Rainbow 🌈 | 5ive Songs

In the 66^th edition of 5ive Songs (2022), we select five songs that are associated with RAINBOW 🌈 in some form or fashion.

Welcome to 5ive Songs, where we keep things short and sweet – no extra calories or needless fluff! There’s a theme/topic, five songs, and a short blurb.  Yes, it’s a playlist, but it’s a miniature playlist that shouldn’t take much time to consume.  In the 66^th edition of 5ive Songs (2022), we select five songs that are associated with RAINBOW 🌈 in some form or fashion.  Okay, let’s get into it

1. Meghan Trainor, “Rainbow”

💿 Takin’ It Back • 🏷 Epic • 📅 2022

“You’re as colorful as a rainbow / You’re as bright as the moon / Everyone can see your halo /Everybody but you,” 🏆 Grammy-winning pop artist 🎙 Meghan Trainor asserts on 🎵 “Rainbow”.  “Rainbow” appears as the eighth track on her fourth studio album, 💿 Takin’ It Back, released in the fall of 2022.  In the inspiring chorus on this retro pop cut (regarding the sound), Trainor continues singing, “Go and show ‘em all your rainbow / You’ll feel better when you do / Come on out when the rain goes / ‘Cause this world’s gonna love you.”  “Rainbow” was written by Trainor, 🎼 ✍ Andrew Haas, 🎼 ✍ Ian Franzino, and 🎛 Teddy Geiger.  Geiger produces alongside 🎛 Gian Stone and 🎛 Afterhrs.

In the first verse, Meghan sees this person struggling.  Despite the fact that the people – the world – doesn’t understand such struggles, she plays the role of encourager, making it crystal clear, “But you ain’t alone / No, no, when it’s getting dark / I’m a light you up, my love.” Similarly, in the second verse, she uplifts them despite their doubts and self-esteem issues. “‘Cause you beautiful, you intelligent / You emotional, but you the baddest bitch,” she sings, continuing, “Ain’t no one compared, so why you care / Whatt anybody says about you?” She has a point.  Ultimately, it leads to the crowning achievement, the rainbow-laden chorus, as well as the post-chorus, where Meghan makes it crystal clear, “They gonna love you.” “Rainbow” is both uplifting and sweet, sweet music to the ears.

Appears in 🔻:

• Meghan Trainor, “Rainbow”: Music Lifts 🎶 🏋 30 (2022)
• Awesome Songs: October 2022

2. Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, “Over the Rainbow”

💿 Alone In Iz World • 🏷 Mountain Apple Company HAWAII / Big Boy • 📅 2001

Once you hear that ukulele strum, you instantly recognize 🎵 “Over the Rainbow” as performed by late Hawaiian musician, 🎙 Israel Kamakawiwo’ole. “Over The Rainbow” in Brother Iz’s hands is nothing short of a vibe – angelic, celestial, and utterly radiant.  His vocal tone is stunning – silky smooth.  His ukulele skills are sublime.  It’s one of those once-in-a-lifetime performances that compels you, even if Iz is reinterpreting one of the most-covered classics of all time.

This three-and-a-half-minute rendition appears on the posthumously released 💿 Alone In Iz World (2001). Sadly, the musician, who suffered from obesity throughout his life, passed away at just 38 years of age in 1997 😢.  The version of “Over The Rainbow” released during his short lifetime appears on his 1993 album, 💿 Facing Future – 🎵 “Somewhere Over The Rainbow_ What A Wonderful World”.  What a moving medley by a great musician! It’s worth noting that in 2021, Billboard reported that “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” reached 1 billion YouTube views.

3. Miley Cyrus, “Rainbowland” (Ft. Dolly Parton)

💿 Younger Now • 🏷 RCA • 📅 2017

“I believe we can start livin’ in a rainbowland.” After shocking the world with 💿 Bangerz in 2013 (after previously proclaiming she 🎵 “Can’t Be Tamed”, mind you), 🏆 Grammy-nominated pop artist 🎙 Miley Cyrus tamed herself.  Her 2017 studio album, 💿 Younger Now was by far the most reserved LP she’d dropped in years.  She did a stark about-face, distancing herself from hip-hop and R&B-infused pop in favor of country-folk/singer-songwriter stylings.  While much more conservative than Bangerz, Cyrus still mustered up some magic, including 🎵 “Rainbowland.”  

