Run to the Sun

"Run to the Sun" is a song by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released in July 1994 by Mute and Elektra as the second single from the duo's sixth studio album, I Say I Say I Say (1994). The song is written by Vince Clarke with fellow Erasure member Andy Bell and is an uptempo dance music track that displays signature synthesizer programming by Clarke. The UK 7-inch single of "Run to the Sun" was issued on yellow-coloured vinyl and featured a fold-out poster of the single's cover artwork. The single's B-side, a ballad entitled "Tenderest Moments", was later re-recorded by Erasure in an acoustic version for their 2006 album Union Street.

For other uses, see Run to the Sun (disambiguation).

"Run to the Sun"
Single by Erasure
from the album I Say I Say I Say
B-side"Tenderest Moments"
Released18 July 1994 (1994-07-18)[1]
Genre
Length
  • 4:12 (single version)
  • 4:25 (album version)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Martyn Ware
Erasure singles chronology
"Always"
(1994)		 "Run to the Sun"
(1994)		 "I Love Saturday"
(1994)
Music video
"Run to the Sun" on YouTube

Released on 18 July, "Run to the Sun" peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Erasure's 15th UK top-10 hit. In the US, the song reached number 24 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart and number 14 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. Elsewhere, the song reached number five in Finland, number 19 in Ireland and Sweden, and number 49 in Germany. Its music video was directed by Nico Beyer.

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Ned Raggett viewed the song as "strident" and "full-on pep".[2] Larry Flick from Billboard declared it as a "rave-happy pop/dance ditty", noting that "as always, singer Andy Bell is a delight, while synthmaster Vince Clarke offers a racing beat and tweaking computer noises. Layered between the two is a sweet, contagious hook that sticks to the brain upon impact."[3] Cashbox named it "one of the best tracks from the excellent new Erasure album", calling it a "quickly-paced, freestyle synth romp." The reviewer added, "Vince Clark flicks his snappy keyboard stings throughout, while Andy Bell’s songbird voice and longing-for-thou lyrics shoot right for the heart. Top-40 potential here, with alternative and modern rockers again laying the foundation for the band."[4] Chris Willman from Los Angeles Times felt the song, "which may or may not be a paean to a departed loved one, should score big at the clubs."[5]

Alan Jones from Music Week wrote, "Too much bluster and too little substance here, as Erasure switch to automatic pilot on a song that lacks melodic substance. Not one of their bigger hits, though it should make a brief appearance in the Top 20."[6] Sylvia Patterson of NME remarked, "You thought 'Always' was dreary and then this! A dot-to-dot doodle of hyperactive keyboards with some crumby '70s 'whzzzzing' and 'poo-poo!' bits and cobblers lyrics and no chorus whatsoever. Andy 'Ding Dong' Bell knows better, so does Cardboard Ken."[7] Darren Lee from The Quietus declared it a "surefooted day-glo" pop anthem, "which fitted seamlessly into the canon".[8] James Hamilton from the RM Dance Update described it as "old fashioned galloping 133.9bpm Hi-NRG".[9] Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine remarked that Bell explores lower voice registers on "inventive and ornate overdubs pad songs", like "the sci-fi/techno dance" number "Run to the Sun".[10] Dardy Chang from American independent newspaper Stanford Daily stated that its "bouncy, relentless" beat "makes it an instant dance hit."[11]

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by German director Nico Beyer.[12] It was shot at the World Clock in Alexanderplatz, Berlin and features an early appearance by Jason Statham as a silver-painted background dancer.

Track listings

Charts
Chart (1994) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[23] 39
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[24] 33
Europe (European Dance Radio)[25] 8
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[26] 5
Germany (Official German Charts)[27] 49
Ireland (IRMA)[28] 19
Scotland (OCC)[29] 8
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[30] 19
UK Singles (OCC)[31] 6
UK Club Chart (Music Week)[32] 55
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[33] 24
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[34] 14
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[35] 48

References
  1. "Single Releases" (PDF). Music Week. 16 July 1994. p. 23. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  2. Raggett, Ned. "Erasure - I Say, I Say, I Say". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  3. Flick, Larry (23 July 1994). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  4. "Pop Singles: Reviews" (PDF). Cashbox. 30 July 1994. p. 7. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  5. Willman, Chris (22 May 1994). "Organic Love for Space Age Swooners". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  6. Jones, Alan (9 July 1994). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 16. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  7. Patterson, Sylvia (16 July 1994). "Singles". New Musical Express. p. 33.
  8. Lee, Darren (27 February 2009). "Erasure – Total Pop! Erasure's First 40 Hits". The Quietus. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  9. Hamilton, James (23 July 1994). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 10. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  10. Cinquemani, Sal. "I Say I Say I Say". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on 9 August 2007. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  11. Chang, Dardy (26 May 1994). "Spins". Stanford Daily. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  12. "Erasure Run to the sun VIVA VHS". YouTube. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  13. Run to the Sun (UK CD1 liner notes). Erasure. Mute Records. 1994. CD MUTE 153.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. Run to the Sun (UK CD2 liner notes). Erasure. Mute Records. 1994. LCD MUTE 153.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. Run to the Sun (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Erasure. Mute Records. 1994. 12 MUTE 153.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. Run to the Sun (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Erasure. Mute Records. 1994. MUTE 153.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. Run to the Sun (UK cassette single sleeve). Erasure. Mute Records. 1994. C MUTE 153.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. Run to the Sun (Japanese mini-CD single liner notes). Erasure. Mute Records. 1994. PCDY-00125.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. Run to the Sun (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Erasure. Mute Records, Elektra Records. 1994. 66208-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. Run to the Sun (Canadian maxi-CD single liner notes). Erasure. Mute Records, Elektra Records. 1994. CD 66208.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. Run to the Sun (Australian maxi-CD single liner notes). Erasure. Liberation Records. 1994. D 11787.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. Run to the Sun (US cassette single sleeve). Erasure. Mute Records, Elektra Records. 1994. 4-64527.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. "Erasure – Run to the Sun" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  24. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 34. 20 August 1994. p. 23. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  25. "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. 27 August 1994. p. 22. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  26. Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  27. "Erasure – Run to the Sun" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  28. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Run to the Sun". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  29. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  30. "Erasure – Run to the Sun". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  31. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  32. "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 2 July 1994. p. 4. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  33. "Erasure Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  34. "Erasure Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  35. "Erasure Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
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