Dio - Rainbow in the Dark
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ_FgL5l1og]
Yesterday marked the 25th anniversary of Dio’s first solo record, Holy Diver. The title track has made inroads into popular culture (South Park, the Judgment Night soundtrack, Killswitch Engage’s cover and its ridiculous video), but “Rainbow in the Dark” inspires more love, even though no one really knows what it’s about. People have tried to parse it (attempt #1, attempt #2); the most cogent explanation seems to be Dio’s feeling of alienation after leaving Black Sabbath and/or Rainbow.
The song’s video is beyond explanation, though. A creepy man follows a woman into a Soho sex shop, whereupon he is repelled by a ferociously youthful Vivian Campbell. Bassist Jimmy Bain joins Campbell in the street, while their boss lip syncs on some rooftop. It’s all quite baffling. Evidently, Dio is not fond of the song – it’s the poppy aberration on Holy Diver – but he is in the minority. “Rainbow in the Dark” has the second greatest synth hook of all time (#1 and #3 would be Europe’s “The Final Countdown” and Usher’s “Yeah!”); it and Dio’s purple boots are beyond reproach.
