I Ran (So Far Away)
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| “I Ran (So Far Away)” | |||||
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| Single by A Flock of Seagulls from the album A Flock of Seagulls |
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| B-side | "Pick Me Up" | ||||
| Released | 1982 | ||||
| Format | 7" | ||||
| Genre | New Wave | ||||
| Length | 5:07 | ||||
| Label | Zomba | ||||
| Writer(s) | A Flock of Seagulls | ||||
| Producer | Mike Howlett | ||||
| A Flock of Seagulls singles chronology | |||||
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| Alternate cover | |||||
UK cover
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"I Ran (So Far Away)" by A Flock of Seagulls was a 1982 hit single in the United States and in Australia (where it reached #1). The song became a hit in the US in the summer of 1982 as a result of heavy rotation of a distinctive music video on MTV. The clip featured singer Mike Score and bandmates performing in a room covered with aluminium foil. The song features an intro that runs 1:33, however this intro is not included in the video.
The band gained exposure by touring the US extensively to support the single, including a supporting slot on Squeeze's 1982 US tour. The song would go on to reach #9 on the Billboard Hot 100, #3 on the Mainstream Rock chart, and #8 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. The single failed to enjoy similar success in the band's home country of the United Kingdom, failing to make the top 40 but did reach the top of the charts in Australia. The success of the single led to the album A Flock of Seagulls reaching the US top 10 in 1982.
In an interview on the VH1 special "Greatest One-hit Wonders" Score has mentioned that he resents the song, but plays it because people enjoy it.
"I Ran" is featured in the Grand Theft Auto :Vice City soundtrack, as part of the Wave 103 radio station and since the song was played in the background of most commercials for the game, it is considered to be the game's signature song.
"I Ran" is also featured as a playable song in Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s.
[edit] Cover versions
- Assemblage 23 covered the song on the 1997 compilation album Newer Wave.
- Terminal Choice's cover of the song is included on the bonus disk of their 2006 New Born Enemies album.
- Bowling for Soup covered the song on the 2003 re-release of their album Drunk Enough to Dance and their "Punk Rock 101" single. Both the original and the punk cover are the theme song of the American version of Saint Seiya aka Knights of the Zodiac.
- Hidden in Plain View also covered the song on the compilation cover album Punk Goes 80s.
- Tori Amos covered the song during a live performance which was later released on the album Paramount Theatre Denver, CO 4/19/05.
[edit] Chart positions
| Charts | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart | 1 |
| UK Singles Chart | 43 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 9 |
| U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 3 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | 9 |
| Germany Singles Chart | 31 |
| Preceded by "I've Never Been to Me" by Charlene |
Australia ARIA Singles Chart number-one single August 2, 1982 - August 9, 1982 |
Succeeded by "Goody Two Shoes" by Adam Ant |
