Jump to content

Runaway Train (Soul Asylum song): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→Resolved cases: add one more which is also missing
→Resolved cases: add one more. edit conflict happened.
Tag: Reverted
Line 69: Line 69:
The version shown in Australia showed a number of young backpacking tourists whose families were looking for them. Many of those shown in the Australian version were [[Backpacker murders|confirmed victims of serial killer Ivan Milat]], who was arrested in 1994 not long after the Australian film clip was released.
The version shown in Australia showed a number of young backpacking tourists whose families were looking for them. Many of those shown in the Australian version were [[Backpacker murders|confirmed victims of serial killer Ivan Milat]], who was arrested in 1994 not long after the Australian film clip was released.


Also featured in the video, but still missing as of February 2021 were [[Disappearance of Christopher Kerze|Christopher M. Kerze]], Martha W. Dunn, Andrea D. Durham, Wilda M. Benoit, Byron E. Page, Kimberly S. Doss, Duane E. Fochtman, John F. Lango, and Patrick S. Betz.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Video for 1994 Song 'Runaway Train' Helped Recover 21 Missing Kids — But 11 Have Not Been Found|url=https://people.com/crime/missing-kids-soul-asylum-runaway-train/|access-date=January 4, 2021|website=PEOPLE.com|language=EN}}</ref>
Also featured in the video, but still missing as of February 2021 were [[Disappearance of Christopher Kerze|Christopher M. Kerze]], Martha W. Dunn, Andrea D. Durham, Wilda M. Benoit, Byron E. Page, Kimberly S. Doss, Duane E. Fochtman, John F. Lango, Patrick S. Betz and Christina A. Wood<ref>{{Cite web|title=Video for 1994 Song 'Runaway Train' Helped Recover 21 Missing Kids — But 11 Have Not Been Found|url=https://people.com/crime/missing-kids-soul-asylum-runaway-train/|access-date=January 4, 2021|website=PEOPLE.com|language=EN}}</ref>


==Awards==
==Awards==

Revision as of 11:22, 12 February 2024

"Runaway Train"
Single by Soul Asylum
from the album Grave Dancers Union
ReleasedJune 1, 1993 (1993-06-01)
Genre
Length4:26
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Dave Pirner
Producer(s)Michael Beinhorn
Soul Asylum singles chronology
"Black Gold"
(1993) 		"Runaway Train"
(1993) 		"Sexual Healing"
(1993)
Music video
"Runaway Train" on YouTube

"Runaway Train" is a song by American alternative rock band Soul Asylum, released in June 1993 as the third single from the band's sixth album, Grave Dancers Union (1992). The power ballad[7][3] became a success around the world, reaching number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 and climbing to the top position on the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart. The single earned a gold sales certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) after selling 600,000 copies in the US. Outside North America, it reached number two in New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland and peaked within the top five on the charts on several other European countries.

"Runaway Train" helped bring Grave Dancers Union to a multi-platinum level and won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 1994. Its accompanying music video is notable for featuring images of missing people, most of them young children and teenagers. Lead singer Dave Pirner has stated that the lyrics originally described his experience of depression.[8]

Background and recording

"It overshadowed everything else we did, but I'm pleased that the song has a resonance that is not about partying and screwing. It's a sad and reflective song that reminds people that it's not all candy out there, but that they're not alone."

—Dave Pirner talking about the song.[9]

Pirner suffered from a nervous breakdown after he thought he was losing his hearing.[9] He started playing an acoustic guitar, and one of the songs that came out of this was "Runaway Train". Pirner had been fascinated by trains since he was a kid, having watched Casey Jones, the American Western series about the adventures of railroad engineer Casey Jones and the crew of the Cannonball Express steam locomotive. Pirner would use a runaway train as a metaphor for the depression that was spinning out of control.

The first line, "Call you up in the middle of the night" would refer to a friend of Pirner who lived in New York and was kind enough to answer him on the phone, no matter what time it was. After a practice-room tape was presented to various labels in New York, Columbia Records was most interested. The song was then recorded with producer Michael Beinhorn. Pirner told in an interview with The Guardian, "If the vocal on it sounds world-weary, it’s because he made me sing it 100 times."[9] The band's drummer, Grant Young, was replaced during the session by Sterling Campbell. Then keyboards were put on the track in a studio in LA by Booker T from the MGs. "Runaway Train" was released as the third single of the Grave Dancers Union album on June 1, 1993.[10]

Critical reception

"I distinctly recall first hearing 'Runaway Train', not least of all because it was the very first song on the demo cassette they sent me. It just had this rawness to it. It felt like the naked expression of this desperately sad person. Every sentiment, every lyric was so beautifully employed and placed. It all added up to a very intense mood, as well as something that was easy for anyone to relate to who has ever felt lost in their life. It reminded of a classic country-western song in that way."

