date|1993}}
| recorded      =
| studio        = [[London Bridge Studio|London Bridge]] (Seattle, Washington)
| genre         =
* [[Alternative rock]]<ref name="AllMusic Rock 1997">{{cite book|last= Erlewine|first= Stephen Thomas|chapter= Various Artists - ''MTV's Best of the Buzz Bin, Vol. 1'' (1996)|editor-last1= Bogdanov|editor-first1=Vladimir|editor-last2= Erlewine |editor-first2= Michael |editor-last3= Erlewine |editor-first3= Stephen Thomas |editor-last4= Unterberger |editor-first4= Richie |editor-last5= Woodstra |editor-first5= Chris|date= January 1, 1997|title= AllMusic Guide to Rock|publisher= [[Miller Freeman, Inc.]]|location= San Francisco|page= 1080}}</ref><ref name="Blind Melon local">{{cite web|last=Starkey|first=Glen|date=August 30, 2018|title=Blind Melon with local singer Travis Warren plays SLO Brew on Sept. 5|url=https://www.newtimesslo.com/sanluisobispo/blind-melon-with-local-singer-travis-warren-plays-slo-brew-on-sept-5/Content?oid=6044114|access-date=August 23, 2020|website=[[New Times (weekly)|New Times]]}}</ref>
* [[neo-psychedelia]]<ref name="Blind Melon local" />
* [[Folk music|folk]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Gerard|first=Chris|date=April 20, 2021|title=The 100 Greatest Alternative Singles of the '90s: 80 - 61|url=https://www.popmatters.com/100-greatest-singles-90s-part2/2|access-date=August 12, 2022|website=[[PopMatters]]|page=2}}</ref>
| length        = {{Duration|m=3|s=37}}
| label         = [[Capitol Records|Capitol]]
| writer        = Blind Melon
| producer      =
* [[Rick Parashar]]
* Blind Melon
| prev_title    = [[Tones of Home]]
| prev_year     = 1992
| next_title    = I Wonder
| next_year     = 1993
}}
"'''No Rain'''" is a song by American rock band [[Blind Melon]]. It was released in 1993 as the second single from the band's debut album ''[[Blind Melon (album)|Blind Melon]]''. The song is well known for its accompanying music video, which features the "Bee Girl" character. The music video, directed by [[Samuel Bayer]], received heavy airplay on [[MTV]] at the time of its release. It subsequently helped propel ''Blind Melon'' to multi-[[Music recording sales certification|platinum]] level.
The song is the band's highest-charting song, reaching number 20 on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and number one on both the ''Billboard'' [[Mainstream Rock (chart)|Album Rock Tracks]] and [[Alternative Songs|Modern Rock Tracks]] charts. It proved to be successful internationally, peaking at number one in Canada and number eight in Australia.
==Background==
"No Rain" is in the key of E [[Mixolydian mode|Mixolydian]], and is performed in a moderately fast tempo.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0064285 |title=No Rain|date=1993|website=Musicnotes.com}}</ref>
Although the song is credited to the whole band, it was bassist Brad Smith who wrote the greater part of "No Rain". He said: "The song is about not being able to get out of bed and find excuses to face the day when you have really, in a way, nothing." At the time, Smith had been dating a girl who was going through depression (she would sleep through sunny days and complain when it did not rain), and for a while he told himself that he was writing the song from her perspective, though Smith later realized that he was also writing it about himself.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.songfacts.com/facts/blind-melon/no-rain |title = ShieldSquare Captcha}}</ref>
==Music video==
The music video, directed by [[Samuel Bayer]], stars Heather DeLoach as the "Bee Girl", a young [[tap dance]]r wearing a homemade bee costume and large glasses, modeled after the ''Blind Melon'' album cover: a family picture of Georgia Graham, younger sister of drummer Glen Graham.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=September 24, 1993|title=To Bee Or Not To Bee|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|issue=189|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,308100,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509233257/https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,308100,00.html|archive-date=May 9, 2012}}</ref> The Bee Girl's story is intercut with footage of Blind Melon performing in a field against a clear blue sky.
It opens on the girl's tap routine; the audience responds with mocking laughter, and the girl runs off-stage in tears. As the song plays, she wanders through Los Angeles, stopping to perform her dance for whoever will watch, but she still feels alone. Ultimately, at the point in the song where the word "escape" is repeated, she peeks through a gate, which elicits a look of astonishment on her face, then runs through it to join a group of "bee people" just like her, dancing joyfully in a green field.
