Runaway Baby

"Runaway Baby" is a retro{{cite web|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10280/1093033-388.stm|title=For the Record: Bruno Mars|first=Scott|last=Mervis|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=October 7, 2010|access-date=October 16, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011182301/http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10280/1093033-388.stm|archive-date=October 11, 2011}} funk,{{cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/album-review-bruno-mars-doo-wops-amp-hooligans-1-1496996|title=Album review: Bruno Mars, Doo-Wops & Hooligans|work=The Scotsman|date=January 14, 2011|access-date=January 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116173933/http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/album-review-bruno-mars-doo-wops-amp-hooligans-1-1496996|archive-date=January 16, 2017|url-status=dead}} pop rock,{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2010/10/19/130597668/liking-bruno-mars-just-the-way-he-is|title=Liking Bruno Mars Just The Way He Is|last=Tucker|first=Ken|work=NPR|date=October 19, 2010|access-date=January 17, 2017}} doo-wop{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/readers-poll-10-best-bruno-mars-songs-w444563|title=Readers' Poll: 10 Best Bruno Mars Songs|last=Spanos|first=Brittany|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=October 12, 2016|access-date=June 13, 2018|url-access=limited}} soul, and bubblegum R&B track. Ken Tucker of NPR found it hard to categorize the recording. Its instrumentation includes 60's soul finger snaps, police sirens,{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7541111/bruno-mars-deep-cuts|title=Bruno Mars' 5 Best Deep Cuts|last=DeAndrea|first=Joe|magazine=Billboard|date=October 12, 2016|access-date=October 13, 2016}} hand claps and "scratchy guitarlines". The song was composed in the key of E minor with a tempo of 144 beats per minute.{{cite web|url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0091904|title=Bruno Mars – Runaway Baby (Digital Download)|work=Musicnotes|access-date=January 17, 2017}} Jon Caramanica from The New York Times felt that Mars was trying to "channel" Little Richard and called the track "jumpy" and "salacious".{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/06/arts/music/06mars.html|title=Bruno Mars in Ascension|last=Caramanica|first=Jon|work=The New York Times|date=October 5, 2010|access-date=January 17, 2017|url-access=limited}} Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone found the song to have "an electric riff as rapidly talk-sings" and to be inspired by James Brown. Lyrically, "Runaway Baby" conveys the message for women to avoid Mars since he is willing to break their hearts due to being a playboy and a "rolling stone" ("Lord knows I'm a rolling stone").{{cite web|url=http://georgiastatesignal.com/481501/|title=Album Review: Doo-Wops & Hooligans|last=Yang|first=Emily|work=The Signal|access-date=January 17, 2017}} Moreover, there is a comparison established between Mars's penis and a carrot, "So many eager young bunnies...and they all got to share it."

"Runaway Baby" was written by Mars, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine and Brody Brown. The former three produced the track under their alias, the Smeezingtons. Mars, Levine and Brown played all the instruments on the song. Levine was in charge of engineering the song, which he did at Levcon Studios, in California. The mixing of "Runaway Baby" was done at Larrabee Sound Studios, in North Hollywood by Manny Marroquin, with Christian Plata and Erik Madrid serving as assistants. It was mastered by Stephen Marcussen at Marcussen Mastering in Hollywood, California.

