Table of Contents >> Show >> Hide
- A Quick Forecast: The Basics of “Here Comes the Rain Again”
- Why This Song Still Hits So Hard
- Rankings: Where “Here Comes the Rain Again” Lands
- Fans vs. Critics: Do They Agree?
- Here Comes the Rain Again vs. Other Eurythmics Hits
- Our Take: So Where Should It Rank?
- Experiences & Opinions: Living With “Here Comes the Rain Again”
- Conclusion
Some songs don’t just play in the background they roll in like weather. “Here Comes the Rain Again”
by Eurythmics is one of those tracks. The first few synth notes feel like clouds gathering, and by the
time Annie Lennox actually sings the title line, you’re mentally staring out a window like you’re in an
‘80s music video and your life is suddenly very dramatic.
In this deep dive, we’ll look at how critics and fans rank “Here Comes the Rain Again,” why it has such
staying power, and where it sits in the larger universe of 1980s synth-pop. We’ll mix in chart stats,
critical takes, fan lists, and some very human, slightly soggy opinions of our own because talking
about this song without feelings would be like talking about rain without mentioning umbrellas.
A Quick Forecast: The Basics of “Here Comes the Rain Again”
“Here Comes the Rain Again” was recorded in 1983 and released as a single in January 1984 from Eurythmics’
album Touch. It opened the album and quickly became one of the duo’s signature tracks. The single
hit No. 4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and climbed to No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart, giving the band
another top-10 hit on both sides of the Atlantic.
Style-wise, it’s labeled as new wave and synth-pop, but that undersells how cinematic it feels. The song
blends icy electronics with lush orchestral strings, arranged by film composer Michael Kamen, creating a
sound that’s simultaneously cool and emotional like crying in a very stylish raincoat.
Written by Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart, the song was reportedly inspired by tension between the two
while they were writing at a New York hotel. Emotional friction turned into musical magic: Lennox’s
vocals float between resignation and longing, while Stewart’s production layers on the atmosphere.
Why This Song Still Hits So Hard
Melancholy Wrapped in Synths
Lyrically, “Here Comes the Rain Again” is about emotional cycles the way sadness or doubt creeps back
into your life even when you think you’ve moved on. Lines like “So baby talk to me, like lovers do”
reveal an almost uncomfortable vulnerability. You can feel the push-pull between wanting connection and
expecting disappointment.
Critics often note how the song’s minor-key melody, spacious arrangement, and Lennox’s haunting delivery
capture that feeling of emotional weather. American Songwriter called it a turn toward melancholy compared
with Eurythmics’ more upbeat hits, describing it as the kind of track that belongs in a high-tension scene
of a series like Stranger Things.
The Production: Moody, Precise, and Very 1980s (In a Good Way)
From a production standpoint, the song is often treated as a benchmark in synth-pop. Musicians and producers
still praise the blend of vintage synths with real strings, the clever use of space, and the way Lennox’s
voice is front-and-center without being over-produced. On production forums, fans describe early Eurythmics
tracks, especially this one, as “dark, mysterious” and a “benchmark in synth pop.”
The song’s structure is also slightly unconventional. Instead of a strict verse-chorus-verse pattern, it
shifts between different sections, helping it feel more like a journey than a jingle. One fan analysis notes
how it alternates between musical “A” and “B” sections, which keeps the tension simmering rather than
resolving too neatly.
The Video: Peak Moody Cliff-Walking
The music video, shot in the Orkney Islands in Scotland, is basically a mood board for lonely introspection:
Lennox wandering along rocky cliffs in a pale gown, gloomy skies overhead, and a derelict cottage for extra
symbolism. The stark landscapes mirror the song’s emotional isolation and have become part of its legend
for fans who discovered it on MTV and, later, on YouTube.
Rankings: Where “Here Comes the Rain Again” Lands
In Eurythmics Song Rankings
When critics and fans rank Eurythmics songs, “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” usually takes the crown no
shock there. But “Here Comes the Rain Again” consistently lands near the top.
