It's Raining (album)

It's Raining is Rain's consecutive album to have been primarily produced by JYP Entertainment founder Park Jin-young. The singer's agency noted that the record was written and produced with both the domestic and international markets in mind, with Rain's role in the popular drama series Full House earlier in the year having helped boosted the singer's recognition and popularity throughout Asia.^[1]

It's Raining was released in South Korea through JYP Entertainment on October 8, 2004. A Japanese edition of the album was released in Japan through King Records on February 16, 2005, with the Japanese version of "I Do" serving as the promotional single for the record.^[2] In other territories in Asia, the album was released in Hong Kong on June 24 and in Taiwan on August 17, 2005.

"It's Raining" is the album's title track and was released as the lead single. It explores a more upbeat, hip-hop influenced sound in contrast to his previous releases. It won the Most Popular Music Video daesang award at the 2004 Mnet KM Music Video Festival and the Grand Prize at the annual KBS Music Awards.^[3][4]

"I Do" was released as a follow-up single to the title track. After the success of "It's Raining", "I Do" exhibited a calmer, up-tempo ballad style. The lyrics talk about how he pledges to be the very best for his lover. Its music video shows Rain running from his messy room (where he films a video of himself singing for his girlfriend) to the streets, passing by many couples. Eventually, he reaches the restaurant where his girlfriend is waiting for him, and plucks flowers out of a nearby flower box for her bouquet before greeting her.

The first single, "It's Raining", along with the album of the same experienced success throughout Southeast Asia, cementing Rain's position as one of the region's top musical acts. A more upbeat, hip-hop influence was displayed on the single "It's Raining" as well as throughout the album. From 2004 to 2006, the album sold over 200,000 copies in South Korea.^[5][6][7][8] For the Japanese release, the album was released with a different cover as well as the making of "It's Raining" music video.^[9] It peaked at number 15 on the Oricon Albums Chart in Japan and remained on the chart for seven weeks.^[10] It sold 100,000 copies in the country according to the Korea Creative Content Agency,^[11] although it did not receive a certification from the RIAJ.

Rain held his first concert tour, titled the Rainy Day Tour. The concert tour held shows in 19 concerts in several countries in Asia and North America. It began at the Olympic Hall in Seoul on January 29, 2005, and continued with concerts in China, Japan and Taiwan. His concert at the Workers' Stadium in Beijing in October 2005 attracted 40,000 people.^[12]

To promote the release of the Japanese edition of the album, Rain held a showcase at Shibuya-AX on February 21, 2005.^[2] In February 2006, the tour expanded into the United States with two shows at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, making it the largest concert by a K-pop artist in New York City at the time. The tour ended in Bangkok at the Impact Arena on February 26, 2006.

"It's Raining" won seven first place music program awards in South Korea, including three awards on Inkigayo leading to a triple crown. "I Do" also won three first place music program awards, including twice on MBC's Music Camp (previous version of Show! Music Core).