"Runaway Baby" has received mixed reviews from music critics. Luke Gibson from HipHopDX and Entertainment Weekly{{'}}s Leah Greenblatt considered "Runaway Baby" one of the standouts in the album.{{cite magazine|url=http://ew.com/article/2010/09/29/doo-wops-hooligans/|title=Doo-Wops & Hooligans|last=Greenblatt|first=Leah|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=September 29, 2010|access-date=January 15, 2017}} The former added that Mars shows his writing skills, despite being so different from the other recordings.{{cite web|url=http://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.1539/title.bruno-mars-doo-wops-hooligans|title=Bruno Mars – Doo-Wops & Hooligans|last=Gibson|first=Luke|work=HipHopDX|date=October 11, 2010 |access-date=January 15, 2017}} Yahoo!'s music critic, Sherri Thornhill, had a mixed opinion towards the track, calling it a "catchy" and "gets your toes tapping", despite not being one of her favorites.{{cite web|url=http://voices.yahoo.com/bruno-mars-doo-wops-hooligans-cd-review-7326330.html?cat=33|title=Bruno Mars Doo Wops & Hooligans CD Review|first=Sherrri|last=Thornhill|work=Yahoo! Voices|publisher=Yahoo|date=December 2, 2010|access-date=April 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128021207/http://voices.yahoo.com/bruno-mars-doo-wops-hooligans-cd-review-7326330.html?cat=33|archive-date=January 28, 2012}} Blues & Soul publication found "Runaway Baby" to be inspired in The Jacksons, and "60s rock groove" from Eric Clapton and Cream; dubbing it as "enjoyable even though it's completely vacuous!".{{citation|url=http://www.bluesandsoul.com/review/1368/bruno_mars_doo-wops_and_hooligans_elektraasylum/|title=Bruno Mars: Doo-Wops & Hooligans|last=Baird|first=Emrys|work=Blues & Soul|volume=1080|access-date=January 15, 2017|archive-date=January 15, 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170115231033/http://www.bluesandsoul.com/review/1368/bruno_mars_doo-wops_and_hooligans_elektraasylum/|url-status=dead}} Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone described the track as one of Mars's "catchiest and most infectious".

On the other hand, Tim Sendra of AllMusic gave it a negative analysis, "is a pretty cheesy rocker, suffering from clichéd lyrics and production."{{cite web|last=Sendra|first=Tim|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/doo-wops-hooligans-r1972037/review|title=Doo-Wops & Hooligans – Bruno Mars |work=AllMusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|access-date=February 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209025324/http://www.allmusic.com/album/doo-wops-hooligans-r1972037/review|archive-date=February 9, 2012}} Alexis Petridis from The Guardian went on to analyze some verses and gave them a harsh review, "Mars compares his penis to a carrot", which could not only lead to speculation regarding its meaning, but also "it's an image that haunts the rest of the song." He continued criticizing as the lyrics tell that "the object of his affections" should not try to connected Mars which could be related to his "carrot-like penis".{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jan/20/bruno-mars-doo-wops-review?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487|last=Petridis|first=Alexis|title=Bruno Mars: Doo-Wops & Hooligans – review|work=The Guardian|date=January 20, 2011|access-date=August 26, 2011}} MusicOMH's Jamie Milton felt that the recording was one of the things wrong with the album as at its core "involves throwing everything into the fire", mainly due to its "bad-boy pop-punkrealms".{{cite web|url=http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/bruno-mars-doo-wops-and-hooligans|title=Bruno Mars – Doo-Wops And Hooligans|last=Milton|first=Jamie|work=musicOMH|date=January 17, 2011|access-date=January 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015212222/http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/bruno-mars-doo-wops-and-hooligans|archive-date=October 15, 2015}}

Following Mars's performance on The X Factor on October 22, 2011, "Runaway Baby" debuted in three different charts according to the Official Charts Company, on the issue date of October 30, 2011. It entered at number 18 on the United Kingdom, spending 11 weeks on the chart.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/runaway%20baby/|title=Bruno Mars Runaway Baby UK charts|work=Official Charts Company|access-date=January 14, 2017}} Moreover, it debuted at number 19 in Scotland and number five at the United Kingdom R&B chart. The song was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). In 2012, it entered and peaked at number 66 and 50 on the Canadian Hot 100 and on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. "Runaway Baby" was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In New Zealand, the single debuted at number 40, peaking at number 35 in its fourth week on the chart.

File:Bruno Mars Concert Houston 2.jpg, on November 24, 2010.]]