As a result of the video, DeLoach appeared on the 1993 [[MTV Video Music Awards]] doing her "Bee Girl" dance to close the show, and also appeared as the "Bee Girl" in the video for [["Weird Al" Yankovic]]'s song "[[Bedrock Anthem]]".<ref name="MTV News">{{cite web|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|date=December 10, 2008|title=Blind Melon 'Bee Girl' Grows Up, Has Eye on Acting Career|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1601055/blind-melon-bee-girl-grows-up-has-eye-on-acting-career/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140803220436/http://www.mtv.com/news/1601055/blind-melon-bee-girl-grows-up-has-eye-on-acting-career/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 3, 2014|access-date=September 30, 2021|website=[[MTV News]]}}</ref><ref name="Entertainment Weekly">{{cite magazine|last=Hajari|first=Nisid|date=August 18, 1995|title=Catching up with Heather DeLoach|url=https://ew.com/article/1995/08/18/catching-heather-deloach/|access-date=September 30, 2021|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref>
==Reception==
''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' described the song as "a playfully jingle-jangle riff that feels strummed from a hammock, a beguiling falsetto vocal from wildly charismatic frontman [[Shannon Hoon]], a sweet and mournful lyric about watching the world go by that doesn't sound depressed even though it literally describes depression."<ref>{{cite web|title=The Pitchfork Staff's Favorite One-Hit Wonders of the '90s|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-best-one-hit-wonders-of-the-90s/|work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|author=Jeremy Gordon|date=October 4, 2022 }}</ref>
== Track listings ==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''US maxi-CD single (1993) and Australian CD single (1993)'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=No Rain|others=[[Blind Melon]]|year=1993|type=US maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=[[Capitol Records]]|id=C2 0777 7 15994 2 2}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=No Rain|others=Blind Melon|year=1993|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Capitol Records|id=8810252}}</ref>
# "No Rain" (LP version)
# "No Rain" (live)
# "Drive" (live)
# "Soak the Sin" (live)
'''US cassette single (1993)'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=No Rain|others=Blind Melon|year=1993|type=US cassette single sleeve|publisher=Capitol Records|id=4KM 0777 7 44939 4 9}}</ref>
# "No Rain" (LP version) – 3:15
# "No Rain" (live) – 6:00
# "Soak the Sin" (live) – 3:50
'''French maxi-CD single (1993)'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=No Rain|others=Blind Melon|year=1993|type=French maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Capitol Records|id=8813322}}</ref>
# "No Rain (live) – 5:25
# "Candy Says" (Country Jellyfish version) – 3:29
# "Paper Scratcher" (acoustic version) – 3:10
# "[[Tones of Home]]" (remix) – 4:29
{{col-2}}
'''European CD single (1993)'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=No Rain|others=Blind Melon|year=1993|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=Capitol Records|id=CDCL 699, 7243 8 81000 2 1}}</ref>
# "No Rain" (LP version)
# "Paper Scratcher" (Board mix)
'''UK CD and 12-inch single (1993)'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=No Rain|others=Blind Melon|year=1993|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=Capitol Records|id=CDCL 699, 7243 8 81024 2 1}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=No Rain|others=Blind Melon|year=1993|type=UK 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=Capitol Records|id=12CLPD 699}}</ref>
# "No Rain" (LP version)
# "Soak the Sin" (Board mix)
# "Paper Scratcher" (Board mix)
# "Deserted" (Board mix)
'''UK 7-inch and cassette single (1993)'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=No Rain|others=Blind Melon|year=1993|type=UK 7-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Capitol Records|id=CLS 699, 7243 8 81024 0 7}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=No Rain|others=Blind Melon|year=1993|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Capitol Records|id=TCCL 699}}</ref>
# "No Rain" (LP version) – 3:15
# "No Bidness" (Triple Vision version)
# "I Wonder" (LP version)
* "No Bidness" was recorded live at [[Bogart's]], Cincinnati, Ohio, on August 11, 1993
{{col-end}}
==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
===Weekly charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1993–1994)
!Peak<br/>position
|-
{{Single chart|Australia|8|artist=Blind Melon|song=No Rain|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Single chart|Austria|29|artist=Blind Melon|song=No Rain|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Single chart|Flanders|31|artist=Blind Melon|song=No Rain|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Single chart|Canadatopsingles|1|chartid=2297|rowheader=true|access-date=September 30, 2019}}
|-
!scope="row"|Europe ([[European Hot 100 Singles|Eurochart Hot 100]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-01-08.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=11|issue=2|page=11|date=January 8, 1994|access-date=August 11, 2020}}</ref>
