Only Happy When It Rains
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"Only Happy When It Rains" was the breakthrough second single from Garbage's 1995 self-titled debut album.
Song profile
"Only Happy When It Rains" was written and recorded at Smart Studios during the 1994-1995 sessions for the debut album.
With its upbeat and pessimistic lyrics over a grunge pop guitar part, "Only Happy When It Rains" became Garbage's first widely successful single, achieving significant exposure in both the US and the UK.
Bass on "Only Happy When It Rains" was played by Mike Kashou, and additional percussion is credited to Wisconsin musician Pauli Ryan.
Single release
"Only Happy When It Rains" was considered by Garbage's record companies to be the single on Garbage with the most commercial potential.
In the UK it was issued in September 1995 and peaked at number 29, the band's first top 40 UK entry. In the US it was issued in January 1996, but was not an immediate hit, until its re-issue in May 1996, when it was also released as a single in Europe and Australia.
The vinyl format in the UK for "Only Happy When It Rains" was die-cut metallic green card sleeve with a G hologram on the inner. On the vinyl disc itself, the b-sides were double-grooved so that the songs played randomly, depending on where the stylus landed.
Music video
The promo video for "Only Happy When It Rains" was shot in Madison, Wisconsin, in January 1996 with director Samuel Bayer. It was shot alongside the promo clip for follow up single 'Stupid Girl'.
Remixes
No official remixes of "Only Happy When It Rains" exist, however a radio version of the song, which is slightly shorter than the LP version was issued to radio stations in Spring 1996. The radio version is slightly remixed to sound less rock and more pop, but the difference is very subtle.
Live performances
"Only Happy When It Rains" was first performed live at Garbage's first gig in Minneapolis, Minnesota on 5th November 1995. The song became the biggest live song in Garbage's set, played consistently throughout all four world tours.
The song was slightly re-worked for the 'Beautifulgarbage' tour and became the closing song for the majority of those shows. By 2005, and the 'Bleed Like Me' tour the song had undergone another change, with a completely new intro over which Shirley Manson would often sing the lyrics from "Singing In The Rain".
"Only Happy When It Rains" was performed by the band at their performance at the MTV Movie Awards in New York on 13th June 1996. They also have performed the song for TV sets on MusiquePlus (Canada), Fuse Comp'd TV (US), Top Of The Pops and Later with Jools Holland (UK).
A live version of the song appeared on the B-side to the European and Australian "Shut Your Mouth" singles. This version was probably recorded on sound-check at one of the band's European 2002 dates.
Trivia
"Only Happy When It Rains" came in at #42 in the KROQ Top 106.7 Countdown of 1996.
"Only Happy When It Rains" has been used on several TV shows including US sci-fi series The X-Files.
"Only Happy When It Rains" was used extensively in television ads by NBC to promote the show, Crossing Jordan, before it premiered in the fall of 2001.
The song was covered, in a lounge version with an intro reminiscent of "Singing in the Rain", by Richard Cheese for the album 'Lounge Against the Machine, and in a metal version by rock group Nickelback.
\"Only Happy When It Rains\" quote, unquote
Shirley Manson: "It's about the grunge attitude in America, which is a pretty morose attitude to have. We were being pretty tongue-in-cheek. But it's also a song about wanting love, but knowing that life will always get in the way, and of knowing that, and yet not being obliterated by that. It's a song for people that know what it's like to live on the dark side."
Comprehensive charts
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | "Only Happy When It Rains" | UK Singles Chart | #29 |
| 1996 | "Only Happy When It Rains" | US Billboard Hot 100 | #55 |
| 1996 | "Only Happy When It Rains" | US Modern Rock | #16 |
| Garbage |
| Butch Vig | Shirley Manson | Duke Erikson | Steve Marker |
| Discography |
|---|
| Albums and extended plays: Garbage | Version 2.0 | beautifulgarbage | Bleed Like Me | Absolute Garbage |
| Singles: "Vow" | "Subhuman" | "Only Happy When It Rains" | "Queer" | "Stupid Girl" | "Milk" | "Number One Crush" | "Push It" | "I Think I'm Paranoid" | "Special" | "The Trick Is to Keep Breathing" | "When I Grow Up" | "You Look So Fine" | "The World Is Not Enough" | "Androgyny" | "Cherry Lips" | "Breaking Up the Girl" | "Shut Your Mouth" | "Why Do You Love Me" | "Bleed Like Me" | "Sex Is Not the Enemy" | "Run Baby Run" |
| Related articles |
| Alternative rock | Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie | Angelfish | The World Is Not Enough | Mushroom Records | Almo Sounds | Interscope Records |
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