Music videos featuring artists singing in the rain became increasingly common during the 1990s and early aughts, whether to add drama or enhance a song’s message. Below are 13 of the finest visuals featuring singers performing under wet conditions.
Beyonce’s stunning 2011 album 4, 4 was an unprecedented musical and cultural shift, and this track from it serves as an exquisite vocal showcase. Beyonce’s powerful singing elevates this heartbreak song through her unabashed energy and her incredible versatility as an interpreter.
1. Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is known for her sensuous voice and alluring beauty, giving her songs an air of hopefulness and romance. That same feeling is captured in her music videos: even though they might not feature the flashiness or overtness seen in some gangster rap epics of the 1990s, Carey’s visuals still provide plenty of charm that make them unforgettable.
Carey pays her late boyfriend tribute in “I Don’t Know What It Takes”, an emotive tribute featuring a red boat filled with water where she sits quietly gazing upon it as the rain pours down, occasionally being doused by it herself! At one point during this touching video she even gets doused in raindrops!
This video from a Grammy winner features an emotive ballad about her struggle with addiction; both its song and video capture its raw emotion well. Lyrically, the lyrics describe someone trapped in hell who holds onto hope that everything will turn out all right in the end.
Muni Long showcases her R&B talent with this captivating song that is both seductive and inspiring, recalling greats such as Aaliyah, Erykah Badu, and Alicia Keys. Long’s stunning rendition topped charts, went viral online, and earned her the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance!
Boyz II Men are one of the most celebrated boy bands in R&B history, famed for their seductive voices and harmonious arrangements. Their hit “Makin’ Good Love” perfectly showcased R&B music at that time; featuring more sensual lyrics and explicit tracks than before.
“Makin’ Good Love” is an irresistibly sensual yet catchy love song that presciently shows R&B’s future course during the late ’90s and early 2000s when artists such as Jodeci and Tank began including more explicit love songs on their albums; additionally, “Makin’ Good Love” foreshadows singers such as Chris Brown and Trey Songz becoming established stars.
2. Aaliyah
Aaliyah was one of the most acclaimed R&B stars during her time. Her talent, beauty and modesty made her a standout in her industry; she starred in movies alongside Timbaland as well as having an expansive music career that was cut short due to a tragic plane crash in 2001.
She died only 22 years old, yet her legacy endures strongly. Her work and videos shaped the direction of the genre. Her songs focused on love, lust, and female energy – a message her songs conveyed beautifully.
Aaliyah released her sophomore album, One in a Million, in 1996 and it garnered her the recognition she deserved as a hip-hop chanteuse with confidence far surpassing her years.
“Try Again” and its video were both hits for her in what was then an industry dominated by men. Indeed, it marked the first time an R&B song topped Billboard Hot 100 chart solely through airplay; additionally it earned them a Grammy nomination.
Aaliyah’s determination and seductive charm were instantly appealing to film producers, leading her to secure her first acting role in Romeo Must Die starring Jet Li. The movie proved immensely popular at box offices worldwide and gave Aaliyah considerable exposure while helping build her fan base.
In 2001, she released her third album Aaliyah and recorded its title track music video for production by Hype Williams – one of the leading music video directors – in the Bahamas. This project marked her final creative effort before her untimely death.
Muni Long released a song that quickly went viral, sparking the “Hrs & Hrs Challenge.” Many saw this as a comeback of late ’90s soul music that we all know and love; ranking high on charts and social media, this jazzy yet seductive tune spoke about female energy and how men treat her; it captured its spirit by channeling energy similar to her idols Rihanna and Erykah Badu.
3. Brandy
“What You Need” celebrates youth and freedom with its blend of high fashion styling and an enjoyable night on the town narrative, all highlighted by Brandy’s charming on-camera charisma and solid dancing ability – making this video one of the most exciting r&b videos of all time.
Hip-hop was an increasingly influential commercial force during the early 1990s, prompting some critics to critique how black women were depicted in music videos; often as scantily-clad dancers for rappers to throw money or champagne at. Janet Jackson and director Mark Romanek attempted to address these criticisms with “Got ‘Til It’s Gone,” an arthouse video with an engaging rap narrative.
Nigel Dick’s promo for Britney Spears’ debut single is one of the most technically accomplished and artistically ambitious music videos ever made. His concept employs suggestive Catholic schoolgirl fantasies while maintaining an overarching wholesomeness that instantly made it recognizable to tweens watching MTV’s Total Request Live program with rap videos in the background.
Tyrese was no stranger to gangsta music, yet for this single from his self-titled debut album he took an unusually soulful route. Shot at both an ocean beach and mansion location, its visuals add an air of luxury that perfectly accompanies Tyrese’s soulful vocals and smooth production of this tune.
Muni Long first rose to prominence as a writer for Rihanna, Erykah Badu and Alicia Keys before venturing solo in 2021 with this track that showcased both her silky vocals and emotional depth. The song charts the confusion associated with an on/off relationship without resorting to gore or shock value – one of the most emotionally charged music videos of all time.
Michel Gondry’s creative music video for Cibo Matto’s dance-pop classic, “Oye!”, by Cibo Matto is truly incredible and entertaining to watch over and over. This hilarious and unique promo showcases scenes that may seem random at first, such as cats jumping into mailboxes before jumping back out again – creating a joyous feast for the eyes that proves there are no limits to r&b creativity!
4. Janelle Monae
Janelle Monae is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist, singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur best known as a backup vocalist for OutKast. As one of R&B music’s most powerful figures and champions for diversity and female empowerment through music, her 2013 release The Electric Lady (featuring Prince collaboration) and most recent effort Dirty Computer both earned critical acclaim – with Dirty Computer even receiving an Album of the Year nomination at the Grammys! On screen Monae embodied free-ass motherfucker who carried herself with intelligence and grace throughout both stage and screen roles!
R&B experienced an identity crisis for much of the first decade of 2010s but found its footing again with streaming. The genre embraced hip-hop, pop, Afrobeats and electronic influences to revitalize itself and find renewed life.
Muni Long reignited the sensuous, soulful sounds of late-1990s soul with her jazzy single, “Hrs & Hrs,” which became an international smash hit and led to TikTok challenges and ultimately earning her a Grammy nomination.
Boyz II Men are one of the greatest R&B groups of all time, famed for their smooth voices and harmonious harmonies. In 1997, their hit song “Rain” spent weeks at number one of the charts – its sensual vibe perfectly matching its sensual music video which featured them singing under an umbrella without ever actually getting wet!
Jazmine Sullivan has long been an exemplary singer-songwriter in her own right and finally received her due with 2019’s Heaux Tales album. Pushing boundaries, Heaux Tales showcased all the qualities that define Sullivan as an artist – nods to classic soul, an honest approach to personal story telling, and vocal chops that rival anyone in any genre. One song on Heaux Tales that proved this was true was Jazmine and Drake dueting over an infectious, danceable track; here they trade lines over an excellently-produced track. It shows they work perfectly well together!