|53
|-
{{Single chart|Germany|76|artist=Blind Melon|song=No Rain|songid=29924|rowheader=true|access-date=September 30, 2019}}
|-
!scope="row"|Iceland ([[Íslenski listinn|Íslenski Listinn Topp 40]])<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2619141#page/n1/mode/2up|title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (4.–10. nóv)|newspaper=[[DV (newspaper)|Dagblaðið Vísir]]|language=is|page=20|date=November 4, 1993|access-date=September 30, 2019}}</ref>
|21
|-
{{Single chart|Ireland2|24|song=No Rain|rowheader=true|access-date=September 30, 2019}}
|-
{{Single chart|Dutch40|26|artist=Blind Melon|song=No Rain|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Single chart|Dutch100|22|artist=Blind Melon|song=No Rain|rowheader=true|access-date=September 30, 2019}}
|-
{{Single chart|New Zealand|15|artist=Blind Melon|song=No Rain|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{Single chart|UK|17|date=19931211|rowheader=true|access-date=September 30, 2019}}
|-
!scope="row"|US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1993-11-20/|title=Billboard Hot 100|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=November 20, 1993|access-date=August 21, 2023}}</ref>
|20
|-
!scope="row"|US [[Album Rock Tracks]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-mainstream-rock-tracks/1993-10-09/|title=Mainstream Rock Airplay|magazine=Billboard|date=October 9, 1993|access-date=August 21, 2023}}</ref>
|1
|-
!scope="row"|US [[Modern Rock Tracks]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/1993-09-18/|title=Alternative Airplay|magazine=Billboard|date=September 18, 1993|access-date=August 21, 2023}}</ref>
|1
|-
!scope="row"|US [[Pop Airplay|Top 40/Mainstream]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/pop-songs/1993-10-16/|title=Pop Airplay|magazine=Billboard|date=October 16, 1993|url-access=subscription|access-date=August 21, 2023}}</ref>
|4
|-
!scope="row"|US ''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]]'' Top 100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/90s_files/19931030.html|title=Cash Box Top 100 Singles: October 30, 1993|website=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]]|access-date=February 5, 2021|archive-date=October 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010195217/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/90s_files/19931030.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|17
|}
{{col-2}}
===Year-end charts===
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1993)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"|Australia (ARIA)<ref>{{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia}}</ref>
|85
|-
!scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.2339&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.2339.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.2339|title=The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1993|magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|publisher=[[Library and Archives Canada]]|access-date=September 30, 2019}}</ref>
|17
|}
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1994)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"|Australia (ARIA)<ref name="ausye">{{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/LHigR9p.jpg|title=The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1994|publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025122130/http://i.imgur.com/LHigR9p.jpg|archive-date=October 25, 2015|access-date=November 17, 2019}}</ref>
|85
|}
{{col-end}}
==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1993|certyear=1994|certref=<ref name="ausye"/>|access-date=November 17, 2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Blind Melon|title=No Rain|award=Silver|relyear=2004|certyear=2023|id=18891-3093-1|access-date=April 14, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}
==Release history==
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
!scope="col"|Region
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Format(s)
!scope="col"|Label(s)
!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
!scope="row"|United States
|1993
|{{hlist|CD|cassette}}
|rowspan="2"|[[Capitol Records|Capitol]]
|
|-
!scope="row"|United Kingdom
|November 29, 1993
|{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|12-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}}
|<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Single Releases|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=27|date=November 27, 1993}}</ref>
|}
==See also==
* [[List of RPM number-one singles of 1993]]
* [[List of Billboard Mainstream Rock number-one songs of the 1990s#1993|List of Billboard Mainstream Rock number-one songs of the 1990s]]
* [[Number one modern rock hits of 1993]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* {{YouTube|3qVPNONdF58|No Rain official video}}
{{Blind Melon}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:1992 songs]]
[[Category:1993 singles]]
[[Category:Blind Melon songs]]
[[Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Rick Parashar]]
[[Category:Music videos directed by Samuel Bayer]]
[[Category:Capitol Records singles]]
[[pt:No Rain]]
[[Category:Songs about depression]]