"Run to the Sun" is a song by British synth-pop duo Erasure, released as the second single from their sixth studio album, I Say I Say I Say (1994). It 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.

"Run to the Sun"
Single by Erasure
from the album I Say I Say I Say
B-side	"Tenderest Moments"
Released	18 July 1994 (1994-07-18)[1]
Genre	Synth-pop dance
Length	4:12 (single version) 4:25 (album version)
Label	Mute (UK) Elektra (US)
Songwriter(s)	Vince Clarke Andy Bell
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 1994, "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. Elsewhere, the song reached number five in Finland, number 19 in Ireland and Sweden, and number 49 in Germany.

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Ned Raggett called the song "strident" and "full-on pep".[2] Larry Flick from Billboard deemed it 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] A reviewer from Cashbox stated that it is "one of the best tracks from the excellent new Erasure album", viewing it as 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]

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."[5] James Hamilton from the magazine's RM Dance Update described it as "old fashioned galloping 133.9bpm Hi-NRG".[6] Darren Lee from The Quietus declared it a "surefooted day-glo" pop anthem, "which fitted seamlessly into the canon".[7] Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine noted that Bell explores lower voice registers on "inventive and ornate overdubs pad songs", like "the sci-fi/techno dance" number "Run to the Sun".[8] Dardy Chang from American independent newspaper Stanford Daily stated that its "bouncy, relentless" beat "makes it an instant dance hit."[9]

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by German director Nico Beyer.[10] It was shot at the World Clock in Alexanderplatz, Berlin and features an early appearance by Jason Statham as a silver-painted background dancer.^{[citation needed]}

Track listings

Charts

References