A drizzle of ‘November Rain’

On November 4, Guns N' Roses released a new version of their hit song, "November Rain", resyncing it with the original music-video, paired with a 50-piece orchestra. The upload to YouTube evoked much enthusiasm and reminded music lovers once again, why the song has been a favourite for generations.

Originally, "November Rain" was released as a single in 1992, as a part of their third studio album, "Use Your Illusion". In the US, this song peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and was the longest duration song to enter the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 at the time of its release.

"November Rain" remained on the chart for a total of 30 weeks. It was widely acclaimed in other countries as well; most notably in Germany, where it remained on the chart for almost a year. Overall, more than one million copies of the album were sold worldwide.

Written by the band's frontman, Axl Rose, the song was pivotal in expressing a more sensitive side of the artist and was an extremely personal project. In fact, Rose had been working on the song for nearly a decade, before it was released.

What had been essential to the song's success is its acceptance of the fragility of human relationships and an admission of the restrained nature of connection. We are not taken to a lofty world of imaginary promises, instead the singer addresses immediately that love is retrained.

We are reminded of the broken, doubtful side of ours that we carry, the cynic inside all of us, that we desperately try to hide, is also duly acknowledged in the song. More than anything, the song conveys the fact that love and pain can coexist, when a relationship is going through periods of turmoil.

The song also explores the journey and transience in love and relationships. The exploration of each other and of life together bind two people together. Yet, as strains arrive in the bond, one is only left with the beautiful memories gathered so far.

The flimsy nature of relationships is reiterated over a major portion of the song. That one can never point out who is to blame for the troubles, and the fact that what the heart wants naturally change are strikingly different admissions from the usual attempts made by people to portray oneself as the victim of the whims of a cruel partner.

Instead, the song empathises with the doubtful side of the heart. We are almost gently embraced, perhaps with melody and music, when the song tells us that in a world where even friends hurt, it is difficult to keep an open heart.

However, we are still asked to keep an open heart. We are asked to heal, for time will charm us if we do. The process of it might start with the acceptance that vulnerability is okay, and so is the desire for being alone.

Everybody desires companionship and everybody wants some time alone, too. However, pain accumulates when these ideas do not sync. This dichotomy been central to the short story on which the music video is based.  The song's super expensive, elaborate music video which received the MTV Video Music Award for 'Best Cinematography' in 1992, was crucial to its fame. With a budget exceeding one million dollars, the video is based on "Without You" written by Del James, a friend of Axl Rose. The video explores a harrowing tale of marriage and suicide.

"November Rain" is certainly as dark and cold as the rain in November. There is no predictability about sunshine after the turmoil and one can only cling on to the candle of love and hope to pass the distress. Because, as nothing lasts forever, not even the cold November rain, the distress, too, shall pass.