Mars performed "Runaway Baby" live for the first time on June 24, 2011, at the NBC's Today Show as he danced along with his band. The choreography was inspired by James Brown, and Mars picked up a megaphone to sing some of the lyrics.{{cite web|url=http://fresh1027.cbslocal.com/2011/06/24/watch-bruno-mars-today-show-performance-right-here/|title=Watch Bruno Mars' Today Show Performance Right Here|publisher=CBS|date=June 24, 2011|access-date=December 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160219215626/http://fresh1027.cbslocal.com/2011/06/24/watch-bruno-mars-today-show-performance-right-here/|archive-date=February 19, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1666382/bruno-mars-today-show-performance.jhtml|title=Bruno Mars Fans Brave Rain For 'Today' Performance|last=Genet|first=Danielle|publisher=MTV News|date=June 24, 2011|access-date=March 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410152459/http://www.mtv.com/news/1666382/bruno-mars-today-show-performance/|archive-date=April 10, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2011/06/24/bruno-mars-performs-on-the-today-show-video/|title=Bruno Mars performs on the "Today" Show|work=Rap-Up|date=June 24, 2011|access-date=January 25, 2017}} On October 22, 2011, Mars and his band wore matching red velvet Dolce & Gabbana suits during the song's performance on the results show of The X Factor UK.{{cite web|url=http://www.idolator.com/6053552/kelly-clarkson-bruno-mars-the-x-factor-uk|title=Kelly Clarkson & Bruno Mars Rock 'The X Factor' UK Stage|last=Daw|first=Robbie|website=Idolator|date=October 24, 2011|access-date=January 14, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2011/10/23/bruno-mars-performs-runaway-baby-on-x-factor-video/|title=Bruno Mars performs "Runaway Baby" on X Factor|work=Rap-Up|date=October 23, 2011|access-date=January 19, 2017}} Robbie Daw of Idolator called the live show "rowdy", while a writer for Rap-Up praised the performance, writing that it "rocked the house" due to his "James Brown funky moves" and singing into a megaphone.

On February 12, 2012, Mars performed "Runaway Baby" during the 54th Annual Grammy Awards along with his band, wearing matching shining black-and-gold tuxedos.{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2012/02/12/bruno-mars-performs-runaway-baby-at-the-grammys/|title=Bruno Mars performs "Runaway Baby" at The Grammys|work=Rap-Up|date=February 12, 2012|access-date=January 25, 2017}} The stage, which was revealed during the rehearsals, included a wall with light bulbs and a giant marquee, which spelled "Live on Stage Bruno Mars." Furthermore, pyro and giant spotlights were used.{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2012/02/grammy-2012-bruno-mars-lights-it-up-at-rehearsals.html|title=Grammy 2012: Bruno Mars lights it up at rehearsals|last=Boucher|first=Geoff|work=Los Angeles Times|date=February 10, 2012|access-date=January 26, 2017|url-access=limited}} The Grammys' executive producer Ken Erhlich wanted Mars to perform the track on the Grammys since he had seen it live. Mars's performance was dedicated to the soon deceased Whitney Houston.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1679088/grammys-2012-bruno-mars-performance/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150309090302/http://www.mtv.com/news/1679088/grammys-2012-bruno-mars-performance/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 9, 2015|title=Bruno Mars shines during Grammy Performance|last=Vena|first=Jocelyn|work=MTV|date=February 12, 2012|access-date=January 25, 2017}} Claire Suddath of Time dubbed it as "retro Motown" and enjoyable. She found the James Brown-inspired choreography "spot-on". However, Suddath considered the singer to be "too perfect". She rated his performance a B+.{{cite magazine|url=https://entertainment.time.com/2012/02/12/the-best-and-worst-of-the-2012-grammys/slide/bruno-mars-runway-baby/|title=The Best and Worst of the 2012 Grammys: Bruno Mars, "Runaway Baby"|last=Suddath|first=Claire|magazine=Time|date=February 12, 2012|access-date=January 25, 2017}} MTV's Jocelyn Vena thought the performance was energetic and "triumphant". At the 2012 Met Gala, Mars performed "Runaway Baby", wearing Prada, with the James Brown breakdown, followed by a medley of covers, which included "Ni**as in Paris", "Roxanne" and "Rock the Boat".{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2012/05/12/video-bruno-mars-rocks-the-met-gala/|title=Bruno Mars Rocks The Met Gala [Video]|work=Rap-Up|date=December 5, 2012|access-date=January 26, 2017}}

