Runaway (Self song)

Last updated
"Runaway"
Self - Runaway.jpg
Single by Self
from the EP Super Fake Nice
ReleasedJuly 11, 2014 (2014-07-11)
Recorded2010–2014
Genre
Length3:18
Label El Camino Media
Songwriter(s) Matt Mahaffey
Producer(s) Matt Mahaffey
Self singles chronology
"Looks and Money"
(2011)		"Runaway"
(2014)		"Monogamy"
(2015)
Music video
"Runaway" on YouTube

"Runaway" is a song by American pop rock band Self, released on July 11, 2014. Distributed by El Camino Media, it was the second single for the band's second EP Super Fake Nice . The track utilizes power pop instrumentation that samples the song "Do That Stuff" by American funk band Parliament. A music video for "Runaway" was released alongside the single, featuring cats pantomiming with instruments. The video went viral, helping the single commercially succeed.

Contents

Background

Since 1990, Matt Mahaffey had created multiple songs sampling Parliament's song "Do That Stuff", denouncing them as demos and withholding them. His fifth attempt came in 2010 as "Runaway", the first time he found the product satisfactory. [1] Two years later, Matt Messer of El Camino Media heard a demo of "Runaway". He was drawn to it and expressed interest in marketing it as a radio single. This led Mahaffey to sign his band Self to the independent record label, recording more songs to form the EP Super Fake Nice (2014). [2] Mahaffey finished the song in 2014, [1] releasing it as the EP's second single on July 11. [3] The band performed "Runaway" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on July 30, becoming the band's first televised live performance. [4] [5]

Music video

A music video for "Runaway" was directed by Ballard C. Boyd and released on July 11, 2014. [6] The video features a band of cats playing instruments while several other cats move to the beat of the song and play with cat toys. Later into the video, cats are shown jumping through the air, driving a car, and being blown with hair dryers. It ends with a cat eating from a food bowl labeled "Runaway" and a disclaimer that no cats were harmed. [3] Filmed at Plywood Pictures in Brooklyn, New York, studio personnel wore black clothing and moved the cats with gloves to successfully pantomime. They also created custom instruments and props to match the cats' sizes. [7] After release, Mahaffey stated to Entertainment Weekly that the video's focus on cats was strategized to go viral. [8]

Reception

Bob Boilen and Stephen Thompson of NPR denounced the lyrics of "Runaway" as trivial but praised its instrumental, calling it an "infectious pop-rock track". [9] Lyndsey Parker of Rolling Stone described the song as a memorable comeback, likening its music video to Keyboard Cat and ranking it at number 10 on a list of the top 20 music videos of 2014. [10] Patrick Rodgers of Nashville Scene similarly praised "Runaway", calling it "bleeping, blooping, [and] characteristically catchy". [6] On July 29, 2014, "Runaway" was featured as the iTunes Single of the Week. [11]

Personnel

Credits adapted from the EP's liner notes. [12]

Sample credits

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">God Lives Underwater</span> American rock band

God Lives Underwater was an American rock band, formed during 1993 in Perkiomenville, Pennsylvania by vocalist/programmer David Reilly and guitarist/programmer Jeff Turzo. They were later joined by guitarist Andrew McGee and drummer Adam Kary. After recording a self-titled EP in late 1993 and self-distributing it the following year, the band signed to Rick Rubin's label American Recordings, and the EP was nationally released in early 1995. Later that same year, the band released the full-length album Empty. God Lives Underwater then signed with A&M Records and released Life in the So-Called Space Age in 1998, which spawned their most successful single "From Your Mouth". After a period of internal issues and label shifts, the band's final album was released in 2004, Up Off the Floor. Reilly then unexpectedly died at the age of 34 on October 16, 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Mahaffey</span> Musical artist

Matt Mahaffey is an American multi-instrumentalist, record producer, composer, and recording engineer best known for his band Self and his composer collective Cake In Space.

<i>Subliminal Plastic Motives</i> 1995 studio album by Self

Subliminal Plastic Motives is the debut studio album by American pop rock band Self, released on October 24, 1995, through Zoo Entertainment and Spongebath Records. Its songs were written and recorded by brothers Mike and Matt Mahaffey, the band's sole members. The album was promoted through the singles "Cannon" and "So Low", each receiving airplay and accompanied by music videos that contributed to the album's success.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Self (band)</span> American band

Self is an American alternative pop rock band from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The band is led by Matt Mahaffey. The band currently consists of Chris James, Mac Burrus, and Jason Rawlings (drums). Past members include Matt's older brother, Mike Mahaffey and Timm Nobles. Mahaffey cites Electric Light Orchestra, Prince, and Pixies as some of his biggest musical influences.

