Electroboyz are back with sad single “Let It Rain” and it’s refreshing to hear a new song from them instead of another “Ma Boy” sequel. The trio are talented and have proven that in the past but the “Ma Boy” sequels got old fast. Their last mini-album didn’t impress either but “Let It Rain” is a quality song with a great MV that might just make up for it.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5GQ7MtsMhc]I didn’t expect to like this MV as much as I did but something about it just drew me in. It is simple yet refined and conveys the melancholy lyrics of the song.
The MV follows a woman who has just been broken up with. She boards a bus and tries to hold in her feelings for the remainder of the ride. This music video beautifully expresses heartache, numbness, and sadness without acting out a story. Instead, we only experience the woman’s emotions. This might have been a risky choice but the actress they chose amazingly portrays a range of microexpressions.
Her main facial expression is one of numbness and it fits the lyrics well. She is in shock, but not in the dramatic way that often permeates music videos. Her shock is the shock of heartbreak, of still trying to process what just happened. This is exemplified as she stares out the window and her brief glances downward give her away.
The scene, or rather moment, that most stood out to me occurred right after the tears ran down the woman’s face. As she turns to face the window once more, she lets out a sigh and it is as if she’s been holding her breath the whole time, not even realizing it. It’s extremely realistic and my breath caught for a moment after watching that scene.
The ending is interesting as well. After disembarking, the woman stares at the bus — perhaps realizing she left behind her umbrella? — and the camera pans to the forgotten umbrella, now a shade of red.
The red umbrella was unexpected after four minutes of black and white but I soon realized its significance. Early in the song, the lyrics confess that they used to avoid the rain. This goes along with the umbrella that the woman carries. However, during the chorus the lyrics change to:
Let it rain
I’ll wash you away in the rain
Let it rain
I’ll let you go with my tears
This leads me to believe that leaving the umbrella in the bus, whether intentional or not, was also the woman embracing the rain. Without her shelter from the rain, she has no choice but to move on and wash away the memories of her past love in the rain.
What I liked about the song was that it used rain in an atypical way. Instead of comparing the rain to feelings of sadness (as is often used), the rain was meant to be a mode of moving on. Yes the pain and heartbreak are there, but the rain is going to wash it anew and clear the way for new memories and emotions, much like how flowers and foliage bloom after rain.
“Let It Rain” is mellow, smooth, and an easy listen. While I was worried the rain in the background was going to be overused but the song thankfully steered away from that. I also liked the female’s harmonization throughout the song. It gave the song a lighter, airy, feel that flowed with the lyrics instead of a heavier tone.
I was initially wary of this MV because I’m generally wary of black and white filmed music videos. However, “Let It Rain” assured me I had nothing to worry about and surpassed my expectations. The biggest reason why this music video worked was the actress. She was very convincing and I enjoyed watching a less dramatic aftermath of a breakup that still properly conveyed a range of emotions. It was touching and relateable — something not many “sad” MVs can claim.
Score: 4.5/5
(Brave Entertainment, YouTube [1])
