About the song
Rainy Days and Mondays is a song written by Roger Nichols and Paul Williams and recorded by American soft rock duo Carpenters. It was released in October 1971 as the second single from their third album, also titled Carpenters.
The song topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming their fourth top-five single. It was also a success internationally, reaching the top ten in several countries. “(They Long to Be) Close to You” has been covered by many artists, including Elton John, Dusty Springfield, and The Beach Boys.
The song’s lyrics are about the melancholy feeling of a rainy day and the anticipation of the start of the work week. The melody is simple and easy to sing along to, and Karen Carpenter’s vocals are soft and soothing. The song’s arrangement is lush and orchestral, with a harp, piano, and strings.
“(They Long to Be) Close to You” is a classic example of the Carpenters’ sound. It is a beautiful and timeless song that continues to be enjoyed by listeners of all ages.
Some interesting facts about the song:
- The song was originally written for the 1970 film The Boatniks, but it was not used in the film.
- The song was inspired by a rainy day in Los Angeles.
- Karen Carpenter was not feeling well when she recorded the song, but her brother Richard convinced her to go ahead with it.
- The song was used in a 2017 commercial for Apple AirPods.
Here are some of the song’s lyrics:
Rainy days and Mondays Always get me down Seems that nothing ever turns out right Hangin’ around Nothing to do but frown Rainy days and Mondays Always get me down
But then I remember The look in your eyes And the feel of your hand And I know that you’re mine And that’s all that matters Rainy days and Mondays Won’t get me down
I hope you enjoy this introduction to “(They Long to Be) Close to You”.