RAYE steps into torch song territory with her take on “What A Difference a Day Makes,” a cover that appears in Netflix’s thriller series Black Rabbit (premiered September 18, 2025).
Originally penned by Mexican songwriter María Grever in 1934 as “Cuando vuelva a tu lado,” the standard found its most celebrated English incarnation through Dinah Washington’s 1959 Grammy-winning version.
RAYE now adds her name to this lineage, delivering a performance that honours the past while asserting her own command.
The British vocalist brings a breathy intimacy to the opening verse, letting each syllable settle before moving forward.
Her delivery sits somewhere between Washington’s controlled swagger and the warmer textures of contemporary R&B.
The production remains sparse enough to spotlight her voice but never feels stripped down.
Subtle orchestration swells during the bridge, giving the track dimension without overwhelming its late-night lounge aesthetic.
Alex Robinson’s mastering ensures every vocal inflection registers clearly, whether RAYE leans into her lower register or floats into airy falsetto.
What makes this cover succeed is restraint. RAYE resists the urge to oversell emotion or lean too heavily into melisma. Instead, she trusts the lyric.
When she sings “my yesterday was blue, dear / today I’m a part of you, dear,” the phrasing feels conversational rather than performative.
The song chronicles romantic transformation in 24 hours, moving from loneliness to connection, and RAYE treats this narrative shift as revelation rather than spectacle.
The tempo holds steady throughout, grounded by a walking bassline and soft percussion that recall classic jazz club recordings.
Her approach also nods to the song’s visual context within Black Rabbit, where she plays herself performing at a high-end New York restaurant and lounge owned by Jude Law’s character.
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RAYE spoke about the experience with characteristic humour, noting she delivered her first on-screen lines while locking eyes with Jason Bateman.
The song functions both as diegetic performance within the show’s world and as a standalone single, serving dual purposes without sacrificing either.
RAYE has previously expressed deep admiration for Washington’s interpretation, calling her “irreplaceable” while acknowledging the challenge of covering jazz legends.
That reverence shows here. She doesn’t attempt reinvention or dramatic reinterpretation. Instead, she offers a reading that feels personal yet respectful, contemporary yet timeless.
The arrangement stays faithful to the song’s essential architecture while allowing room for RAYE’s vocal personality to emerge.
The runtime gives RAYE enough space to explore the song without overstaying.
This cover confirms RAYE’s versatility beyond her recent chart successes. She moves comfortably between genres without losing her distinctive voice, proving equally at home in trip-hop bangers and vintage standards.
“What A Difference a Day Makes” adds another dimension to her artistry, showing she can inhabit a jazz vocal tradition while maintaining the clarity and presence that defines her contemporary work.