The Temptations, “I Wish It Would Rain” | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 53^rd edition of Throwback Vibez (2022), we recollect and reflect on “I Wish It Would Rain” by The Temptations. 

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he vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome – we don’t discriminate ‘round here! In the 53^rd edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2022), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “I Wish It Would Rain”, performed by 🎙 The Temptations.

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Theme & Lyrics ✍ 

“Sunshine, blue skies, please go away / My girl has found another and gone away.” That’s a bummer for sure, 🎙 David Ruffin! Ruffin sings lead on 🎙 The Temptations’ top-five pop hit (peaked at no. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100), 🎵 “I Wish It Would Rain.” He continues singing grittily on the disheartened verse, “With her went my future, my life is filled with gloom / So, day after day I stay locked up in my room / I know to you, it might sound strange / But I wish it would rain.”

“I Wish It Would Rain” finds The Temptations at their best. 🎼 ✍ 🎛 Norman Whitfield and 🎼 ✍ Barrett Strong cook up a surefire classic, with Whitfield also locking down the production.  This is 60s soul gold with its exceptional backdrop, high-flying lead, and supporting vocals.  You can feel the love pain that Ruffin is experiencing with this dynamic performance.  Furthermore, the lyrics just put it out there:

“‘Cause raindrops will hide my teardrops

And no one will ever know that I’m crying (Crying, crying, crying)

Crying when I go outside

To the world outside my tears, I refuse to explain.”

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Final Thoughts 💭

Despite praying for the rain to mask his tears because men aren’t supposed to cry, MEN CRY TOO. The Temptations are brokenhearted and honestly, they should just let the tears flow.  The only tears listeners will cry listening to 🎵 “I Wish It Would Rain” are tears of joy – it’s a fabulous soul classic.

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🎙 The Temptations • 💿 I Wish It Would Rain • 🏷 Motown • 📅 1967

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The Temptations, “I Wish It Would Rain”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 53 (2022) [📷: Brent Faulkner, Gerhard G., JL G via Pixabay,  Karl Hörnfeldt via Unsplash,  Motown, The Musical Hype]

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