—Producer Michael Beinhorn talking to Spin about the song.[11]

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Acoustic-anchored midtempo tune has a sweet, string-lined undercurrent that is the perfect embodiment of the song's cinematic, romantic lyrics. Icing on top is a restrained lead vocal and pillowy harmonies. Deserves immediate play."[12] The Daily Vault's Christopher Thelen felt the song was "too sappy and slow".[13] David Howell from Edmonton Journal declared it as "a melancholy song about hopelessness and despair".[14] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report commented, "Groups like Soul Asylum don't come around very often and neither do songs like this one. For a riveting and chilling experience, go immediately to your VCR and watch the video, which gets my vote as best of the year! A song that truly deserves to become a runaway hit."[15]

In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton said, "This track comes with a powerful video featuring shots of homeless children, putting a whole new slant on what would ordinarily be an ordinary love song. Judging just how well this brand of country-sounding rock will do is difficult. If there is any justice it will go on to be a massive hit."[16] Later he added, "Always a strong track and with 'hit' written all over it".[17] Caren Myers from Melody Maker felt that "Runaway Train" "is quite palatable in a mid-tempo Bruce kinda way".[18] Pan-European magazine Music & Media described it as an alternative guitar-driven pop combo, "temporarily injected with a dash of country."[19] Matt Diehl from Rolling Stone declared it as a "lush country lament",[20] while another editor, Chris Mundy, called it a "beautiful acoustic ballad".[21] Charles Aaron from Spin wrote, "Savoring the band's countryish metal clichés instead of fidgeting against them, Dave Pirner and crew pull off a subtly gripping rock anthem. More generous and less apologetic than anybody could have expected."[22]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Runaway Train" was directed by Tony Kaye and received heavy airplay on MTV and VH1 during its duration.

Several versions of the video were made. The video for the United States version begins with a fade to a black screen with a big, white blocked text reading: "There are over one million youth lost on the streets of America", while the UK version begins with "100,000 youth are lost on the streets of Britain". The next scene shows a drawing of an adolescent girl, and a Dave Pirner voice-over saying that the drawing is by a girl who had run away more than 110 times. The scene was often omitted when the video was shown, a common practice when videos had additional footage before or after the song.

After Pirner spoke, the video continued with various shots of the band playing the song, and Pirner singing. Three concrete scenes are shown interspersed among the other images of the video. During the first verse, a child is shown witnessing his grandfather beating and eventually killing his grandmother, before fleeing in fear. During the second verse, a young teenage girl is pimped as a prostitute, and initially purchased by the aforementioned abuser. Later, she is dragged into a van by a gang; afterwards, she is picked up by paramedics and taken to the hospital, after getting beaten up. During the coda of the song, a small baby is snatched from his stroller by an older woman, with his mother running after the kidnapper's car.

Throughout the music video, various images of children running, or appearing with injuries from abuse, are shown. During the choruses, pictures of missing children would appear on the screen. After each picture was shown, their full name would appear in large capital letters on the screen, along with the year they had been "missing since...".

After the video, in an ending also not regularly shown, Pirner says in front of the camera, "If you've seen one of these kids, or you are one of them, please call this number," with the following screen showing a number one could contact. MTV cut this part out because they did not want to have the video confused with being a public service announcement. VH1 shows the UK version in its full length.

There were three original versions of the video in the United States, totaling 36 missing children shown.[23] The children shown varied with the location of the broadcast, using missing children from that area.

Resolved cases

According to Kaye, 26 missing children were found after being featured in the video.[24] In 2006, guitarist Dan Murphy stated in an interview with Pasadena Weekly that some of the cases featured in the video had ended in tragedy: "Some weren't the best scenarios. I met a fireman on the East Coast whose daughter was in the end of the video, and he'd been in a bitter custody battle with his wife over her", Murphy said. "It turned out the girl hadn't run away, but was killed and buried in her backyard by her mother. Then on tour, another girl told us laughingly 'You ruined my life' because she saw herself on the video at her boyfriend's house and it led her being forced back into a bad home situation."[25]

The UK version of the video featured Vicky Hamilton and Dinah McNicol, who each went missing in 1991. Their remains were found in 2007 at a house in Margate. Peter Tobin has since been convicted of both murders.[26][27]

Also featured in the UK version was Mark Bartley, a runaway who went missing in 1992. He was recognized in the video by a man who knew Bartley was staying in the tenant's house below them, but was unaware of his missing status. By the time the police arrived, Bartley and the man he was living with were gone. It is unknown what happened to him after this.

