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Runaway (The Corrs song)
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Wikipedia article
"'Runaway'" is the debut single of Irish family band the Corrs. It was released in September 1995 and had middling chart success except in Ireland and Australia, peaking at number 10 in both countries. It was also a big adult contemporary hit in Canada, reaching number two on the 'RPM' Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. On the UK Singles Chart, it originally reached number 49, but a re-release in 1999 saw the single reach a new peak of number two on the same chart.
Background and composition
The song was written by Andrea Corr, Sharon Corr and Caroline Corr. Andrea has said the first time she sang it in front of her parents, she was embarrassed because of the line "make love to me through the night". She noted that she knew her mother would be thinking "where did she learn that?!"
The song has a subtle key change. It is written in F major, but towards the end, the fourth (a B flat) gets augmented (becoming a B), so the key changes to lydian mode. Rhythmically, a similar change happens in the drums, which play a slow 6/8th at first. In the end, a snare drum is played on the 2-eh and 5-eh, which makes a double-time feel.
Critical reception
Steve Baltin from 'Cash Box' stated that the song "should immediately make a mark" at Adult Contemporary, because of its producer, David Foster. He added that the Corrs "has a very soothing quality running through this string-based mid-tempo tune. With all the pluses working for it, the Corrs should strike quickly into the American pop scene." A reviewer from 'Music Week' rated it four out of five, describing it as an "excellent single", with "touches of Fairground Attraction". Pan-European magazine 'Music & Media' wrote, "Programmers who like their playlist material to be full of melody and harmony should stop here. The Corrs are four siblings from County Louth, Ireland, who specialise in blending stately and melodic pop with more traditional Celtic music, resulting in a record perfect for daytime ERR and ACE."
Music video
The accompanying music video for "Runaway" was directed by Randee St. Nicholas, and was shot in Dublin, featuring locations such as Phoenix Park. The video is shot mostly in black-and-white with flashes of colour in certain scenes.
The video follows the band as they sing and perform on several locations, including a forest and train station platform. The video begins with Andrea on a train, looking out the window and singing, and ends with her getting off the train and running towards the camera.
Track listings
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Release history
Remix version
The song was re-released in February 1999, remixed by Tin Tin Out, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart, held from the top by Britney Spears's debut single "...Baby One More Time". Atypical of Tin Tin Out's usual output and their previous remix of the Corrs' song "What Can I Do", the remix for "Runaway" is a lighter, more folk-oriented recording which utilizes a stripped back live band arrangement with a simple drum kit, a rhythmic bass guitar and a strummed acoustic guitar, retains Sharon Corr's fiddle from the original recording, features orchestral strings in the latter half of the song performed by the Duke Quartet and removes the rhythm change present in the original version.
Track listing
Music video
Dani Jacob's fourth Corrs video is, similar to "Love to Love You", compiled of backstage and concert footage; this time from one single gig at the Manchester Evening News Arena on 1 February 1999. It also includes a few scenes of the band in the recording studio with Tin Tin Out working on the remixed version of the song. Footage of the band walking through the corridor to the stage was later used for the intro for the rest of their concerts from 1999 to 2001.Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
References
Category:The Corrs songs
Category:1990s ballads
Category:1994 songs
Category:1995 debut singles
Category:1999 singles
Category:143 Records singles
Category:Atlantic Records singles
Category:Lava Records singles
Category:Music videos directed by Randee St. Nicholas
Category:Songs written by Andrea Corr
Category:Pop ballads
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