You’ve all heard the phrase “save it for a rainy day”. So as we wait for Eurovision national finals season to swing into motion, we’re pretending that it’s raining outside and we’re rolling out this list. Yes, whether it’s overcast or sunny, Eurovision stars have at times nodded to that most glorious part of the water cycle – rain. Today we honour that tradition by looking at 10 Eurovision songs that drew inspiration from rain, storms and wind. So grab your umbrellas and let’s do this…

Fångad av en stormvind (Sweden 1991)

Carola — Swedish queen of schläger — sings about how the love of her life has swept her away like a storm. It’s a lovely metaphor and she took it to another level with a very powerful wind machine, just to reinforce how strong her love storm really was. Awww. 

Rechtop in de wind (The Netherlands 1987)

This 80’s classic is about standing strong no matter what — and how better to represent adversity than with a bit of wind? It’s a shame this song didn’t blow in about two decades later because today’s wind machines would have added even more drama to Marcha literally standing upright in the wind. Thankfully her hair-dresser gave us the illusion instead.

Rain of Revolution (Lithuania 2017)

This isn’t really about rain per se, but the metaphor was enough to put it on the list. Also: the spinning wheel of golden acid rain in the background made us think we had something raining on us. In this case the metaphor trumps the literal. Plus some might argue that the performance — loud and blustery and at times frightening — shared many of the qualities of a rainstorm. Obvs. 

Dancing in the rain (Spain 2014)

Among the most literal tracks on our list, “Dancing in the Rain” saw Spanish diva Ruth Lorenzo do exactly that — dance in the rain. The title conjured up the image of a rainstorm, which she took further by displaying watery imagery on the reflective background. She even slicked back her hair — girl was dripping wet! There was no question that the audience was supposed to think she was actually getting all soggy dancing in some bad weather. (We’ve all been there).

Il pleut du l’or (Switzerland 2010)

Deploying all his Swiss “camptasticness”, Michael von der Heide sings about how it rains gold every time his partner talks to him about love. The only thing missing was the rain of gold on the stage itself (perhaps the arena didn’t have the right atmospheric conditions?!). But they gave us a whole lot of wind machine plus some pyro in the form of geysers, so it’s OK.

Walking the streets in the rain (Ireland 1965)

Ireland’s debut entry at Eurovision is the ultimate “broken-hearted in the rain” ballad. The lyrics portray a man incredibly distraught by a lost love. But nobody notices him crying because his tears just blend in with the rain. Talk about having a rainy day. On top of that the title is super literal, with Butch Moore literally walking the streets in the rain. Sad face. Umbrella emoji.

Hurricane (Austria 1983)

There are few things that scream “horrible weather” more than a hurricane. And that is exactly why this frequently forgotten Austrian gem made it on this list. The performance is reason enough for us to remind y’all of this entry, with its colourful 80’s costumes and choreography that seems to have been borrowed from Israel. But the song itself represents the theme quite well — it’s a love song that uses a thunderstorm to emphasise how gusty courtship can be.

Thunder and Lightning (Bosnia & Herzegovina 2010)

Thunder and lightning, it’s getting exciting. No sorry: wrong song. This rock number from the Balkans might not be as well known or remembered as the Russian love-anthem from 2016, but it has a bit more prominent connection to the theme — just check out the title. The lyrics are hard to decipher — something about thunder and lightning holding hands. But hey: at least they had a lot of flashing lights.

Like the wind (Belgium 1999)

If the Pocahontas soundtrack had included a Eurovision song, “Like The Wind” would have been it. There are so many nature references that you might think David Attenborough wrote the lyrics himself. (Seriously: close your eyes and try to imagine him reading the lyrics out loud). The most prominent theme of the song is indeed the wind, and that’s why we’ve included it here.

Calm after the storm (The Netherlands 2014)

Rather appropriately, we close out the list with The Netherlands’ 2014 entry from The Common Linnets. Again: it’s not literally about a storm, but rather a metaphor about the storm that life — and love — can be. This country-esque number made it all the way to second place and gave The Netherlands its best result since the country’s win back in 1975.

What is your favourite song on the list? What other songs do you think should have made it? Let us know in the comments section down below.

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Pedro
Pedro
6 years ago

Portugal 2015 is also about rain. The first lyrics:

São três da manha (it’s 3am)
A chuva cai (the rain falls)
nas ruas da cidade (in the city’ streets)

Katy
Katy
6 years ago

“Calm After The Storm” is such an overrated snoozefest. Perfect for a funeral. Thank God Conchita won.