Curtis Huntzinger, who was featured in the US video, was located deceased in 2008. His convicted killer, Stephen Daniel Hash, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and, in 2009,[28] was sentenced to 11 years in Folsom State Prison.[29]

The last image in all three U.S. versions of the video is that of Thomas Dean Gibson, who disappeared from Douglas County, Oregon in 1991 at the age of 2.[30] He is still missing as of February 2021, and age-progressed photos of him at age 18 and age 21 were released in 2009 and 2012, respectively, by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.[31] Thomas's father, Larry Gibson, a former deputy sheriff, was convicted of second degree manslaughter after prosecutors alleged that he accidentally killed Thomas when he shot at a stray cat in his front yard even though no remains were ever found. Larry maintains his innocence and claims to have worked on finding Thomas since being released from prison in 1996.[32] The case was explored on an episode of Unsolved Mysteries.

The version shown in Australia showed a number of young backpacking tourists whose families were looking for them. Many of those shown in the Australian version were confirmed victims of serial killer Ivan Milat, who was arrested in 1994 not long after the Australian film clip was released.

Also featured in the video, but still missing as of February 2021 were Christopher M. Kerze, Martha W. Dunn, Andrea D. Durham, Wilda M. Benoit, Byron E. Page, Kimberly S. Doss, Duane E. Fochtman, John F. Lango, Patrick S. Betz and Christina A. Wood[33]

Awards

Awards for "Runaway Train"
Year Nominee / work Category
1993 "Runaway Train" Grammy Award for Best Rock Song[34]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Runaway Train"4:25
2."Black Gold – Live"3:56
3."Never Really Been – Live"3:12

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[62] Gold 35,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[76] Gold 25,000*
Germany (BVMI)[77] Gold 250,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[78] Gold 5,000*
Sweden (GLF)[79] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[80] Silver 200,000^
United States (RIAA)[82] 2× Platinum 2,000,000[81]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

"Runaway Train" was covered by Brent Smith and Zach Myers of American hard rock band Shinedown on their 2014 (Acoustic Sessions) EP[83] and English rockband, Smokie. It was also covered by the British pop band Busted on their 2004 double A-side "Thunderbirds / 3AM". Dee from 'It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia' covered the song in the episode the gang hits the road. In 2019, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children invited Jamie N Commons, Skylar Grey and Gallant to cover the song for "Runaway Train 25" campaign. KIDinaKORNER/Interscope donate a portion of the proceeds from domestic digital downloads and streams of the recording to NCMEC for the first year.[84][85]

