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[Liam.k.]

20 years ago, 'Rain' was released as the fifth single from Erotica. Whilst the album is recognised for its bold, lustful and adventurous exploration of female sexuality and the gritty, raw hip-hop and club beats that soundtrack the stories, 'Rain' offers a more melodic and romantic perspective. The song uses rain imagery to describe a partner's love, exploring the cleansing effect of their affection; how it washes away their past sorrows and allows them to focus on their current feelings. It's a tender, calming ballad with an empowering message of hope and strength, brought to life with a glorious composition that captures rain elements, including some turbo-charging synths that explode into a heavenly middle-eight. Madonna's vocal is charming and elegant, demonstrating both her sensual low register and angelic harmonies.

Accompanying the song is the gorgeous, artistic music video directed by Mark Romanek (who would go on to direct Madonna's 'Bedtime Story' and Michael Jackson's 'Scream' - two of the most expensive music videos). Madonna appears on the shoot of a video, fixed and altered by the makeup and hair departments in between takes. It's a departure from the overt sexuality associated with the rest of the era, instead exposing a more innocent and reflective Madonna; "this accessible, vulnerable creature surrounded by the high-tech and the global" as described by the director. The video was the rightful recipient of Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography at the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards.

'Rain' revived album sales over the summer of '93 and also became a hit in its own right, returning Madonna to the Top 10 in many countries following the underperformance of the previous two singles and also gave her a big hit on US adult contemporary radio. It still gets acknowledged as one of her finest ballads by fans and is appreciated for offering an alternative perspective to her Erotica album.