Runaway (Deee-Lite song)

"Runaway" is a song recorded, written and produced by New York City-based group Deee-Lite, released on May 28, 1992 by Elektra Records as the lead single from their second studio album, Infinity Within (1992). It is the group's fourth single to top the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.[1] In Europe, the song was a top 10 hit in Greece and a top 20 hit in Finland, as well as peaking at number nine on the UK Dance Singles Chart and number 12 on the European Dance Radio Chart.

"Runaway"
Single by Deee-Lite
from the album Infinity Within
B-side"Rubber Lover"
ReleasedMay 28, 1992
Recorded1991
GenreHouse
Length3:54
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)
  • Deee-Lite
Producer(s)
  • Deee-Lite
Deee-Lite singles chronology
"Power of Love"
(1991)		 "Runaway"
(1992)		 "Bring Me Your Love"
(1994)
Music video
"Runaway on YouTube

Critical reception

Heather Phares from AllMusic named the song one of her "Track Picks" from the Infinity Within album.[2] Larry Flick from Billboard noted that Lady Miss Kier "has evolved into a far more confident diva, while cohorts Super DJ Dmitry and Jungle DJ Towa Towa keep an ear to current sounds while maintaining a reverence for retro funk and disco."[3] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report felt it "stays in the uptempo groove with that House intensity that's sure to make it a club as well as radio favorite."[4] Melody Maker concluded that "Deee-Lite, along with C&C Music Factory, are still the most up-to-date mainstream American dance act".[5] A reviewer from Music & Media said, "During their absence another weird trio—Army of Lovers—took over the reins. But now the dance loonies are back, although not as odd ball as before and more mainstream."[6]

Alan Jones from Music Week stated, "Still looking outlandish, Deee-Lite slide closer to the dance mainstream with "Runaway", a hustling garage groover that sounds like it was mixed by either Steve Hurley or Joey Negro, though neither was actually involved."[7] Davydd Chong from the RM Dance Update described the song as "a reviving breath of fresh air", complimenting its "soothing keyboard riffs" and "candy-encased vocals".[8] Sian Pattenden from Smash Hits gave it five out of five and named it Best New Single, commenting, "They're back! With a stomping curlicue in the lustrous toupee of pop! Housey backbeat combined with chomping bass and swishy pingy sounds amongst Lady Miss Kier's vocals de gusto".[9] Joe Brown from The Washington Post felt that the "deceptively slight melodic hooks" of "Runaway" "prove infuriatingly tenacious."[10]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Runaway" was directed by American filmmaker and artist Gus Van Sant.

Track listing and formats
  • German CD maxi-single
  1. "Runaway" (Sampladelic Radio Edit) – 3:52
  2. "Runaway" (Greyhound Extended Mix) – 5:40
  3. "Rubber Lover" (Skin Tight Mix) – 4:29
  4. "Runaway" (Masters at Work Dub) – 6:37

Charts
Chart (1992) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[11] 70
Europe (European Dance Radio)[12] 12
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[13] 15
Greece (IFPI)[14] 10
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[15] 25
UK Singles (OCC)[16] 45
UK Dance (Music Week)[17] 9
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard) 1

References
  1. "Deee-Lite Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  2. Phares, Heather. "Infinity Within AllMusic review". AllMusic. Retrieved January 14, 2006.
  3. Flick, Larry (June 6, 1992). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 68. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  4. Sholin, Dave (June 12, 1992). "Gavin Picks: Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. p. 44. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  5. The Stud Brothers (June 6, 1992). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 29. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  6. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. June 20, 1992. p. 11. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  7. Jones, Alan (June 6, 1992). "Mainstream: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 6. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  8. Chong, Davydd (May 30, 1992). "DJ Directory: Deee-Lite" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 11. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  9. Pattenden, Sian (June 10, 1992). "New Singles: Best New Single". Smash Hits. p. 55. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  10. Brown, Joe (July 17, 1992). "Moving the Feet, Shaking the Mind". The Washington Post.
  11. "DEEE-LITE - RUNAWAY (SONG)". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  12. "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. July 18, 1992. p. 16. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  13. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Deee-Lite". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 59. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  14. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 27. July 4, 1992. p. 24. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  15. "DEEE-LITE - RUNAWAY (SONG)". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  16. "DEEE-LITE". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  17. "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. June 13, 1992. p. 18. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
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