+ 66. Music Monday: Rain and Tears by Aphrodite's Child

"Rain and Tears, All the Same, But in the Sun, You've Got to Play the Game."

Every Monday, I am hoping to bring to you guys some lesser known songs that I enjoy listening to. We will start this new segment on the blog with Rain and Tears by Aphrodite's Child.

Aphrodite's Child is a Greek progressive rock band that was established in 1967. Rain and Tears was the first single released from their debut album, End of the World, in 1968. The single enjoyed tremendous success in Europe, catapulting the then newborn group into quick fame [1].

I first discovered the song through 最好的时光 (Zuì Hǎo De Shí Guāng), a Taiwanese movie, better known in the western hemisphere by its English title, Three Times. Its Chinese title literally translates to The Best Times. The movie was divided into three arcs. The song was repetitively played throughout the first arc of the movie, A Time for Love. Maybe it was the scenes that accompanied the music, the song brings about a serene and romantic feeling. I have been hooked on the song ever since my first listen.

My favorite component of the song is its quirky and memorable lyric, and my favorite line from the song is, "rain and tears, all the same, but in the sun, you've got to play the game." Since rain and tears are "all the same," no one would notice when you cry in the rain. Here, "rain" represents any event where tearing up is appropriate. Such event serves as a cover up for the real reason behind you feeling sad. However, when it is sunny out - in a scenario where sorrowful feelings are not expected - "you've got to play the game." You've got to hold yourself together.

Here is a YouTube video I found of the song. Have a listen and let me know what you think in the comments below!