Runaways (The Killers song)

"Runaways"
Single cover
Single by the Killers
from the album Battle Born
Released	July 17, 2012
Recorded	2011–2012
Genre	Heartland rock new wave
Length	4:04
Label	Island
Composer(s)	The Killers
Lyricist(s)	Brandon Flowers
Producer(s)	Steve Lillywhite Brendan O'Brien The Killers
The Killers singles chronology
"The Cowboys' Christmas Ball" (2011) "Runaways" (2012) "Miss Atomic Bomb" (2012)
Music video
Runaways on YouTube

"Runaways" is a song by American rock band the Killers. It was released in 2012 as the lead single from their fourth studio album, Battle Born (2012).

Release

On July 2, 2012, the band released artwork for the track.^[1] On July 10, it received its first radio play on Radio 104.5 and KROQ in the United States and on BBC Radio 1 in the United Kingdom.^[2] On July 17, 2012 it was released on iTunes, debuting in the US Alternative top twenty songs at #17.^[3]

In the United Kingdom, "Runaways" was released on September 9, 2012.

Critical reception

The song has received positive reviews from music critics. Jon Dolan from Rolling Stone gave the song three stars saying "The first single from the first Killers album in four years is an Eighties-rock fever dream that's crazily big, even by their grandiose standards: a Vesuvian gusher of Springsteen mythos, Toto-Journey power hooks and singer Brandon Flowers’ unmistakable commitment to unmistakable commitment."

Nicky Barrison from NME acclaimed the song, describing it like a grand return, adding "Four years after Day & Age saw them dip their toe into dancier waters, The Killers make their grand return with the Killersiest comeback single you could ever hope to hear. If Day & Age was a stylistic reaction to the unjust critical kicking their second record took, then 'Runaways' is the sound of the band re-embracing their inner Springsteen".^[4] Nolan Feening from Entertainment Weekly was receptive to "Runaways", commenting that the song "starts off gently with some bare-bones piano chords and not a whole lot else, but it gains momentum faster than you can remember the lyrics to 'Mr. Brightside'. Four minutes later, you've got a galloping desert rocker good enough to roll with the best of the Vegas quartet's catalog".^[5] Mark Richards from Stereoboard.com was enthusiastic about the tune and commented "'Runaways' is a great alternative summer song that will no doubt be buried in air play by the likes of Will Smith's 80s classic".^[6]

Nick Bassett from The Re-View praised "the beauty of its heartfelt, retrospective lyrics and rousing stadium chorus [which] stir that feeling of nostalgia that everyone can relate to."^[7]

Readers of Rolling Stone chose "Runaways" as the best song of the summer in Readers' Poll: The Top Best Songs of Summer 2012.^{[citation needed]} It was the #1 most downloaded song for South Africa in 2012.^[8]

Music video

The music video for the song, directed by Warren Fu,^[9] premiered on July 26, 2012.^[10] The clip starts with Flowers performing the song with a starry sky on the background. He is later joined by the remaining members of the band,^[10] and several backdrops are shown, including the Killers' hometown, Las Vegas.^[9]

In September 2012, "Runaways" received a nomination for Best Video at the Q Awards, but lost out to Keane's "Disconnected".^[11]

Chart performance

On July 17, 2012, it was released on iTunes in the United States, debuting in the US Alternative top twenty songs at number 17, and climbing to number 7.

In the United Kingdom, "Runaways" was released on September 9, and entered the UK Singles Chart at number 18. It remained in the top 20 the following week, making "Runaways" the Killers' 10th UK top 20 single.

