"When the Rain Comes" is a song by English girl group Sugababes.[1][2] The song was written by the trio, alongside Iain James and George Moore, the latter of whom also produced the track. Released on 15 September 2023, "When the Rain Comes" marks the group's first new release since their long-withheld reunion album, The Lost Tapes (2022), and first release under new record label BMG.
"When the Rain Comes" | ||||
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Single by Sugababes | ||||
Released | 15 September 2023 | |||
Recorded | 2023 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 3:19 | |||
Label | BMG | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | George Moore | |||
Sugababes singles chronology | ||||
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Visualizer video | ||||
"Sugababes - When The Rain Comes (Visualiser)" on YouTube |
Background and release
editWe loved being back in the studio and writing this song this summer, and it feels like the perfect song to release to coincide with our biggest headline show to date. This song is a celebration of the people in our lives who stand by us and lift us up through the good and bad times. The three of us have been that for each other over the years, and we felt there was no better way to mark this moment in our journey than with this song.
— Sugababes, on the release of "When the Rain Comes"[3]
In December 2022, the Sugababes announced the surprise release of their eighth studio album The Lost Tapes on social media, that consisted of previously unreleased material.[4][5] The album debuted at number 2 on the UK Album Downloads Chart Top 100.[6] In February 2023, the group announced that they "definitely had plans for new material" after the "incredible" reaction to the album.[7][8][9][10] Following the conclusion of their headline tour, the Sugababes announced a "one night only" concert at the O2 Arena on 15 September 2023.[11][12] The group later began posting teasers of themselves in a recording studio on social media.[13][14] On 14 September 2023, the day prior to the concert, the group announced on Instagram that their new single would be released at midnight, and they performed the song for the first time during the show that evening as part of the setlist.[15][16][17] The single was originally set to be made available on CD and vinyl on 3 November 2023.[18][19] The release was pushed back to 26 January 2024.[20][21]
Promotion
editIn October 2023, the Sugababes performed "When the Rain Comes" on an episode of The Graham Norton Show.[22][23][24] The band performed the song on Jools' Annual Hootenanny on 31 December 2023.[25][26]
Reception
editWriting for Clash magazine, Robin Murray described "When the Rain Comes" as a "new classic" that "[radiated] pop brilliance".[3] After the group performed the song for the first time as part of their "one night only" concert, Retro Pop Magazine noted that the song was a "soulful mid tempo [track]" that was "worlds away from the hyper electro-pop that ultimately characterised the final chapter of the group back in 2011", added that the song [leaned] into the soundscape of their classic debut album One Touch (2000) and [conjured] a full-circle narrative reflecting on their path so far.[27]
Charts
editChart (2023) | Peak position |
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UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[28] | 12 |
Release history
editRegion | Date | Format | Label | Ref(s). |
---|---|---|---|---|
Various | 15 September 2023 | BMG | [15] | |
26 January 2024 | [20][21] |
References
edit- ^ "Sugababes return with new single When The Rain Comes, announce 2024 album". Retro Pop Magazine. 15 September 2023. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ "Sugababes have released the first single from their new album – check out "When the Rain Comes"". Dork. 15 September 2023. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ a b Murray, Robin (15 September 2023). "Sugababes' 'When The Rain Comes' Radiates Pop Brilliance". Clash. Archived from the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ O'Connor, Roisin (24 December 2022). "'Thank you': Sugababes release album they recorded eight years ago". Independent. Archived from the original on 31 December 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ Daly, Rhian (24 December 2022). "Sugababes share previously unreleased album 'The Lost Tapes' as Christmas gift". NME. Archived from the original on 2 January 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100 30 December 2022 - 05 January 2023". Official Charts Company. 30 December 2022. Archived from the original on 4 July 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
- ^ Mylrea, Hannah (14 February 2023). "Sugababes: "We definitely have plans for new material"". NME. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ Mirror.co.uk, By (4 February 2023). "Sugababes confirm they are working on a brand new album". mirror. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ "Sugababes: Women in music don't have to look perfect now". BBC News. 30 June 2023. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ Pop, Retro (15 February 2023). "Sugababes tease new material: 'We definitely have plans'". Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ Geraghty, Hollie (29 November 2022). "Sugababes announce one-off show at London's O2 Arena for 2023". NME. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ Cragg, Michael (16 September 2023). "'We had to reclaim what was rightfully ours': the triumphant return of the Sugababes". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 September 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ Seeberg, Lea Dzifa (23 July 2023). "Sugababes at the O2 tickets, set list & more as group reunites in London". MyLondon. Archived from the original on 23 December 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ "Sugababes' Keisha Buchanan says harshness in music industry has been 'gut-wrenching'". The Independent. 2 September 2023. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ a b "MIDNIGHT". Instagram. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ "When the Rain Comes – Sugababes". Spotify. Archived from the original on 23 December 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ "When the Rain Comes – Sugababes – Lyrics". Genius. Archived from the original on 23 December 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ "Out November 3: When The Rain Comes, the new single from Sugababes (@Sugababes), is available to pre-order on CD and 7" vinyl!". X. 15 September 2023. Archived from the original on 23 December 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ "The age of the 'has been' is over, we're finally giving legacy acts like Sugababes what they deserve". i. 15 September 2023. Archived from the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ a b "When the Rain Comes CD". TM Stores. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ a b "When the Rain Comes Vinyl". TM Stores. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Sugababes - When The Rain Comes (BBC Graham Norton Live Performance)". YouTube. 14 October 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "Watch: Sugababes Wow With 'When The Rain Comes' on 'Graham Norton'". That Grape Juice. 14 October 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "The Brit award-winning trio, Sugababes, are back with their latest single 'When The Rain Comes'!". Twitter. 13 October 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "Watch: Sugababes Ring In 2024 With 'Push The Button' Performance on 'Jools' Annual Hootenanny'". That Grape Juice. 1 January 2024.
- ^ Harrison, Ellie (31 December 2023). "Jools Holland's Annual Hootenanny 2023: Line-up, when it's on and how to watch it". Independent. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "Sugababes serve up hits, deep cuts and new music for one night only at The O2". Retro Pop Magazine. 16 September 2023. Archived from the original on 23 September 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 September 2023.