"Whiskey and Rain" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Michael Ray | ||||
from the EP Higher Education | ||||
Released | October 26, 2020 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 3:26 | |||
Label | Warner Bros. Nashville | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Ross Copperman | |||
Michael Ray singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Whiskey and Rain" on YouTube |
"Whiskey and Rain" is a song recorded by American country music singer Michael Ray. It was released on October 26, 2020, and served as the lead single to his EP Higher Education. [1] The song reached number one on the Country Airplay chart dated January 22, 2022, giving Ray his second number one single on the chart. [2] The song was co-written by Jesse Frasure and Josh Thompson, and produced by Ross Copperman. [3]
"Whiskey and Rain" describes someone drowning their sorrows in a glass of something strong, and Ray pointed out the song's vibe draws to mind some of his country forebears. [4]
He told website Everything Nash: “I guess I always knew that I wanted more of a traditional country sound. That’s what I grew up on, what I listen to, to this day. And I just always felt like that was the record I wanted to make. It took this year, I guess, to really realize that on my own. So this song, it was just that catchy, hooky melody, that throwback to the Gary Allan. It sounds like Gary Allan, Dwight Yoakam — all of that. It just stood out. And really, we felt was a great way to introduce this new record and new sound.” [5]
"Whiskey and Rain" is a song with a '90s country vibe. Frasure tweaked the demo with a sibilant, '80s-pop drum sound and light, flute-tinted piano chords. [6]
The music video was released on October 29, 2020, directed by Sean Hagwell, who brings the song’s throwback style to life. The video revealed Ray riding out the storm. [7]
Ray told to CMT about the message from this video: “We wanted the video to show that going through rough spots in life can open you up to different people and their situations. Maybe you can listen to their stories for a while. I think the video reflects the depth of the song, and it shows how sometimes the negative things in life can bring people together.” [8]
"Whiskey and Rain" reached number one on the Billboard Country Airplay chart dated January 22, 2022, becoming Ray's second number one on that chart, and his first since his debut single, "Kiss You in the Morning", in August 2015. [2] Having taken 65 weeks to reach number one, it tied a record previously set in June 2020 by Travis Denning's "After a Few" for the slowest ascent to the top. [9] It also became Ray's first Top 40 single on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 37. [10]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA) [19] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Kenneth Arnold Chesney is an American country singer. With 30 million albums sold worldwide, he released his debut, In My Wildest Dreams, in 1994, and has since released 19 follow-ups. His albums spawned 27 singles that have peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100.
Jason Aldine Williams, known professionally as Jason Aldean, is an American country music singer. Since 2005, he has been signed to Broken Bow Records, a record label for which he has released eleven albums and 40 singles. His 2010 album, My Kinda Party, is certified quadruple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His 2012 album Night Train is certified double-platinum, while his 2005 self-titled debut, 2007 album Relentless, 2009 album Wide Open, and 2014 album Old Boots, New Dirt are all certified platinum. Aldean has received five Grammy Award nominations throughout his career, twice for Best Country Album.
David Brent Nail is an American country music artist and the frontman of David Nail & The Well Ravens. In 2002, he debuted the single "Memphis" from an unreleased album for Mercury Records Nashville. Five years later, he signed with MCA Nashville, for which he has released four studio albums: I'm About to Come Alive, The Sound of a Million Dreams, I'm a Fire, and Fighter plus two extended plays, 1979 and Uncovered. The albums have produced seven chart entries on Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay, including two that have reached No. 1: "Let It Rain" and "Whatever She's Got", plus the top 10 hit "Red Light".
American country music group Little Big Town has released eleven studio albums and 27 singles.
"Ain't Worth the Whiskey" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Cole Swindell. It was released to country radio in November 2014 as the third single from his self-titled debut album. The song was written by Swindell, Josh Martin, and Adam Sanders. It garnered mixed reviews from critics.
Jesse Vernon Frasure, also known as DJ Telemitry, is an American music publisher, record producer, songwriter, and DJ. He has written 22 number one songs and has cuts with various artists including Chris Stapleton, Marshmello, Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, Thomas Rhett, Leon Bridges, Kane Brown, Jelly Roll, Blake Shelton, Cole Swindell, Meghan Trainor, Florida Georgia Line and more.