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2012) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[12] 67 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[13] 3 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[14] 19 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[15] 37 Canada (Alternative Rock)[16] 6 Canada Rock (Billboard)[17] 18 Germany (GfK)[18] 44 Ireland (IRMA)[19] 13 Italy (FIMI)[20] 53 Japan (Japan Hot 100)[21] 37 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[22] 34 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[23] 64 Mexico Airplay (Billboard International)[24] 43 Scotland (OCC)[25] 13 South Korea (Gaon International Chart)[26] 83 Switzerland Airplay (Schweizer Hitparade)[27] 28 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[28] 28 UK Singles (OCC)[29] 18 US Billboard Hot 100[30] 78 US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[31] 11 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[32] 7 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[33] 13

Year-end charts Chart (2012) Position US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[34] 41

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[35]	Gold	35,000^‡
Canada (Music Canada)[36]	Gold	40,000^‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[37]	Silver	200,000^‡
United States (RIAA)[38]	Gold	500,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Accolades

Publication	Country	Accolade	Year	Rank
KROQ	United States	Top 50 Songs of 2012[39]	2012	22

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
United States[40]	July 10, 2012	Airplay	Island Records
United Kingdom[40]			Mercury Records
Italy[41]	July 13, 2012	Airplay	Island Records
United States[40]	July 17, 2012	Digital download
Italy[41]
United Kingdom[42]	September 7, 2012	Digital download	Mercury Records

References

1. "The Killers unveil artwork for new single 'Runaways'". NME. 2 July 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2012.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
2. "'Runaways' new single from Battle Born is premiering 7.10". Retrieved 9 July 2012.
3. "Music Chart Analysis, Artist Spotlights, Music Insider, Chart Beat & News". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
4. "NME Track Reviews - The Killers - 'Runaways'". Nme.Com. 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
5. Bierly, Mandi. "The Killers premiere "Runaways" | The Music Mix | EW.com". Music-mix.ew.com. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
6. "The Killers - Runaways (Single Review) - Stereoboard UK". Stereoboard.com. 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
7. "New Music Video: The Killers -Runaways". Archived from the original on 2012-11-30.
8. "The Killers top the Top 20 downloads in SA".
9. Alex Young (July 26, 2012). "Video: The Killers – Runaways". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
10. Jason Lipshutz (July 26, 2012). "Watch The Killers Be Epic in Their Runaways Music Video". Billboard. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
11. "Q Awards 2012 Nominations Announced". MTV. September 6, 2012. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
12. "The ARIA Report - Week Commencing ~ 30 July 2012 ~ Issue #1170" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association / webarchive.nla.gov.au. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-07-15. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
13. "The Killers – Runaways" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
14. "The Killers – Runaways" (in French). Ultratip.
15. "The Killers Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
16. "Canada: Alternative Rock". America's Music Charts. Archived from the original on February 22, 2013. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
17. "The Killers Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
18. "The Killers – Runaways" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
19. "Chart Track: Week 37, 2012". Irish Singles Chart.
20. "Runaways - Database Top of the Music" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
21. "Chart Search Results - Japan Hot 100 Singles 2012-10-06". Billboard.biz. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
22. "Nederlandse Top 40 – The Killers" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
23. "The Killers – Runaways" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
24. "Mexico Airplay - Issue Date: 2012-08-11". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 4, 2012. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
25. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
26. "Search: Gaon International Download Chart – Issue date: 2012.07.15 – 2012.07.21". Gaon Chart. Archived from the original on May 26, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
27. "Schweizer Airplay Chart - Week 41, 2012" (in German). Hitparade.ch / Hung Medien. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
28. "The Killers – Runaways" Canciones Top 50.
29. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
30. "The Killers Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
31. "The Killers Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
32. "The Killers Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
33. "The Killers Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
34. "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
35. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
36. "Canadian single certifications – The Killers – Runaways". Music Canada. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
37. "British single certifications – Killers – Runaways". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
38. "American single certifications – The Killers – Runaways". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
39. "KROQ's Top 50 Songs of 2012 « the World Famous KROQ". Archived from the original on 2013-10-23. Retrieved 2013-10-29.
40. Emily Zemler (July 22, 2012). "The Killers' Flowers: 'Runaways' Is 'A Great Starting Point' for Album". Billboard.com. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
41. "Runaways è il nuovo singolo dei Killers, disponibile in download digitale dal 17 luglio" (in Italian). Ondarock.it. July 14, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
42. "Runaways: The Killers - MP3 Download". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved August 12, 2012.