It Will Rain

Background

Mars started writing the song while he was on The Doo-Wops & Hooligans Tour, "I was just writing to write. I had my guitar with me on tour when I was in the States. I never finished it", he explained. Afterwards he got a call to provide something to the soundtrack, the singer saw some scenes of "Breaking Dawn" and thought to himself "that song I started might be perfect for this". He admitted to have the tune halfway done before visualizing an early cut of the film and, inspired by its characters, put together the finishing touches. In an interview with Billboard, he went on detail "I just had this melody in my head and basically laid it down after I saw the film." He had to watch "most of the movie" to feel "the vibe", as well as its direction.

At the time of the Billboard interview, on September 23, 2011, Mars was unaware of the placement of his song in the movie, he hopefully said "As long as it's not after the credits. I hope it's in a good (scene)!". Later, on November 7, 2011, the singer "hinted" that the single might feature in one of the movie's most pivotal scenes. Before the release of the song, Mars described it as having the same vein as the movies, "the 'Twilight' movies for me (are) a love story. But it's a dark love story", therefore the track is "the darker side of love." He explained that "It Will Rain" is just to be featured on the "Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn" soundtrack and not his second studio album, "I did this for the 'Twilight' soundtrack, then this is for the 'Twilight' soundtrack".

Alexandra Patsavas, music supervisor for the Twilight films, explained the choice of Mars was due to the wedding, in which Part 1 is centered, "who more appropriate than Bruno Mars to write a timeless, classic wedding song?" The Breaking Dawn – Part 1 soundtrack was released on November 8, 2011. "It Will Rain" is the third song featured in the end credits of, the franchise's fourth movie, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1.

Production and release

"It Will Rain " was written and produced by Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence and Ari Levine, whom are collectively known as The Smeezingtons. Engineering for "It Will Rain" took place at the Levcon Studios in Los Angeles, California, while the mixing was done at Larrabee Sound Studios in North Hollywood, California. Along with the song's composition Levine also engineered the track. Phredley Brown did the arrangement of the strings, Oscar Hidalgo played the pass, Andrew Duckles was responsible for the viola, Charlie Bisharat played the violin with Josefina Vergara, and Suzie Katayama conducted the orchestra. The mixing team included Manny Marroquin, Chris Galland and Erik Madrid, the latter two served as assistants. David Kutch mastered the song.

"It Will Rain" was first made available worldwide, excepted in the United Kingdom, as an iTunes exclusive via digital download on September 27, 2011 by Atlantic Records. On the same day, the single could be listened on Mars official website. Atlantic Records sent the track to be added onto American contemporary hit radios playlists on October 4, 2011. On October 28, 2011, the song was released in Germany as a CD single by Elektra Records and in the United Kingdom via digital download on October 31, 2011.

Composition and lyrical interpretation

"It Will Rain" is performed as a midtempo ballad with a length of four minutes and seventeen seconds. Entertainment Weekly's Kyle Anderson called it a pop song, Billboard characterized it as pop-soul track, while Randall Roberts, from Los Angeles Times, upon his review of the soundtrack, deemed all the songs as "soft rock". Its musical instrumentation is reminiscent of 2010's "Grenade" by Bruno Mars and 1971's "Wild Horses" by The Rolling Stones. The song's main structure is backed by piano, percussion that resembles an 80's drum track, backup vocals, a "digital echo" on Mars' voice and "sweeping strings". It starts with a piano chord in a menacing, dissonant crescendo with "solemn chord progression" and "haunting backup vocals". Suddenly, the "pounding" drums start with a "light simple piano riff", resembling a "hollow rain drop", and chorus accompanying them.

According to the sheet music published by Musicnotes.com, "It Will Rain" is composed in a key of D major with a tempo of 72 beats per minute. Mars' vocals range from the tonal nodes of F♯4 to D6. Lyrically, the record shows the agony and torment of a heartbreak. It describes the universal emotional pain of relationship bonds like morphine ("If you ever leave me, baby / leave some morphine at my door"), romantic attachment and behavioral addiction. It shows the results of being ripped apart that leeds to depression. Several publications noticed the over-dramatization of the lyrics.

Simon Vozick-Levinson of the Rolling Stone and Tris McCall from Nj.com shared the same view as "It Will Rain" would be the singer's next radio hit. Mars' vocals have been highly praised, with Billboard writing "pitch-perfect vocals" while PopDust felt that "it shouldn't be surprising that he sings this well." Upon the single release, Mars started for regretting the key he wrote the song in. In 2012, on the Billboard Cover Story, the artist reveled his displeasure and annoyance with the final mix of his vocals on the song, and whenever the song was playing he had to "turn off the radio" since he "felt like I was a mosquito singing."

