Rainy Dayz
by Mary J. Blige (featuring Ja Rule)

Album: No More Drama (2002)
Charted: 17 12
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This Irv Gotti-produced track was released as a single to coincide with Blige's re-release of her No More Drama album. The song was a hit for the artist, peaking at #12 in the US and #17 in the UK.
  • The song was written by Irving Lorenzo and Jeffrey Atkins. It was originally intended for TLC but the group turned the track down. That's why lyrics like "We're always livin' so crazy and sexy and cool," (a reference to the group's 1994 album, CrazySexyCool) and "Baby didn't we tell you before about chasin' those waterfalls" (refers to their 1995 single "Waterfalls") found their way into the song.
  • This features additional vocals by rapper Ja Rule, who spits the intro and a verse.
  • Ja Rule wrote the lyrics shortly after 9/11. The Queens, New York rapper drew inspiration from the terrorist act on his hometown. He explained to MTV News:

    "It's basically about how we feel going through life. But [in] these times, especially right now [with] what's going on, it kind of fits. On the record, I'm basically saying that it's these rainy days that we spend a lifetime trying to wash away. Just waiting for the sun to come and shine again. But until then, come smile for me. So that's the kind of vibe that [the song] is on."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)Songwriter Interviews

Steve Cropper on the making of "In the Midnight Hour," the chicken-wire scene in The Blues Brothers, and his 2021 album, Fire It Up.

Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde

Johnette Napolitano of Concrete BlondeSongwriter Interviews

The singer/bassist for Concrete Blonde talks about how her songs come from clairvoyance, and takes us through the making of their hit "Joey."

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney Princesses

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney PrincessesSong Writing

From "Some Day My Prince Will Come" to "Let It Go" - how Disney princess songs (and the women who sing them) have evolved.

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The Kingdom

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The KingdomSongwriter Interviews

The Bush frontman on where he finds inspiration for lyrics, if his "machine head" is a guitar tuner, and the stories behind songs from the album The Kingdom.

Classic Metal

Classic MetalFact or Fiction

Ozzy, Guns N' Roses, Judas Priest and even Michael Bolton show up in this Classic Metal quiz.

Timothy B. Schmit

Timothy B. SchmitSongwriter Interviews

The longtime Eagle talks about soaring back to his solo career, and what he learned about songwriting in the group.