-
American Songwriter includes it in their top 10 Eurythmics songs, highlighting the
track’s melancholic tone and dark beauty. -
A critic at Humanizing the Vacuum calls it “a monster” and praises its sleek, sophisticated
synth-pop sound, especially the string motif and chorus. -
In fan polls and ranked lists on music forums, the song frequently appears in personal top-five lists,
often only slightly behind “Sweet Dreams” sometimes even beating it among listeners who prefer mood
over pure hookiness.
In short: if Eurythmics’ catalog were a storm system, “Sweet Dreams” would be the lightning bolt; “Here
Comes the Rain Again” would be the heavy cloud that makes you feel things about your life choices.
On Broader “Songs About Rain” Lists
When publications rank songs about rain, this track holds its own against giants like “Purple Rain” and
“Have You Ever Seen the Rain.” Rock Cellar Magazine, in its list of top songs about rain, highlights
“Here Comes the Rain Again” as a defining ‘80s entry, noting its No. 4 peak on the Hot 100 and its
atmospheric mix of synths and strings.
It may not always land at No. 1 in these “rain song” roundups, but it almost always shows up which is
saying something when you’re competing with decades of stormy classics.
On All-Time Lists and Critical Canon
While “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” tends to be the Eurythmics track that shows up on major
“greatest songs of all time” lists, there’s evidence that “Here Comes the Rain Again” has also snuck into
Rolling Stone’s 500 greatest songs rankings in at least one iteration, slotting into the lower half
of the list according to retrospective posts referencing the 2021 update.
Even when it’s not explicitly named on big global lists, it appears frequently in specialist retrospectives
and nostalgic overviews of 1980s music. Some write-ups describe it as a “hallmark of 1980s synth-pop,”
emphasizing its emotional depth and innovative blending of electronic and orchestral textures.
On rating aggregators, the single fares extremely well. On AlbumOfTheYear.org, it boasts a perfect critic
score and a high user rating in the 90s, which is very good for a single from 1984 competing with entire
discographies and modern releases.
Fans vs. Critics: Do They Agree?
Interestingly, fans and critics generally agree about this one which is not always the case in music
fandom. Critics love the craftsmanship; fans love the vibes. Everyone seems to agree that:
- The song feels emotionally honest without being melodramatic.
- The arrangement still sounds fresh, even decades later.
-
Annie Lennox’s vocal performance is the emotional anchor calm on the surface, turbulent underneath,
like someone pretending they’re fine while clearly not fine.
Nostalgia-driven posts, especially from Gen X listeners, often talk about hearing the song on the radio in
the car, on MTV, or in late-night playlists and immediately associating it with breakups, moves, or big
life transitions.
Here Comes the Rain Again vs. Other Eurythmics Hits
Within Eurythmics’ own stormy little universe, “Here Comes the Rain Again” has some tough competition.
“Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” is the obvious titan the global smash, the synth-pop anthem, the track
that appears in commercials, movies, and at least three Halloween playlists per neighborhood.
But “Here Comes the Rain Again” fills a different emotional niche:
-
More introspective: Where “Sweet Dreams” feels bold and defiant, “Here Comes the Rain
Again” feels introspective, almost shy about its own sadness. -
More cinematic: The strings and slower tempo make it feel like the soundtrack to an
emotional montage rather than a dance floor moment. -
More mature in tone: It reads less like a breakthrough single and more like the work of
a band that knows exactly what it’s doing.
If you’re ranking Eurythmics tracks purely on cultural omnipresence, “Sweet Dreams” wins. If you’re ranking
them on rainy-day emotional resonance, “Here Comes the Rain Again” easily takes the gold medal and the
good umbrella.
Our Take: So Where Should It Rank?
Taking into account chart performance, critical acclaim, fan rankings, and long-term influence, a reasonable
placement for “Here Comes the Rain Again” would be:
- Top 3 Eurythmics songs of all time.
- Top 10 songs about rain.
-
Top tier of 1980s synth-pop ballads, especially for listeners who like a side of
emotional complexity with their drum machines.