Mars performed a shortened version of the song as part of his Super Bowl XLVIII halftime show, with a reference to The Isley Brothers' "Shout" and the James Brown-inspired choreography.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2014/02/02/bruno-mars-super-bowl-halftime-performance-review/5163161/|title=Did the Super Bowl make a superstar out of Bruno Mars?|last=Mainsfield|first=Brian|work=USA Today|date=February 2, 2014|access-date=January 26, 2017}} Mars rapped the words "give it away, give it away, give it away now" as the Red Hot Chili Peppers made their cameo.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/super-bowl-2014/5893849/watch-bruno-mars-super-bowl-halftime-performance|title=Bruno Mars Gets One-Sided Super Bowl Bouncing With Biggest Hits|last=Rutherford|first=Kevin|magazine=Billboard|date=February 2, 2014|access-date=January 26, 2017}} Idolator's Carl Williott complemented the singer's "strong live vocals and stellar footwork".{{cite web|url=http://www.idolator.com/7504124/super-bowl-halftime-bruno-mars-video|title=Super Bowl Halftime Show: Watch Bruno Mars & Red Hot Chili Peppers Sweat It Out|last=Willot|first=Carl|website=Idolator|date=February 2, 2014|access-date=August 4, 2017}} American singer and actress Carly Rose Sonenclar covered the song on her YouTube channel.{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/21/carly-rose-sonenclar-cover-bruno-mars_n_2926150.html|title=Carly Rose Sonenclar Covers "Runaway Baby" By Bruno Mars (Video)|work=The Huffington Post|date=March 21, 2013|access-date=January 26, 2017}} In 2017, Anatalia Villaranda covered "Runaway Baby" during her Blind Audition at The Voice.{{cite web|url=http://philtimes.com.au/fil-am-anatalia-villarandas-runaway-baby-wows-the-voice-coaches/|title=Fil-Am Anatalia Villaranda's "Runaway Baby" wows The Voice coaches|publisher=Philtimes|date=March 1, 2017|access-date=March 18, 2017}}