Reception

"It Will Rain " received generally mixed reviews. Billboard gave the song a 4 out of 5 starts, denoting that the song explores "the darker insecurities first seen in..."Grenade"". Billboard compared the song's piano riff to the one's used by the artist himself, while the percussion and chord progression was reminiscent of "OneRepublic's oeuvre more than Mars' sunny hits". The review concluded with a with positive feedback for the singer's "pitch-perfect vocals and his knack for warbling about women troubles, the man once again delivers." Scott Shetler, from the music website PopCrush, awarded the single 3,5 out of 5 starts, labeling it as "more subdued than we're used to hearing from Mars, but that's appropriate for a song from "Twilight"." Shetler also wrote that although "is not a major artistic leap forward for [the singer]...the mood of the song makes it a good fit for the latest "Twilight" movie". While revising the music video, Metro's, Aaron-Spencer Charles said, "Each verse is strong with emotion and...the song [has] the right amount of lift." Lyrically, Charles commented that, "the emotions come from a real place and the heart-felt lyrics resonate" with those who have ended a similar relationship. American singer and songwriter Adam Lambert complemented Mars' vocals and the song melody.

In a mixed review, HitFix's Melinda Newman felt the recording "has the dated feel of a song from the '80s, perhaps because of the drum track." The "few chord changes" resembled her of "Will Horses" by The Rolling Stones. Newman also indicated that "Against All Odds" by Phil Collins would be a more suitable choice rather than "It Will Rain" for part of the movie soundtrack. Similarly, Simon Vozick-Levinson of Rolling Stone also draw a comparison to "Wild Horses" by The Rolling Stones, feeling a "overheated romantic dialogue" and "similarly melodramatic" as in "Grenade", adding that "real point is the song's desperately yearning melody." Vozick-Levinson ranked the single three out of five starts. PopDust compared the recording to "Grenade", "yet somehow...more dramatic". However, the song was "nothing if not competent" and Mars' vocals were praised, it was Mars' fourth best single by that time, if released "with no tie-in". The reviewer assured that the singer has done better in "dramatic and romantic" and by comparison its "a gentle drizzle that comes and goes with little impression."

On the other hand, Tris McCall from NJ.com criticized the track for its "radio-friendliness", which is evident "from the digital echo on his voice to the sudden beat drop at the beginning of the second verse". Nevertheless, McCall admitted that "It Will Rain" was "another monster hit", and it had "genuine grit and emotional heft", notwithstanding, hard to find since it was "bathe it in strings and marinate it in backing vocals". Dallas Observer's Shahryar Rivzi gave a harsh critic to the recordig saying that it was an "accessible way to present unrealistic ideas about romance". The track first piano chords are suitable for "teen drama shows". Its lyrics' "present Bruno as either a vampire or a werewolf" and the "iffy drug reference" ("If you ever leave me, baby / leave some morphine at my door."), is a "relatively "safe" reference to drugs" and Mars "meant to ease the pain of losing the subject instead of making the user "realize"." Rivzi continued its criticism to the lyrics, "I'll pick up these broken pieces till I'm bleeding", resembles the "masochism" in "Grenade".

At the 2013 ASCAP Pop Music Awards it was awarded the Most Performed Song. "It Will Rain" was nominated as Choice Music: Single by a Male Artist at the 2012 Teen Choice Awards.

Chart performance

In the United States, "It Will Rain" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 28. It is Mars' first and only soundtrack single to chart on the Hot 100. "It Will Rain" also entered at number 19 on the Adult Top 40 top twenty chart, eventually peaking at number three. It gradually climbed up the Hot 100 and peaked at number three. "It Will Rain" was successful on the Billboard pop charts, reaching number one on the Mainstream Top 40 chart. It placed at number 26 on the year-end ranking for Billboard Hot 100 in 2012. In Canada, "It Will Rain" was able to peak at number five on the Canadian Hot 100. Not only was certified three times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) but also by Music Canada (MC).

In Australia, "It Will Rain" entered at number 22 on the ARIA Charts, and reached its peak of number 14 nine weeks after its debut, staying there for one week in total. It gradually descended down the charts, present within the top 50 for a total of 17 weeks. It was certified twice platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for shipment of 140,000 copies of the single. At the year end tabulation, the song ranked at number 87 on the Singles chart. In New Zealand, "It Will Rain" debuted at number 28, it ascended the charts reaching the second spot of the chart, being kept of the first place by Rihanna and Calvin Harris' "We Found Love". The single gradually descended down the charts, and was present for a total of 19 weeks. Recorded Music NZ (RNMZ) awarded the track a platinum plaque. It ranked number 28 in the 2011 year-end chart.

In the United Kingdom the song debuted at number 16, peaking at number 14, four weeks later, on the UK Singles Chart. The song spent 16 weeks on the singles chart and was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). Across Europe, "It Will Rain" reached the top fifteen of the charts in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Scotland. It received a gold certification in Denmark for shipment of 15,000 copies. In South America, "It Will Rain", charted on two Brazilian charts – Billboard Brasil Hot Pop & Popular and Brasil Hot 100 Airplay with it reaching the third and fifth position, respectively, and the top of Pop/Rock General chart in Venezuela. In South Korea, the song peaked at number 1 on the "International Download Chart". Its successful chart performance was noticed by NJ.com critic, Tris McCall, who said that "It Will Rain" was "inescapable" during the winter.