<i>The Half-Baked Serenade</i> 1997 studio album by Self

The Half-Baked Serenade is the second studio album by American pop rock band Self, released through Spongebath Records on March 5, 1997.

<i>Breakfast with Girls</i> 1999 album by Self

Breakfast with Girls is the third studio album by American pop rock band Self, released on July 13, 1999, by DreamWorks Records and Spongebath Records. Its songs were mainly written and composed by Matt Mahaffey, the band's lead member. The album prominently maintains a power pop/art rock soundscape with elements of hip-hop and jazz.

<i>Gizmodgery</i> 2000 studio album by Self

Gizmodgery is the fourth studio album by American pop rock band Self, released on September 5, 2000, by Spongebath Records. Recorded entirely with toy instruments, its music was written and composed by lead member Matt Mahaffey, with the band's other members contributing to select songs. The album received positive reviews from critics, discussing its unique production and playful energy. Commercially, Gizmodgery sold 10,000 copies in its first week and debuted at number nine on CMJ's Alternative Radio Airplay chart. The album was distributed on vinyl through El Camino Media in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt and Kim</span> American music duo

Matt and Kim are an American indie electronic duo from Brooklyn, New York City. The group formed in 2004 and consist of Matt Johnson (vocals/keyboards) and Kim Schifino (drums). The duo is known for its upbeat dance music and energetic live shows which often incorporate samples from other artists. Although they started their career playing shows in lofts and other close-quarters venues, they have since performed at numerous festivals, including Bonnaroo, Coachella, and Firefly Music Festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Features</span>

The Features is an American indie rock band from Sparta, Tennessee. The original lineup consisted of Matt Pelham, Roger Dabbs, and Don Sergio. The most recent iteration consists of Pelham, Dabbs, Rollum Haas, and Mark Bond. They have released five full-length albums and three EPs. The band has appeared twice as musical guests on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Cursive Memory</span> American rock band

A Cursive Memory was an American rock band, from Southern California who released an EP and two albums in the period 2006 to 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christian Karlsson (DJ)</span> DJ and record producer

Lars Christian Karlsson, also known by his stage name Bloodshy, is a Swedish DJ, percussionist, record producer and remixer known for his work with the musical groups Bloodshy and Avant, Miike Snow, Ingrid, and Galantis. He started his international music career as one half of the electro pop duo Bloodshy & Avant with Pontus Winnberg, producing and co-writing tracks for pop stars such as Madonna, BoA, Kylie Minogue, and Katy Perry. Bloodshy & Avant notably co-wrote and produced Britney Spears' single "Toxic", which earned them a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording in 2005. While continuing to work with Bloodshy and Avant, Karlsson also became a member of the indie pop band Miike Snow around 2007. Miike Snow, the group's debut album, was released in 2009, and peaked at number 11 on the Top Electronic Albums chart in the United States. Miike Snow won the 2011 European Border Breakers Award, and their second album Happy to You reached No. 1 on the Belgian Heatseekers Albums Chart and 43 on the Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Galantis</span> Swedish electronic music act

Galantis is a Swedish electronic music act consisting of producer Christian "Bloodshy" Karlsson. Formerly, they were a duo, alongside rising musician Style of Eye, until he decided to part ways with the project shortly after their second album The Aviary in 2017. However, he made appearances in live performances and music videos as part of the project up until 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sylvan Esso</span> American electronic pop duo

Sylvan Esso is an American electropop duo from Durham, North Carolina which was formed in 2013. The band consists of singer Amelia Meath and producer Nick Sanborn. They made their debut with the single "Hey Mami" and released their eponymous debut album on Partisan Records on May 12, 2014. It reached No. 39 on the Billboard 200. They released their second album, What Now, with Loma Vista Recordings on April 28, 2017, which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stay Home</span> 2001 single by Self

"Stay Home" is a song by American pop rock band Self, released through DreamWorks Records on May 15, 2001. It was written and performed by the band's lead member, Matt Mahaffey, with mixing and production by Eric Valentine. The track was composed for the 2001 DreamWorks animated fairy tale comedy film Shrek, appearing in its end credits.

