Runaway Love (En Vogue song)

"Runaway Love" is a song by American R&B/pop group En Vogue released in 1993. It is the first single from the group's EP, Runaway Love. After the huge success of their album Funky Divas, the single was released. The song was written and produced by Thomas McElroy and Denzil Foster. Group members, Cindy Herron and Terry Ellis share lead vocals, Dawn Robinson leads on the bridge, and spoken intro is by Maxine Jones. Elroy and Foster contributed vocals and spoken rap, their known as the alias FMob group.

"Runaway Love"
Single by En Vogue
from the album Runaway Love
Released
  • August 26, 1993 (radio)
  • October 1993 (U.S.)
RecordedJune—July 1993
Genre
Length4:59
LabelEastWest
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Thomas McElroy
  • Denzil Foster
En Vogue singles chronology
"Love Don't Love You"
(1993)		 "Runaway Love"
(1993)		 "What Is Love"
(1993)
Music video
"Runaway Love" on YouTube

Reception

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic complimented the song as "great".[1] Larry Flick from Billboard stated that here, the group are "stretching out nicely over a cool midtempo groove, juiced with the same quasi-hip-hop/funk flavors that fueled "Hold On" and "My Lovin'." He commented that those "warm and distinctive harmonies feel like a welcome visit from an old friend, while multiple lead vocals are appropriately diva-like, without an overload of hype."[2] Troy J. Augusto from Cashbox said it's a "comfortably groovin' song, seemingly familiar the first time you hear it, features all four Vogue'rs doing what they do best—melting hearts." He added, "Super confident vocals, En Vogue's bread and butter, will propel "Runaway Love" to the top of all the appropriate charts and playlists. Don't miss this one."[3] James Earl Hardy from Entertainment Weekly wrote that the song "prove [that] these divas have more in common with the Emotions and the Sweet Inspirations than with the Supremes."[4] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report complimented the writers for continuing to "demonstrate their production genius".[5] Another editor, Kelly Woo called the song "a masterpiece of harmony and tight production that captures the energy of their earlier works. Their vocal performance is incomparable and uncompromising-perfection!"[6] Music & Media noted that with "one foot in history and the other one in the swingbeat era, these girls are moving closer to becoming the Pointer Sisters of our time."[7] James Hunter from Vibe complimented "the gorgeus skating harmonies" on this "groove".[8]

Commercial reception

The single was released to radio in late August 1993 and was immediately added to airplay rotation, debuting on the Hot 100 Airplay at #31 the week of September 4, 1993. The physical single was not released until almost two months later, after maximum airplay had been reached, resulting in the failure of the single to peak within the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100.

Failure of the single to chart higher was possibly due to "Runaway Love" initially being available only on the EP. The EP had been released shortly after the single was issued and was considered an album not a single. However, the single manage to peak within the Top 20 on US Pop and US R&B airplay.[9]

Formats and track listings

Personnel
  • Backing Vocals – Maxine Jones
  • Guitar – Marlon McClain
  • Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Cindy Herron, Dawn Robinson, Terry Ellis
  • Keyboards, Drum Programming – Denzil Foster, Thomas McElroy
  • Mixed, Engineer – Ken Kessie
  • Production coordinator – Angela Skinner, Marie McElroy
  • Producer, Executive-Producer – Thomas McElroy and Denzil Foster

Charts
Chart (1993–1994) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[12] 62
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[13] 24
Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[14] 4
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[15] 11
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[16] 46
UK Singles (OCC)[17] 36
US Billboard Hot 100[18] 51
US Hot Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[19]
with "What Is Love"		 17
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[20] 15
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[21] 19
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[22] 14

References
  1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "En Vogue – Runaway Love". AllMusic. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  2. "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. August 28, 1993. p. 63. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  3. Augusto, Troy J. (September 4, 1993). "Pop Singles: Reviews" (PDF). Cashbox. p. 11. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  4. "Runaway Love". Entertainment Weekly. September 24, 1993. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  5. Sholin, Dave. "Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  6. Woo, Kelly (August 20, 1993). "Urban: New Releases" (PDF). Gavin Report. p. 18. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  7. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. p. 10. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  8. "Single File". Vibe. October 1, 1993. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  9. En Vogue > US Airplay Chart history. Billboard
  10. En Vogue Runaway Love UK CD Single at EIL
  11. En Vogue Featuring FMob - "Runaway Love" at Discogs
  12. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  13. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2291." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  14. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 2301." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  15. "En Vogue – Runaway Love" (in Dutch). top40.nl. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  16. "Dutchcharts.nl – En Vogue feat. FMob – Runaway Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  17. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  18. "En Vogue Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  19. "En Vogue Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  20. "En Vogue Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  21. "En Vogue Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  22. "En Vogue Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
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