Run to the Sun

Larry Flick from Billboard declared "Run to the Sun" 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."{{cite magazine|first=Larry|last=Flick|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1994/BB-1994-07-23.pdf|title=Single Reviews|magazine=Billboard|date=23 July 1994|accessdate=31 January 2020|author-link=Larry Flick}} 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 {{sic|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."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Cash-Box/90s/1994/CB-1994-07-30.pdf|title=Pop Singles: Reviews|magazine=Cashbox|page=7|date=30 July 1994|accessdate=23 January 2020}} 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."{{cite news|first=Chris|last=Willman|title=Organic Love for Space Age Swooners|work=Los Angeles Times|date=22 May 1994|page=|accessdate=20 January 2023|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-05-22-ca-60605-story.html}}

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."{{cite magazine|first= Alan |last= Jones |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-07-09.pdf |title= Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles |magazine= Music Week |date= 9 July 1994 |page= 16 |accessdate= 18 April 2021}} 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."{{cite magazine |last=Patterson |first=Sylvia |date=16 July 1994 |title=Singles |magazine=New Musical Express |page=33 |author-link=Sylvia Patterson}} James Hamilton from the RM Dance Update described it as "old fashioned galloping 133.9bpm Hi-NRG".{{cite magazine|first= James |last= Hamilton |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-07-23.pdf |title= Dj directory |magazine= Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) |date= 23 July 1994 |page= 10 |accessdate= 18 April 2021 |author-link= James Hamilton (DJ and journalist)}} Gina Morris from Select called it "another formulated hi-NRG, annoyingly-catchy pop song. Worth the effort if only for the interesting techno, ambient and Europop remixes on the B-side."{{cite magazine|first=Gina|last=Morris|url=https://selectmagazinescans.monkeon.co.uk/showpage.php?file=wp-content/uploads/2011/10/singles.jpg|title=New Singles|work=Select|date=August 1994|page=97|access-date=25 December 2024}} Another Select editor, Siân Pattenden, said it has "bibbly keyboards of the Early Pulp Era!".{{cite magazine|first=Siân|last=Pattenden|url=https://selectmagazinescans.monkeon.co.uk/showpage.php?file=wp-content/uploads/2014/06/albums25.jpg|title=New Albums|work=Select|date=June 1994|page=86|access-date=25 December 2024|author-link=Siân Pattenden}} Tony Cross from Smash Hits wrote, "Much more up front than the thoughtful 'Always', this is the duo back to their high energy peak. But despite the pace, Andy's voice sounds as close to tears as ever."{{cite magazine|first=Tony|last=Cross|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/54026102612/in/album-72177720320652527|title=New Singles|work=Smash Hits|date=20 July 1994|page=57|access-date=7 October 2024}} Dardy Chang from American independent newspaper Stanford Daily stated that its "bouncy, relentless" beat "makes it an instant dance hit."{{cite magazine|first= Dardy |last= Chang |title= Spins |magazine= Stanford Daily |date= 26 May 1994 |accessdate= 23 April 2020 |url= https://archives.stanforddaily.com/1994/05/26}}

AllMusic editor Ned Raggett viewed the song as "strident" and "full-on pep".{{cite web|first=Ned|last=Raggett|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/i-say-i-say-i-say-mw0000108293|title=Erasure - I Say, I Say, I Say|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=17 February 2020}} Darren Lee from The Quietus declared it a "surefooted day-glo" pop anthem, "which fitted seamlessly into the canon".{{cite magazine|first= Darren |last= Lee |title= Erasure – Total Pop! Erasure's First 40 Hits |magazine= The Quietus |date= 27 February 2009 |accessdate= 21 November 2020 |url= https://thequietus.com/articles/01217-erasure-total-pop-erasure-s-first-40-hits-album-review}} Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine remarked that Andy Bell explores lower voice registers on "inventive and ornate overdubs pad songs", like "the sci-fi/techno dance" number 'Run to the Sun'.{{cite magazine|first=Sal|last=Cinquemani|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=68|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809092848/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=68|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 August 2007|title=I Say I Say I Say|magazine=Slant Magazine|accessdate=26 February 2020}}