Mars performed the song during The Doo-Wops & Hooligans Tour (2010–12), the Hooligans in Wondaland Tour (2011) and on The Moonshine Jungle Tour (2013–14).{{cite web|url=http://www.gigwise.com/news/65968/bruno-mars-brings-doo-wops-&-hooligans-to-london-on-uk-tour|title=Bruno Mars Brings 'Doo-Wops & Hooligans' To London on UK Tour|last=Frith|first=Holly|work=Gigwise|date=August 17, 2011|access-date=December 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424215600/http://www.gigwise.com/news/65968/bruno-mars-brings-doo-wops-%26-hooligans-to-london-on-uk-tour|archive-date=April 24, 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.houstonpress.com/music/last-night-bruno-mars-and-janelle-monae-at-reliant-arena-6779831|title=Last Night: Bruno Mars & Janelle Monae At Reliant Arena|last=Gray|first=Chris|work=Houston Press|date=May 19, 2011|access-date=May 28, 2020}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1568112/bruno-mars-romps-through-moonshine-jungle-tour-in-philadelphia-live-review|title=Bruno Mars Romps Through 'Moonshine Jungle' Tour in Philadelphia: Live Review|last=Lipshutz|first=Jason|magazine=Billboard|date=June 25, 2013|access-date=June 25, 2013}} He also sang it on his debut concert residency, Bruno Mars at The Chelsea, Las Vegas (2013–15), the 24K Magic World Tour (2017–18) and with Anderson .Paak, as Silk Sonic, during An Evening with Silk Sonic at Park MGM (2022).{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/bruno-mars-christens-chelsea-las-667987|title=Bruno Mars Christens the Chelsea in Las Vegas With Hits and Off-the-Cuff Covers: Concert Review|last=Lee|first=Ashley|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=December 30, 2013|access-date=January 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129053130/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/bruno-mars-christens-chelsea-las-667987|archive-date=January 29, 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://blitz.sapo.pt/principal/update/2017-04-05-Ele-e-funk-ele-e-rock-ele-e-um-romantico.-Bruno-Mars-fe-la-bonita-em-Lisboa|title=Ele é funk, ele é rock, ele é um romântico. Bruno Mars fê-la bonita em Lisboa|last=Guerra|first=Luís|work=Blitz|language=pt|date=April 5, 2017|access-date=April 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170408083206/http://blitz.sapo.pt/principal/update/2017-04-05-Ele-e-funk-ele-e-rock-ele-e-um-romantico.-Bruno-Mars-fe-la-bonita-em-Lisboa|archive-date=April 8, 2017|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2022/02/silk-sonic-vegas-residency-recap-setlist/2/|title=Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak Kick Off Silk Sonic Las Vegas Residency: Recap + Setlist|first=Melissa|last=Gill|website=Consequence|date=February 26, 2022|access-date=March 11, 2022}} In 2011, the track was used as the opening theme for the film Friends with Benefits.{{cite web|url=http://www.soundtrack.net/movie/friends-with-benefits/|title=Friends With Benefits (2011)|publisher=Soundtrack.Net|date=July 22, 2011|access-date=January 26, 2017}} In 2017, Dwayne Johnson chose the song to be used in the video game WWE 2K18.{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/section/wwe-2k18/article/wwe-2k18-soundtrack-rock-apple-music|title=The Rock to produce official WWE 2K18 soundtrack with Apple Music|last=Artus|first=Matthew|publisher=WWE|date=August 18, 2017|access-date=April 15, 2022}} In 2019, "Runaway Baby" was used in a commercial for Goal.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrj.fr/artistes/bruno-mars/actus/bruno-mars-ses-chansons-utilisees-par-le-cinema-71327225|title=Bruno Mars : ses chansons utilisées par le cinéma|language=fr|author=HREF|publisher=NRJ|date=December 26, 2019|access-date=December 29, 2019}}

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Doo-Wops & Hooligans.{{Cite AV media notes|title=Doo-Wops & Hooligans|title-link=Doo-Wops & Hooligans|year=2010|type=CD booklet|publisher=Elektra Records|id=2-525393|location=United States}}

• Bruno Mars – lead vocals, songwriting, instrumentation
• Philip Lawrence – songwriting
• Ari Levine – songwriting, instrumentation, engineer
• Brody Brown – songwriting, instrumentation
• The Smeezingtons – production
• Manny Marroquin – mixing
• Erik Madrid – mixing assistant
• Christian Plata – mixing assistant
• Stephen Marcussen – mastering

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Runaway Baby"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|artist=Bruno Mars|title=Runaway Baby|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2010|certyear=2024|id=14038|access-date=July 1, 2024|refname="IFPID"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Bruno Mars|title=Runaway Baby|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2010|certyear=2023|id=13268-2366-1|access-date=January 6, 2023|refname="BPIRB"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Bruno Mars|title=Runaway Baby|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2011|certyear=2020|access-date=October 2, 2020|refname="RIAA"}}

{{certification Table Separator|title=Streaming}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|artist=Bruno Mars|title=Runaway Baby|type=single|award=Platinum|streamsonly=true|relyear=2011|certyear=2024|certmonth=7|access-date=September 11, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true|streamsonly=true}}

{{reflist}}

{{Bruno Mars songs}}

Category:2010 songs

Category:Bruno Mars songs

Category:Song recordings produced by the Smeezingtons

Category:Songs written by Bruno Mars

Category:Songs written by Ari Levine

Category:Songs written by Philip Lawrence (songwriter)

Category:American pop rock songs

Category:Songs written by Christopher Brody Brown

Category:Doo-wop songs