<i>Super Fake Nice</i> 2014 EP by Self

Super Fake Nice is the second EP by American pop rock band Self, released through El Camino Media on July 29, 2014. Originally announced as an album in 2007, it is the band's first studio release since Gizmodgery (2000), ending a 14-year break. The EP prominently maintains a soundscape consistent with the band. The singles "Looks and Money" and "Runaway" supported it, with the latter achieving mainstream success alongside its music video.

<i>Ornament and Crime</i> (album) 2017 studio album by Self

Ornament and Crime is the fifth studio album by American rock band Self, released on August 25, 2017, by El Camino Media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Half Alive (band)</span> American rock band

Half Alive is an American rock band from Long Beach, California. The band was formed in 2016 and consists of lead singer Josh Taylor, drummer Brett Kramer and bassist J. Tyler Johnson. The trio are best known for their single "Still Feel" and its choreographed music video. Their first EP, 3, was released in 2017, while their debut studio album, Now, Not Yet, was released on August 9, 2019.

<i>Now, Not Yet</i> 2019 studio album by Half Alive

Now, Not Yet is the debut studio album by American band Half Alive, released through RCA Records on August 9, 2019. The songwriting process for the record began in 2015, before Half Alive was formed, during a challenge in which lead singer Josh Taylor would try to write 50 songs along with drummer Brett Kramer. After the band's formation and the release of their debut EP 3, bassist J Tyler Johnson was added to the band in 2017 and from then the trio would rent several Airbnbs to write the songs off the album until 2019.

King Calaway was an American-Gibraltarian country band. The band was formed in Nashville in 2018, and was composed of Chris Deaton, Simon Dumas, Chad Michael Jervis, and Caleb Miller. The band released a self-titled five-song EP in January 2019 which was expanded into a full album Rivers in October 2019. They disbanded in February 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trunk Fulla Amps</span> 2001 single by Self

"Trunk Fulla Amps" is a song by American pop rock band Self, released on September 5, 2000, via Spongebath Records as the fifth track of their fourth studio album, Gizmodgery. The song is built around repetition, with variations referencing and emulating other musicians. In February 2001, it was marketed as the album's sole single and received a music video. Critics praised the song's humor, energy, and arrangements, highlighting it as a common fan favorite.

References

  1. 1 2 Heisel, Scott (August 27, 2014). ""We never broke up, but we got burned out"—Matt Mahaffey on the return of Self". Alternative Press . Archived from the original on August 30, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  2. ↑ Olmstead, Todd (July 24, 2014). "Self, a.k.a. the Dude Who Made the Expedia Dot Com Jingle, Is Back". Vice . Archived from the original on December 8, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  3. 1 2 Parker, Lyndsey (July 21, 2014). "Is Self's 'Runaway' the Greatest Cat Video Ever?". Yahoo! Music . Archived from the original on January 18, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  4. ↑ Rodgers, Patrick (July 31, 2014). "Watch Self Play 'Runaway' and 'Lucid Anne' on Jimmy Kimmel Live". Nashville Scene . Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  5. ↑ Breihan, Tom (July 31, 2014). "Self Released A New EP And Played Kimmel Last Night". Stereogum . Archived from the original on December 23, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  6. 1 2 Rodgers, Patrick (July 22, 2014). "Self's 'Runaway' Features a Slew of Delightful Cats [Fresh Vid]". Nashville Scene . Archived from the original on July 26, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  7. ↑ "sElf - Runaway (Behind The Scenes)" (YouTube video). El Camino Media. October 16, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  8. ↑ Raymer, Miles (July 21, 2014). "Video: Cats make synthesizer jams for Self's 'Runaway'". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on March 11, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  9. ↑ Boilen, Bob; Thompson, Stephen (August 5, 2014). "New Mix: Foxygen, Lily & Madeleine, Porter Robinson, More". NPR . All Songs Considered. Archived from the original on October 18, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  10. ↑ Parker, Lyndsey (December 22, 2014). "The 20 Most Awesome Music Videos of 2014". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on May 7, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  11. ↑ Peterson, Tyler (July 29, 2014). "sElf's Lead Single "Runaway" Featured as iTunes Single of the Week Today". BroadwayWorld . Archived from the original on December 29, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  12. ↑ Super Fake Nice (Media notes). Self. El Camino Media. 2014.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.