It's Raining Men

The Weather Girls brought a specific brand of campy, high-energy disco to the forefront in the early 1980s with their anthem It's Raining Men. Released as the lead single from their third studio album Success in September 1982, the track quickly became a global phenomenon. Written by Paul Jabara and Paul Shaffer, the song blends soulful vocals with driving electronic dance beats that defined the Hi-NRG genre. The production team, including Bob Esty, crafted a sound that felt both nostalgic for the disco era and fresh enough for the new decade.

Paul Jabara and Paul Shaffer composed the track in 1979 while they were working on the soundtrack for the film Saturday Night Fever. They originally intended to give the song to Donna Summer but decided it fit The Weather Girls better. The recording features Irene Cara and Martha Wash on lead vocals, creating a powerful vocal blend that drove the track to number one on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart even though it only reached number 45 on the Hot 100. The music video directed by Brian Grant added to the song's surreal appeal with scenes of male dancers falling from the sky.

Geri Halliwell revitalized the track for a new generation when she released her cover version in 1999. Her rendition topped the UK Singles Chart for four weeks and became a massive hit across Europe and Australia. The original song has since become a staple at Pride events and karaoke bars worldwide. It inspired numerous parodies and covers including Mila Jam's 2020 rewrite It's Raining Them which updated the lyrics to be more inclusive of women and non-binary individuals. [edit]