References

  1. ^ Yglesias, Matthew (May 21, 2007). "The Ultimate Nineties Alt-Rock Playlist". The Atlantic. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  2. ^ Goodman, William (July 5, 2011). "Soul Asylum Recording First Album Since 2006". SPIN. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Mamo, Herna (February 2021). "Kelly Clarkson Takes Us on a 'Runaway Train' to Nostalgia For Her Soul Asylum Cover". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  4. ^ Toland, Michael (December 13, 2018). "SOUL ASYLUM – Say What You Will…Everything Can Happen / Made to Be Broken". Blurt Online. Archived from the original on February 6, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  5. ^ Pareles, Jon (June 4, 1995). "RECORDINGS VIEW;Growing Up Means Keeping It Down a Bit". The New York Times. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  6. ^ Staunton, Terry. "Welcome To The Minority: The A&M Years 1988-1991". Record Collector. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  7. ^ "Video for 1994 Song 'Runaway Train' Helped Recover 21 Missing Kids — But 11 Have Not Been Found". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  8. ^ Peisner, David (July 24, 2013). "Wrong Way on a One-Way Track: The Oral History of Soul Asylum's 'Runaway Train'". SPIN. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c Simpson, Dave (October 31, 2022). "'We found 21 missing kids': Soul Asylum on making Runaway Train". The Guardian. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  10. ^ Strong, M. C. (1995). The Great Rock Discography. Edinburgh: Canongate Books Ltd. p. 761. ISBN 0-86241-385-0.
  11. ^ Wawzenek, Bryan (October 6, 2017). "25 Years Ago: Soul Asylum Become a Runaway Success with 'Grave Dancers Union'". Diffuser. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  12. ^ Flick, Larry (June 5, 1993). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 74. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  13. ^ Thelen, Christopher (September 3, 1998). "Grave Dancers Union – Soul Asylum". The Daily Vault. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  14. ^ Howell, David (November 12, 1993). "Rocker resists trappings of success". p. E3. Edmonton Journal.
  15. ^ Sholin, Dave (May 21, 1993). "Gavin Picks: Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. p. 50. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  16. ^ Masterton, James (July 4, 1993). "Week Ending July 10th 1993". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  17. ^ Masterton, James (November 7, 1993). "Week Ending November 13th 1993". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  18. ^ Myers, Caren (December 12, 1992). "Albums". Melody Maker. p. 33. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  19. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. May 15, 1993. p. 15. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  20. ^ Diehl, Matt (January 21, 1993). "Recordings". Rolling Stone. Issue 648.
  21. ^ Mundy, Chris (August 5, 1993). "Soul Asylum Finds Success". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  22. ^ Aaron, Charles (June 1993). "Singles". Spin. p. 86. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  23. ^ Katz, Frances (July 23, 1993), "Rock video reaches out to runaways", Boston Herald, Features, 36.
  24. ^ Peisner, David (July 24, 2013). "Wrong Way On A One-Way Track: The Oral History Of Soul Asylum's 'Runaway Train'". Spin. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  25. ^ Kozlowski, Carl (July 13, 2006). "Back On Track". Archived from the original on December 21, 2007. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  26. ^ "Second body is missing girl Dinah". BBC News. November 16, 2007. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  27. ^ "Man accused of teenager's murder". BBC News. September 1, 2007. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  28. ^ "Man gets 11 years in 1990 killing of boy, 14". SFGate.
  29. ^ Greenson, Thadeus. "Curtis Huntzinger's mother wins wrongful death lawsuit". Archived from the original on November 2, 2010. Retrieved October 5, 2009.
  30. ^ "Thomas Dean Gibson". Archived from the original on February 6, 2012. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  31. ^ "Have you seen this child? THOMAS GIBSON".
  32. ^ Good, Meaghan Elizabeth. "The Charley Project: Thomas Dean Gibson". Archived from the original on July 21, 2014. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  33. ^ "Video for 1994 Song 'Runaway Train' Helped Recover 21 Missing Kids — But 11 Have Not Been Found". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  34. ^ "Grave Dancer's Union Billboard Grammy Awards". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  35. ^ "Soul Asylum – Runaway Train". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  36. ^ "Soul Asylum – Runaway Train" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  37. ^ "Soul Asylum – Runaway Train" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  38. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2221." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  39. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 2264." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  40. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 45. November 6, 1993. p. 15. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  41. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 40. October 2, 1993. p. 13. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  42. ^ Pennanen, Timo. Sisältää hitin: levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972. Otava Publishing Company Ltd, 2003. ISBN 951-1-21053-X
  43. ^ "Soul Asylum – Runaway Train" (in French). Les classement single.
  44. ^ "Soul Asylum – Runaway Train" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  45. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (22.–28. Júlí)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). July 22, 1993. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  46. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Runaway Train". Irish Singles Chart.
  47. ^ "M-1 TOP 40". M-1.fm. October 24, 1993. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2022. See LW column.
  48. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 46, 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  49. ^ "Soul Asylum – Runaway Train" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  50. ^ "Soul Asylum – Runaway Train". Top 40 Singles.
  51. ^ "Soul Asylum – Runaway Train". VG-lista.
  52. ^ "Soul Asylum – Runaway Train". Singles Top 100.
  53. ^ "Soul Asylum – Runaway Train". Swiss Singles Chart.
  54. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  55. ^ "Soul Asylum Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  56. ^ "Soul Asylum Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  57. ^ "Soul Asylum Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
  58. ^ "Soul Asylum Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
  59. ^ "Soul Asylum Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  60. ^ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  61. ^ "SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart". slotop50.si. Archived from the original on March 22, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  62. ^ a b "ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1993". ARIA. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  63. ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 1993" (in German). Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  64. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1993" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  65. ^ "The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1993". RPM. Retrieved April 23, 2018 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  66. ^ "The RPM Top 100 AC Tracks of 1993". RPM. Retrieved April 23, 2018 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  67. ^ "1993 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 51/52. December 18, 1993. p. 15. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  68. ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1993" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  69. ^ "Árslistinn 1993". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 4, 1994. p. 17. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  70. ^ "Jaarlijsten 1993" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  71. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1993" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  72. ^ "End of Year Charts 1993". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  73. ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 1993" (in German). Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  74. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1993". Music Week. January 15, 1994. p. 24.
  75. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1993". Archived from the original on November 10, 2006. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  76. ^ "Austrian single certifications – Soul Asylum – Runaway Train" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
  77. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Soul Asylum; 'Runaway Train')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  78. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Soul Asylum – Runaway Train". Recorded Music NZ. {{cite web}}: |archive-url= is malformed: timestamp (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)[dead link]THE FIELD archive-url MUST BE PROVIDED for NEW ZEALAND CERTIFICATION from obsolete website.
  79. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
  80. ^ "British single certifications". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  81. ^ "Best-Selling Records of 1993". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 3. January 15, 1994. p. 73. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  82. ^ "American single certifications – Soul Asylum – Runaway Train". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  83. ^ "Brent Smith & Zach Myers release Acoustic Covers EP". Loudwire. January 22, 2014. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  84. ^ "NCMEC presents Runaway Train 25". Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  85. ^ "How a music video helped locate a missing 16-year-old". Retrieved August 9, 2019.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Runaway_Train_(Soul_Asylum_song)&oldid=1206527283"