Music video

The song's accompanying music video was directed by Phil Pinto and Bruno Mars. It was set to premiere on the night of October 26, 2011 exclusively on MTV, followed by a "special live-stream event" on MTV.com. However, two days before its suppose release, Mars announced, via Twitter, the music video had been delayed for some weeks, "Hey guys, I'm still working on the 'It Will Rain' video. The MTV premiere will happen in a couple weeks." It premiered on November 9, 2011 exclusively on MTV. Filming for the video took place in London, England, United Kingdom and features Mozambican and Portuguese model Vanessa Martins.

The video begins with Mars displaying sadness as he reminisces about the moments spent between him and his "brunette vixen" girlfriend in an "sparsely" decorated apartment. Throughout the video, the singer expresses his emptiness and devastation recurring to solo shots in which he stands "around looking sullen" and by using "faded lighting" in order to convey such sentiments. Flashes of the two of them giggling, kissing, snuggling, pouring out romance and being "playful" are shown, as the singer apparently misses their relationship. After the opening sequence, Mars holds a private screening of "Breaking Dawn" to please her, the couple kiss in front of a cinema projector lights, while romantic scenes from the Breaking Dawn: Part 1, including the honeymoon and the one where Edward, played by Robert Pattinson, sweeps Bella, portrayed by Kristen Stewart, "off her feet and into their new home", are projected on the wall. As the video continues, the couple begins to fight, leading to more "heated arguments and lonely nights". At this point, Mars, possibly, writes a song to purse her to stay with him. A critic believed the song written only helped Mars to lead with the break up by telling the story. Nevertheless, MTV's, Jocelyn Vena stated "we see that the song Bruno wrote while his lady was asleep turned out to be romantic enough to win her back." The video ends with Mats revisiting scenes of the relationship and being set back to the present. In the final shot the singer is alone as rain pours down and hits the window behind him.

Reception

Upon its release, the video received mixed response from critics. Aaron-Spencer Charles writing for Metro praised the video for being shot as a "mini-drama, as we see Bruno Mars' relationship woes unfold". Spin's William Goodman felt the clip was "as dramatic as the blockbuster vampire films themselves." However, he condemn it for only having the drama and a couple of scenes from the Twilight movie in common. Goodman described the music video as a "soap opera tale of a young couple struggling through a breakup, and revisiting all their good times in the process." David Greenwald of Billboard criticized the video for looking "more like a denim brand's lookbook than a peek at the vampire franchise's fourth film." At the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards Japan, the video was nominated in the categories of Best Male Video and Best Video from a Film, winning the former.

Live performances and covers

Mars first performed "It Will Rain" with his band at The Ellen DeGeneres Show, on November 18, 2011. Mars wore a hat and sunglasses as props, signing while fog appeared "throughout the dimly-lit studio". Idolator's Becky Bain declared "the man proves again that he's got some killer pipes". Madison Vanderberg from Stereotude also praised the singers' voice "soulful croons and amazing voice". On the following week, the single was performed on the first season of the American X Factor, which for Mars would be one of his career highlights. The singer, who was wearing a fedora hat, raised his arms to the audience as the song started and a digital screen projecting a giant broken heart-shaped neon light as background appeared during the show. Mars performed "It Will Rain" on his 2010 "The Doo-Wops & Hooligans Tour", where it was the fourteenth song on the setlist. During the European leg, it was sang live with Skylar Grey. Mars performance with Grey drew the attention of some reviewers. Becky Bain of Idolator noted that the two "have melancholia perfected". PopDust felt that "Grey's contribution is soft and minimal; it's all about Bruno and his rain-slick voice." the website concluded, "it's a shame that here, she feels so invisible". On his second worldwide tour, Moonshine Jungle Tour (2013-2014), interpolated with "If I Knew", a song included on his second studio album, Unorthodox Jukebox (2012), in most concerts.

American singer and songwriter Pia Mia, posted a video of herself singing the track on YouTube, before being signed in a label. American rock band Boyce Avenue made an acoustic version of the track, which was included on their album New Acoustic Sessions, Vol. 3, released on January 2, 2012. Ten days later, YouTuber Megan Nicole released her cover of the song as a single available for purchase. Another American singer and songwriter, Austin Mahone, record a cover of the song along with a music video. On February 10, 2013, Max Schneider released an album titled Schneider Brother Covers - Max Schneider, which contained a cover version of "It Will Rain" done by Kurt Hugo Schneider with Olivia Noelle.

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 (soundtrack), Chop Shop Records and Atlantic Records.