A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by German director Nico Beyer.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVXqFHHsVaA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/OVXqFHHsVaA |archive-date=2021-12-14 |url-status=live|title=Erasure Run to the sun VIVA VHS|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=23 August 2020}}{{cbignore}} 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|date=April 2019}}

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• UK CD1{{cite AV media notes|title=Run to the Sun|others=Erasure|year=1994|type=UK CD1 liner notes|publisher=Mute Records|id=CD MUTE 153}}

1. "Run to the Sun" – 4:13
2. "Tenderest Moments" – 5:29
3. "Run to the Sun" (Beatmasters' Galactic mix) – 7:19

• UK CD2{{cite AV media notes|title=Run to the Sun|others=Erasure|year=1994|type=UK CD2 liner notes|publisher=Mute Records|id=LCD MUTE 153}}

1. "Run to the Sun" (Beatmasters' Outergalactic mix) – 5:37
2. "Run to the Sun" (The Simon & Diamond Bhangra remix) – 4:25
3. "Run to the Sun" (Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun mix) – 6:20
4. "Run to the Sun" (Amber Solaire) – 10:11

• UK 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Run to the Sun|others=Erasure|year=1994|type=UK 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=Mute Records|id=12 MUTE 153}}

:A1. "Run to the Sun"

:A2. "Run to the Sun" (Beatmasters' Galactic mix)

:A3. "Run to the Sun" (Amber Solaire)

:B1. "Run to the Sun" (Beatmasters' Outergalactic mix)

:B2. "Run to the Sun" (The Simon & Diamond Bhangra remix)

:B3. "Run to the Sun" (Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun mix)

:B4. "Run to the Sun" (Diss-Cuss mix)

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• UK 7-inch and cassette single; Japanese mini-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Run to the Sun|others=Erasure|year=1994|type=UK 7-inch single sleeve|publisher=Mute Records|id=MUTE 153}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Run to the Sun|others=Erasure|year=1994|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Mute Records|id=C MUTE 153}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Run to the Sun|others=Erasure|year=1994|type=Japanese mini-CD single liner notes|publisher=Mute Records|id=PCDY-00125}}

1. "Run to the Sun"
2. "Tenderest Moments"
3. "Run to the Sun" (Beatmasters' Intergalactic mix)

• US, Canadian, and Australian maxi-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Run to the Sun|others=Erasure|year=1994|type=US maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Mute Records, Elektra Records|id=66208-2}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Run to the Sun|others=Erasure|year=1994|type=Canadian maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Mute Records, Elektra Records|id=CD 66208}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Run to the Sun|others=Erasure|year=1994|type=Australian maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Liberation Records|id=D 11787}}

1. "Run to the Sun" (7-inch version) – 4:14
2. "Run to the Sun" (Beatmasters' Galactic mix) – 7:22
3. "Run to the Sun" (Amber Solaire mix) – 10:14
4. "Run to the Sun" (Beatmasters' Outergalactic mix) – 5:38
5. "Run to the Sun" (The Simon & Diamond Bhangra remix) – 4:27
6. "Run to the Sun" (Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun mix) – 6:20

• US cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Run to the Sun|others=Erasure|year=1994|type=US cassette single sleeve|publisher=Mute Records, Elektra Records|id=4-64527}}

1. "Run to the Sun" (7-inch mix)
2. "Run to the Sun" (Beatmasters' Intergalactic mix)
3. "Tenderest Moments"

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{{Reflist}}

{{Erasure}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1994 singles

Category:1994 songs

Category:Elektra Records singles

Category:Erasure songs

Category:Music videos directed by Nico Beyer

Category:Mute Records singles

Category:Songs written by Andy Bell (singer)

Category:Songs written by Vince Clarke