Music is the key
Music is the key
6 years ago
Reply to  Katy

CW winning is the worst thing EVER happening in ESC I think!!

brunowskii
brunowskii
6 years ago
Reply to  Katy

Love Conchita
But she won by her performance not for the song
And yeah, you are right, thank God she won… for other reasons
But ‘Calm after the storm’ will remain one of the greatest songs of ESC history that didn’t win…. far way better than most of the winners

Katy
Katy
6 years ago
Reply to  brunowskii

Yes, I agree that she probably won because of her performance, but I still believe her song was much better than “Calm After The Storm”. Just my personal opinion, you don’t have to share it.

John
John
6 years ago

Venedig im Regen (Venice in the Rain) Austria 1991. It was a null pointer.

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

“Calm after the storm” the best for me in this list!

Quality, sophistication, musicality and class as “Music is the key” mentioned. Never liked it before Eurovision, I loved it when I saw the performance.
That was a Eurovision final performance!
Winner for me in 2014!
Still love it!

Music is the key
Music is the key
6 years ago
Reply to  AngieP

I agree with you 100 %..you got it girl 😉

Music is the key
Music is the key
6 years ago

My comments: SWEDEN 1991: OK – a schlager. So maybe nothing special. But a jaunty, cheerful and pleasent song. Which has an obvious inspiration of Supremes / Pointer Sisters. This was before the MF schlager style started to get annoying… NETHERLANDS 1987: Nie pop song. Maybe the verse is a bit nn-descript. But a nice, “light” uplifting good pop chrus. Defiantely lifts the song. I like how it just “goes one”. And the choir. Good one LITHUANIA 2017: GREAT song! Just too clever for it’s own ood. But a quality jazz / fubk song. Which ca be appreciated by the… Read more »

avner
avner
6 years ago

Also comes to mind : Time (is like thunder, 2015), that did not qualify despite the dramatic bad-weather effects.

From poland
From poland
6 years ago

Bo?nia have the Best one from this list. Thunder and lightning deserve for be in top5 in norway

brunowskii
brunowskii
6 years ago

By far, “Calm after the storm”…. the best in this theme and certainly top10 in Eurovision history!

Music is the key
Music is the key
6 years ago
Reply to  brunowskii

The moral winner of ESC 2014….for ALL REASONS!!!

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago

There might be moral victories, but there is no “moral winner”; there is only a winner (period), for which the Linnets were not.

Roelof Meesters
Roelof Meesters
6 years ago

I melted when I read about Ireland 1965: his tears mixed with the rain so nobody saw him cry. That’s beautiful.

Music is the key
Music is the key
6 years ago

Yes, poetical…but the idea was stolen from Everly Brothers 🙂

Benny.Saunders
Benny.Saunders
6 years ago

Never knew that Belgium song from 1999 existed. Why has this never been mentioned? It is such an ethereal song! It’s amazing, when you think you have listened to most Eurovision songs. You then find songs that just slip under the radar.

Although sometimes there is a reason why they are kept swept under the carpet!

Richardinho
Richardinho
6 years ago
Reply to  Benny.Saunders

Reminds me a bit of their 2003 entry: Sanomi by Urban Trad. Belgium sure has had some good ones over the years. Of course, they’re not Sweden, so they don’t win. 🙁

Music is the key
Music is the key
6 years ago
Reply to  Benny.Saunders

When you have heard ALL songs from 1956 till now…:THEN you have heard them all 😉 Simple! They all should be heard 🙂 Of course….for anyne who loves ESC.

stan
stan
6 years ago
Reply to  Benny.Saunders

there’s also Belgium 1989 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smVKttN7OOw

Jake
Jake
6 years ago

Thunder and Lightining, it’s getting exciting. Surprising you left You are the Only One off the list for more obscure songs.

Music is the key
Music is the key
6 years ago
Reply to  Jake

This is around 15 times better than Russia 2016…could be the reason why 🙂

Yossarian
Yossarian
6 years ago
Reply to  Jake

Or all the other songs include a weather reference in their very title. Not “You Are the Only One”. 🙂

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

Calm After the Storm, my favourite ESC song ever.

greenmoon
greenmoon
6 years ago
Reply to  Jo

YES HONEY

goprake (#FusedmarcWasTheRealWinner)
goprake (#FusedmarcWasTheRealWinner)
6 years ago

Is there any other Fusedmarc fan among the comments? 😀 (They included “Rain of Revolution” yay!)

Broder
6 years ago

Lithuania was my #2 this year <3

escDisney Calling
escDisney Calling
6 years ago

me my channel is basically a fusedmarc fan account (not really, but they were my #1)

beccaboo1212
6 years ago

Speaking of Fusedmarc, I’m still hoping for the band to film a NEW music video for “Rain of Revolution”. 😀

Music is the key
Music is the key
6 years ago

Me! 🙂

Hurricane86
Hurricane86
6 years ago

Fusedmarc ere very underrated this year, loved the song, they were robbed!