Michael Ray Roach is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is signed to Warner Music Nashville. He has released two albums for the label: Michael Ray and Amos.
American singer Sam Hunt has released two studio albums, one mixtape, three extended plays, ten singles, and ten music videos. Hunt signed a record deal with MCA Nashville and launched his musical career with the release of the single "Raised on It" in 2013; it received moderate chart success, peaking at number 49 on Hot Country Songs. Then came the launch of his debut studio album Montevallo in October 2014. It topped the Top Country Albums chart and peaked at number three on the Billboard 200. It was certified 4× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and reached a million sales in the country by February 2016. The album also peaked at number two on the Canadian Albums Chart and received a Gold certification from Music Canada. Montevallo spawned five singles, including the international hit "Take Your Time", which peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped Hot Country Songs; it was later certified 6× Platinum by the RIAA.
"Think a Little Less" is a song recorded by American country music artist Michael Ray. It was released on April 25, 2016 as the third single from Ray's major-label debut album. This song was written by Barry Dean, Jon Nite, Jimmy Robbins, and Thomas Rhett.
"Road Less Traveled" is a song recorded by American country music singer Lauren Alaina for her 2015 self-titled EP. Alaina co-wrote the song with Jesse Frasure and Meghan Trainor. It was released to country radio through Mercury Nashville and Interscope Records on June 27, 2016, as the EP's second single and officially impacted the format on July 11, 2016. The song is also included on her second studio album of the same name (2017), and serves as the record's second single.
"Dirt on My Boots" is a song recorded by American country music artist Jon Pardi. It was released to radio on September 19, 2016, as the second single to his second studio album California Sunrise. The song was written by Rhett Akins, Jesse Frasure and Ashley Gorley.
"One Mississippi" is a song recorded by American country music singer Kane Brown. It was released on August 20, 2021, as the lead single from Brown's third studio album Different Man. The song was co-written by Brown, Ernest Keith Smith, Jesse Frasure and Levon Gray, and produced by Dann Huff.
"Unforgettable" is a song recorded by American country music singer Thomas Rhett. It was released to country radio on July 28, 2017 via Valory Music Group as the second single from his third studio album, Life Changes (2017). The song was written by Rhett, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley and Shane McAnally.
"Remember You Young" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Thomas Rhett. It was released on July 15, 2019 as the second single from his fourth studio album Center Point Road. Rhett wrote the song with Ashley Gorley and Jesse Frasure, the latter of which produced it with Dann Huff.
"After a Few" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Travis Denning. It is his second single for Mercury Nashville. Denning wrote the song with Kelly Archer and Justin Weaver.
"Wine, Beer, Whiskey" is a song recorded by American country music group Little Big Town from their ninth studio album, Nightfall (2020). It was released to country radio as the album's third single on June 1, 2020. The music video premiered on November 7, 2020.
"What's Your Country Song" is a song recorded by American country pop singer Thomas Rhett for his fifth studio album, Country Again: Side A (2021). The song was written by Rhett, Ashley Gorley, Jesse Frasure, Parker Welling, and Rhett Akins, while produced by Frasure and Dann Huff. The song was inspired by Rhett's road travels across the United States. It was released by Valory on November 11, 2020, as the lead single from the album. The lyrics include a series of questions and directly reference the titles of 16 other country songs, including Akins' "That Ain't My Truck". The song received generally positive reviews from music critics, particularly for its nostalgic quality and referential lyrics.
Priscilla Ann Block is an American country music singer–songwriter. After graduating high school, she moved to Nashville to pursue a career in the country industry. In 2020, her song "Just About Over You" went viral on TikTok, reaching Nashville music executives who signed her to Mercury Nashville. Released as a single, "Just About Over You" was on the American country chart in 2021.
"Damn Strait" is a song by American country music singer Scotty McCreery. It was released on October 18, 2021, as the second single from his fifth studio album Same Truck. The song was written by Jim Collins and Trent Tomlinson, and produced by Frank Rogers, Aaron Eshuis, and Derek Wells.