“Living in a rainbowland

Where skies are blue, and things are grand

Oh, wouldn’t it be nice (So nice) to live in paradise

Where we’re free to be exactly who we are.”

“Rainbowland” can’t be tamed – rather – it can’t be denied attention! Why? Well, Cyrus taps a legend for the assist: 🎙 Dolly Parton.  With the appearance of everybody’s favorite, highly decorated country music icon, “Rainbowland” assumes an old-school, retro country sound.  Need I remind you that Younger Now was released in the year of our lord, 2017? While it doesn’t sound like 2017 musically, its thoughtful, all-encompassing message is transcendent.  “We are rainbows, me and you / Every color, every hue,” Cyrus and Parton sing in the chorus, adding, “Let’s shine through / Together we can start livin’ in a rainbowland.”

4. J Balvin, “Arcoíris”

💿 Colores • 🏷 Universal Music Latino / UMG • 📅 2020

Colombian reggaeton superstar 🎙 J Balvin delivered a brief but totally entertaining and colorful sixth studio album, 💿 Colores. Fittingly, the penultimate record features a little ROYGBIV if you will – “Arcoíris” (“Rainbow”).  Also, it’s worth noting, in the context of Colores, “Arcoíris” marks the second of only two collaborations, tapping 🎙 Mr. Eazi for the assist.

“Arcoíris” is incredibly enjoyable – an understatement! It is produced by 🎛 Michael Brun and 🎛 Sky Rompiendo. It’s safe to say they put in work behind the boards 💯.   If you guessed a three-letter word plays a key role, well, you’d be totally correct.  Let’s just say, J Balvin and Mr. Eazi enjoy dirty dancing with the opposite sex 😉.

5. Kacey Musgraves, “Rainbow”

💿 Golden Hour • 🏷 MCA Nashville • 📅 2018

“Well, the sky has finally opened / The rain and wind stopped blowin’ / But you’re stuck out in the same ol’ storm again…” Oh, what beautiful, beautiful lyrics, sigh.  At the 🏆 61^st Annual Grammy Awards, 🎙 Kacey Musgraves came out victorious, winning the highly coveted, prestigious award for Album of the Year (💿 Golden Hour).  It was somewhat surprising, yet, critically, Golden Hour was one of the most beloved albums of 2018.  A mellow, but well-rounded affair, there are a number of memorable songs, including the gorgeous, colorful ballad on hand, 🎵 “Rainbow.” Honestly, what’s more peaceful than a rainbow after a downpour?

The superb chorus, excerpted above, continues, “You hold tight to your umbrella / Well, darlin’, I’m just tryin’ to tell ya / That there’s always been a rainbow hangin’ over your head.” “Rainbow” doesn’t arrive until the end of Golden Album.  Despite this, it caps off this fabulous affair incredibly meaningfully. This is among those totally can’t-miss, expressive piano ballads, period. Her voice, which is consistently ‘on-point’ throughout Golden Hour, is at its very best on “Rainbow.”  This record, penned years before Golden Hour, was special to Musgraves – a favorite of her late grandmother’s. Furthermore, “Rainbow” has taken on a new, anthemic role in the LGBTQ community.  Pretty cool, right? Arguably, this is one of Musgraves’ very best performances and songs of her career.

Appears in 🔻:

• 14 Songs Characterized by Colors
• A Compendium Comprised of 100 Notable LGBTQ+ Songs
• 16 ‘R’ Songs Selected with No Rhyme or Reason
• 13 Songs Where, When It Rains It Pours (Part I)
• An Engaging, Unorthodox Soundtrack to Spring

Rainbow: 5ive Songs No. 66 (2022) [📷: Big Boy, Brent Faulkner, Clovis Cheminot, Epic, javier gonzalez via Pexels, MCA Nashville, Mountain Apple Company HAWAII, The Musical Hype, OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay, RCA, UMG, Universal Music Latino]