"Run to You" is a song performed by American singer and actress Whitney Houston, released on June 21, 1993, by Arista Records as the fourth single from The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album (1992). It was written by Jud Friedman and Allan Rich, and produced by David Foster. Originally intended to be a break-up song, it was approved by the production and stars. However, a month later, the director of The Bodyguard (Mick Jackson) called, saying he liked the song so much, but he'd rather have it to be a love song so the entire song was rewritten, except for the title.
All of the previous releases from The Bodyguard had been successes, landing in the top five. "Run to You" became a moderate hit, peaking at numbers 31 and 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100. It spent six weeks inside the Billboard top 40, five of which were spent at the number 31 peak. Airplay and singles sales topped out at number 26 and 41, respectively. The single sales stalled at number 41 on the Hot 100 Singles Sales chart, most likely due to the fact its parent album, The Bodyguard, already was certified 8× platinum and nearing 9× platinum status quickly. Single sales were moderate because most consumers already owned the song by simply owning the album. On other Billboard charts, the song was moderately well received. On the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, it reached a peak position of number 31. The song also cracked the top 10 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart, peaking at number 10. Internationally, it was not as well received, except in the UK and Ireland, peaking at number 15 and number nine, respectively. The accompanying music video for "Run to You" was directed by Mitchell Sinoway.
Songwriters Jud Friedman and Allan Rich competed with many of the industry's top songwriters when Whitney Houston's record label, Arista Records, announced their search for content to use in the upcoming The Bodyguard soundtrack. Rich recalls that "the project was very wide open. It seemed like everyone and their mother was trying to place their songs with Whitney. Jud and I zeroed in on a specific scene towards the end of the film, which was a break-up type song." Going through his own break-up at the time, Rich wrote the lyrics in a few days; Friedman composed the music.[2]
The song was approved for use in the soundtrack by Houston, co-star Kevin Costner, Arista head Clive Davis, Jackson, and Gary LeMel, President of Music at Warner Brothers, the studio producing the film. However, Jackson decided to use the song earlier in the film when the romance between Houston and Costner's characters was just starting, and Rich rewrote the lyrics.
Houston's recording of the song was particularly memorable for Friedman and Rich. Friedman recounts:
"It was on a Friday night that Whitney came into the studio. It was great to meet her, and she was just a pleasure to work with. She was totally professional. Whitney actually had a cold that night, and her speaking voice was whispery and hoarse. But when she started singing, she sounded incredible. For Alan and I to be in the studio to hear her sing our song so beautifully, it was one of the greatest moments in our lives."[2]
Rich and Friedman were nominated for Best Original Song at the 65th Annual Academy Awards on March 29, 1993[3] and Best Song Written Specifically For A Motion Picture Or For Television at the 36th Annual Grammy Awards[4][5] on March 1, 1994, for "Run to You". Rich additionally signed a multi-year worldwide publishing agreement with his label MCA Music in early 1994 due in part to the success of the song.[6]
Critical reception
AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine praised the song as a "first-rate urban pop song that skillfully captures Houston at her best."[7]Larry Flick from Billboard described it as a "sparkling ballad" with "a plush, shiny arrangement". He also viewed it as a "dramatic fare" and "a truly effective and memorable performance."[8] Troy J. Augusto from Cashbox commented, "Loyal, forever-suffering true love is again the theme as Houston uses her flair for the dynamic with impressive (again, par for her course) results. Wonderful arrangement and production from David Foster point to another smash."[9] Alan Jones from Music Week deemed it as "a sweeping, melodic, if predictable, ballad", that "is sure to be lapped up."[10] Randy Ross from The Network Forty noted it as "vintage Whitney".[11]Stephen Holden from The New York Times described it as a "booming generic ballad to which Houston applies her typical stentorian delivery."[12] Larry A. from USA Today praised the singing, calling it a "thrilling ballad, powered by an operatic coloratura alto."[13]
Accolades
