Run to the Sun


"Run to the Sun" is a song by British synthpop duo Erasure, released as the second single from their sixth studio album I Say I Say I Say. An uptempo dance music track, the song displays signature synthesizer programming by band member Vince Clarke. "Run to the Sun" was written by Clarke with fellow Erasure member Andy Bell.
The track peaked at number six on the UK singles chart. In Germany, "Run to the Sun" stalled at number forty-nine and in the U.S. it reached position twenty-four on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart. On the U.S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, it climbed to number fourteen. The UK 7" 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.
The video for the song, shot at the World Clock in Alexanderplatz Berlin, features an early appearance by Jason Statham as a silver-painted background dancer.

Critical reception

from Billboard described the song as a "rave-happy pop/dance ditty" and noted further that "as always, singer Andy Bell is a delight, while synthmaster Vince Clark offers a racing beat and tweaking computer noises. Layered between the two is a sweet, contagious hook that sticks to the brain upon impact." Cashbox commented that "one of the best tracks from the excellent new Erasure album I Say I Say I Say is this quickly-paced, freestyle synth romp. 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." AllMusic editor Ned Raggett called the song "strident" and "full-on pep" in his review of I Say, I Say, I Say. Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine wrote that Bell "explores lower voice registers inventive and ornate overdubs pad songs like the sci-fi/techno dance number "Run To The Sun". Dardy Chang from Stanford Daily stated that "the bouncy, relentless beat" of the song "makes it an instant dance hit."

Track listings

7" single (MUTE153) / Cassette single (CMUTE153)

  1. "Run to the Sun"
  2. "Tenderest Moments"
  3. "Run to the Sun"

    12" single (12MUTE153)

  4. "Run to the Sun"
  5. "Run to the Sun"
  6. "Run to the Sun"
  7. "Run to the Sun"
  8. "Run to the Sun"
  9. "Run to the Sun"
  10. "Run to the Sun"

    CD single #1 (CDMUTE153)

  11. "Run to the Sun" - 4:13
  12. "Tenderest Moments" - 5:29
  13. "Run to the Sun" - 7:19

    CD single #2 (LCDMUTE153)

  14. "Run to the Sun" - 5:37
  15. "Run to the Sun" - 4:25
  16. "Run to the Sun" - 6:20
  17. "Run to the Sun" - 10:11

    US maxi-single (66208-2)

  18. "Run to the Sun" - 4:14
  19. "Run to the Sun" - 7:22
  20. "Run to the Sun" - 10:14
  21. "Run to the Sun" - 5:38
  22. "Run to the Sun" - 4:27
  23. "Run to the Sun" - 6:20

    Chart performance