Here's That Rainy Day — Chord Changes & Harmonic Analysis
- Composer:
- Jimmy Van Heusen
- Year:
- 1953
- Key:
- G major
- Form:
- AB (32 bars)
- Style:
- Ballad
- Tempo:
- 60–100 BPM
A sophisticated ballad with chromatic harmonic movement. Jimmy Van Heusen's composition features unexpected modulations and rich chord progressions that challenge and reward improvisers with its emotional depth.
About This Standard
Composed by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Johnny Burke for the 1953 Broadway musical Carnival in Flanders, Here's That Rainy Day became a jazz standard through recordings by Frank Sinatra and many others. Its melancholy lyric and lush, chromatic harmonic movement — which includes a striking modulation midway through — have made it a favorite ballad vehicle.
Notable recordings:
- Frank Sinatra — (various recordings)
- Bill Evans — (various recordings)
- Tony Bennett — (various recordings)
- Widely recorded — (jazz ballad standard)
Chord Changes
Notation
Harmonic Analysis
Here's That Rainy Day is a 32-bar ABAC-form ballad in G major with richly chromatic harmony. The tune features a striking modulation to Bb major in the B section — a chromatic third relationship (G to Bb) that creates a surprising harmonic color shift. Lush ii-V-I progressions and smooth chromatic voice leading throughout give the tune its warm, melancholy character. The harmonic sophistication is typical of Van Heusen's best writing.