Is there a Rhythm of the Rain? An analysis of weather in popular music

Authors: Brown, S., Aplin, K.L., Jenkins, K., Mander, S., Walsh, C. and Williams, P.D.

Journal: Weather

Volume: 70

Issue: 7

Pages: 198-204

eISSN: 1477-8696

ISSN: 0043-1656

DOI: 10.1002/wea.2464

Abstract:

Weather is frequently used in music to frame events and emotions, yet quantitative analyses are rare. From a collated base set of 759 weather-related songs, 419 were analysed based on listings from a karaoke database. This article analyses the 20 weather types described, frequency of occurrence, genre, keys, mimicry, lyrics and songwriters. Vocals were the principal means of communicating weather: sunshine was the most common, followed by rain, with weather depictions linked to the emotions of the song. Bob Dylan, John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote the most weather-related songs, partly following their experiences at the time of writing.

Source: Scopus

Is there a Rhythm Of The Rain? An analysis of weather in popular music

Authors: Brown, S., Aplin, K.L., Jenkins, K., Mander, S., Walsh, C. and Williams, P.D.

Journal: WEATHER

Volume: 70

Issue: 7

Pages: 198-204

eISSN: 1477-8696

ISSN: 0043-1656

DOI: 10.1002/wea.2464

Source: Web of Science (Lite)