It’s not the loudest Eurythmics song, but it might be the most emotionally precise. That’s why it still
resonates in playlists, think-pieces, and late-night nostalgia dives decades after its release.
Experiences & Opinions: Living With “Here Comes the Rain Again”
Rankings are fun, but most people don’t experience this song as a number on a list. They experience it
as a feeling that hits during oddly specific moments in life.
The “Looking Out the Window” Anthem
For a lot of listeners, “Here Comes the Rain Again” lives in that oddly cinematic space where you catch
yourself staring through a window on a bus, in your bedroom, in a half-empty café and suddenly
everything feels like a music video. The soft, pulsing synths mimic the sound of distant thunder, while
the strings feel like streaks of rain sliding down glass.
People often report rediscovering the song during transitional times: a move to a new city, a breakup,
a job change, or even just a weird, quiet Sunday where emotions show up uninvited. It doesn’t demand
that you dance; it just sits with you, like a friend who’s good at listening.
A Soundtrack for Emotional Reset
One of the reasons this track continues to appear in playlists is how good it is at emotional “reset.”
You might put it on when you’re feeling low and, instead of dragging you down further, it helps you
name what you’re feeling:
- “Here comes the rain again” okay, I’m sad.
- “Falling on my head like a memory” this is about more than today; this is old stuff coming back.
- “So baby talk to me like lovers do” I still want connection, even when I’m guarded.
That combination of honesty and musical beauty is comforting. It acknowledges the storm but also makes
it strangely beautiful, which is probably why so many listeners keep the song on standby for rainy days,
both literal and emotional.
Generational Hand-Off
Another fascinating piece of the “opinions” puzzle is how the song travels between generations. Older
fans remember it from radio and MTV, while younger listeners often discover it through streaming
playlists, movie placements, TikTok edits, or algorithm-generated “80s mood” mixes.
Reactions are surprisingly consistent: younger audiences tend to comment on how “modern” it sounds for a
track released in the early 1980s. The clean production, strong hook, and Lennox’s timeless voice help
it fit comfortably next to newer synth-driven artists. It feels classic, not dated more vintage jacket
than old sweater.
How It Feels to Revisit the Song Over Time
What’s especially interesting is how the song seems to change meaning as listeners age:
-
As a teenager, it might sound like a dramatic breakup song the kind you put on repeat
after a crush ghosts you. -
In your twenties and thirties, it can feel like a soundtrack for bigger life questions:
career uncertainty, complicated relationships, or moving to a new place. -
Later in life, it may become more reflective less about one person and more about how
emotions ebb and flow over the years.
The song doesn’t change, but you do, and that’s part of its power. “Here Comes the Rain Again” is less
about one specific heartbreak and more about the recurring nature of doubt and longing. You can revisit
it at 16, 36, or 66 and find a new line that suddenly hits a little too close to home.
Why It Deserves Its Rankings (And Maybe Even Higher)
So when we talk about “rankings and opinions,” what we’re really talking about is how consistently this
track manages to hit people in the feelings across decades, across formats, and across very different
lives. Critics admire the craft; producers admire the sound; fans admire how it somehow understands them.
If you’re building a playlist of ‘80s essentials, you include it. If you’re building a playlist of
“songs that make me think about my life too much,” you definitely include it. And if you’re ranking
Eurythmics tracks on how well they capture emotional weather, “Here Comes the Rain Again” isn’t just
near the top it is the forecast.
Conclusion
“Here Comes the Rain Again” is more than a rainy-day soundtrack. It’s a carefully crafted synth-pop
classic that has earned its place in fan rankings, critic lists, and emotional playlists alike. From its
chart success in 1984 to its ongoing life on streaming platforms and nostalgic write-ups, it continues
to prove that a pop song can be both catchy and complex.
Whether you’re into rankings, opinions, or just songs that sit with you on the tougher days, this track
has something to offer. It’s proof that sometimes the best way to get through a storm is to press play,
let the rain come again, and listen.