Coz I’m singin’ in the rain
Editor’s Note: Last week, we asked you to send us your favourite monsoon tracks, perfect for blasting through a torrential downpour or a dainty drizzle. The responses we received go from filmy romance to progressive rock, Tamil classics to gentle bops.You can check out the full playlist over on our Spotify account!
- ‘The Rain Song’ by Led Zeppelin: For Gaurav, this is the perfect song for “sipping chai, eating pakoda and watching the rain from the balcony”.
- ‘Saawan Barse’ by Hariharan and Sadhana Sargam: Lavisha has a “love hate relationship with rain” because she’s a mumbaikar. This song for her is all about the longing for summer rains.
- ‘Midnight’ by Toby Sebastian and Florence Pugh: Shonali thinks this song has “such a unique sound with just the right tempo and a perfect blend of monsoon vibes—intimate and cozy.” According to her, we’ll be “bopping along by the time the chorus rolls around.”
- ‘Rain’ by Jose Feliciano: Sourabh heard this song on vinyl a few decades ago in the voice of Usha Uthup and later the original one. For Sourabh, “it has made a long lasting impression in my mind.” You can check the Usha Iyer version here.
- ‘Oh Re Taal Mile Nadi Ke Jal Mein’ by Anoki Raat: Mahak recommends this song because “the philosophy of the song—how good people and good luck can come unexpectedly—is very hopeful and sits well with this season.”
- ‘Rimjhim Gire Saavan’ by Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar and RD Burman: Subhash Shah recommends this due to the “simplicity, feels and enjoyment of rain”.
- ‘Chanchan’ by AR Rahman: Devarsi Ghosh has a lot of reasons to recommend this song. As he points out, “if you listen closely, you'll see the percussion resembles the pitter-patter of rain, and Sukwhinder's vocals recedes and moves in rapidly, like how the speed of rainfall keeps changing.”
- ‘Koi Ladki Hai’ from ‘Dil Toh Pagal Hai’: One of our anonymous subscribers recommends this song for all the 90s nostalgia. In their words, “Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit! What’s not to love!”
- ‘Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si’ by Kishore Kumar and RD Burman: According to Madhusudhan Raman: “Technically, it's a rain song from the movies — except it's from the late 50s when film music was great. Also it's the Bollywood song equivalent of Maggi, which is the official food of the monsoon.”
- ‘Zara Zara’ or ‘Vaseegara’ by Bombay Jayashri: For Hiral, “the composition along with the singer’s voice is so soothing and the lyrics are not too difficult to sing along to! Also it has Maddy!” Anjali loves Bombay Jayshri’s voice and the music of Harris Jayaraj. It “takes you back to an era where music just hit different”.
- ‘Zindagi Bhar Nahi Bhoolegi’ by Mohammed Rafi: Anjali Kushal recommends this song for its “velvety voice and the surreal feeling.”
- ‘Pyar Hua Iqrar Hua’ by Manna Dey: Kushal Goyal thinks about this song during the rains because “it shows the simplicity of life and tells us that whether we are here or not, life goes on.”
- ‘Mungaaru Maleye’ by Sonu Nigam: Sharath Bhagavn recommends this must-listen during monsoons. He says that the “Blockbuster hit Mungaaru Male ushered in a new wave of music in the Kannada film industry, and also made Sonu Nigam closer to Kannadigas. Will always remain a very special album and a special song.”
The splainer team also wanted to add some of their picks. Arunima suggests ‘Neele Neele Ambar’ because “Kalyanji-Anandji kill it with the arrangement and the strummy guitar really gives you that long-drive-in-the-rains feel”. She also recommends ‘It’s Raining Men’— it is the “ultimate dance in the rain track”. Aarthi suggests ‘Bhage Re Mann’ and ‘Taal Se Taal’ because “both the songs are sung during pouring rain and makes me want to sing and dance like the characters do!”
PS: Check out other splainer fam’s recommended playlists—tunes to feel your zen, movie magic, music for your next travel trip and songs to dance to in your underwear.