Following Houston's death, the song appeared in many lists of her best songs. Alexis Petridis of The Guardian, while ranking it at number seventeen of her greatest songs list, claimed that "if it’s not quite up to the standard of 'I Will Always Love You' or as involving as 'I Have Nothing', it’s still simultaneously vulnerable and CinemaScope-epic."[14] Placing at number 18 on Billboard's staff rank of her best songs, the song was praised for its "sweeping David Foster production, vulnerable lyrics ('Can’t you see the hurt in me?') and pleading-yet-powerful chorus. It just proves the astonishing depth of the 1992 soundtrack that this sure-fire hit (which went top 40 on the Hot 100 and top 10 on Adult Contemporary radio) had to sit back and wait its turn."[15] "Run to You" was placed it at number 17 on BET's list of her 40 best songs, noting that the song "is Exhibit A (or maybe Exhibit Z?), starting out softly and delicately before exploding with dramatic high notes at the end."[16] Jael Rucker of radio One37PM ranked it at number 21 on their list, giving high praise for her vocals, saying that "Whitney's delivery on this song (plus the lyrics) will make you cry putting the powerhouse in powerhouse ballad. There's a reason why this was nominated for an Academy Award."[17]
Though "Run to You" is one of Houston's most recognized songs worldwide,[by whom?] the chart performance was not as successful as her previous hit singles' at the time of its release because its parent album, The Bodyguard soundtrack, had already sold 21 million copies globally at that point and most consumers had the song by simply owning the soundtrack.[21] In the United States, "Run to You" debuted at number 83 and 76 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B Singles charts, in the issue dated June 26, 1993, respectively.[22][23] Three weeks later the single reached its peak position of number 31 on both the charts in the July 17, 1993, issue. On the Hot 100, the song spent six weeks inside the Top 40, five of which were stayed at its number 31 peak from July 17 to August 14, 1993.[24][25] In addition, it peaked at number 41 and 26 on the component charts of the Hot 100, the Hot 100 Singles Sales and the Hot 100 Airplay, respectively.[26][27] The song also peaked at number 10 on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart, becoming Houston's 17th Top 10 hit of the chart.[28] In Canada, the song debuted at number 86 on the RPM 100 Hits Tracks chart, the issue dated July 10, 1993.[29] The next week it leaped to number 34 on the chart and reached the Top 20 in its fourth week of release.[30][31] On the August 28, 1993, issue, it reached its peak position of number 10 on the chart, becoming her 16th Top 10 hit in the country.[32]
Internationally, "Run to You" was a moderate hit like in the US. In the United Kingdom, the song entered the UK Singles Chart at number 20, the week ending dated July 31, 1993.[33] The following week it reached its peak position of number 15 on the chart.[34] In Belgium, the song debuted at number 19 on the VRT Top 30 chart but the next week dropped to outside Top 30.[35] In Ireland, it peaked at number nine on the Irish Singles Chart, spending four weeks in the chart.[36] In other European countries, it failed to make the Top 40 and stayed only one or two weeks on the charts, peaking at number 33 in the Netherlands, number 47 in France, and 58 in Germany.[37][38][39]
Music video
A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Mitchell Sinoway.[40] It features scenes from The Bodyguard intercut with scenes of an angelic Houston running on clouds.[41] In the movie, there is a scene where bodyguard Frank Farmer (played by Kevin Costner) watches the video of "Run to You" on TV and is taken by Houston's performance. The music video was made available in HD on Houston's official YouTube channel in 2009, having generated more than 229 million views as of early 2024.[42]
Live performances
Houston performed the song on select dates during her Bodyguard World Tour in 1993–1994. "Run to You" was performed at the November 5 and 7, 1993 shows at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London, England, at the August 14, 1994, show at the San Jose Arena in San Jose, California and at the September 16, 27 and 28, 1994 shows at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. In November 2017, Legacy issued the 25th anniversary album, I Wish You Love: More from The Bodyguard; a live performance of "Run to You" is included.
Natalie Cole performed a medley of "Run to You" and "I Have Nothing" at the 1993 Academy Awards. Houston was to perform both songs which was nominated for Best Original Song, but unable to attend the ceremony. Cole was joined on stage with producer David Foster playing piano.
Heather Headley covered this song on her 2012 album Only One in the World, released just before the opening of the West End production of the musical The Bodyguard, in which Headley sings "Run to You" and plays the equivalent of Houston's role from the film.
Glennis Grace sang this song as a tribute to Whitney Houston and became a YouTube sensation after Nicki Minaj tweeted about Glennis' performance.
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