Running (No Doubt song)
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| “Running” | |||||
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| Single by No Doubt from the album Rock Steady |
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| Released | July 1, 2003[1] | ||||
| Format | CD | ||||
| Recorded | 2001 | ||||
| Genre | Synthpop, Pop Rock | ||||
| Length | 4:02 | ||||
| Label | Interscope | ||||
| Writer(s) | Tony Kanal, Gwen Stefani | ||||
| Producer | Nellee Hooper, No Doubt | ||||
| No Doubt singles chronology | |||||
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"Running" is a synthpop song written by Tony Kanal and Gwen Stefani for No Doubt's fourth studio album Rock Steady (2001) and was released worldwide as the album's fourth and final single on July 1, 2003.
The song received mixed reviews from music critics and was compared to Depeche Mode-style songs. The song only charted on the official charts of United States, where it became the band's lowest charting single, Germany, where it had longest charting period. It was the least successful single of the album, peaked at number thirty-eight on the United World Chart. The song was accompanied by a music video which was directed by Chris Hafner, which featured many old and new pictures as well as clippings of the band members.
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[edit] Background
The song was written by Stefani and bassist Tony Kanal in Kanal's living room.[2] They used an old Yamaha keyboard that Kanal's father had purchased for him when he was in eight grade[3] and developed the song's harmony first and then wrote the lyrics. The band worked on the track to give it a "spacier sound" but were displeased with the result so took the song to producer Nellee Hooper, who stripped Running down to the basics.[2]The song was then produced by her, with whom Stefani collaborated again for her solo project a year later. Whatever the intent, the end result was a track that resonated with a catchy Nintendo "Mario Brothers" background throughout the entire song.[4]
[edit] Reception
[edit] Critical
Running received mixed reviews from music critics. Blender characterized the song as "twenty-first-century Blondie" and compared its synthesizers and restrained vocal to the work of Depeche Mode.[5] Rolling Stone also made the comparison to Depeche Mode and compared the song's "two-finger synth riff" to the work of Yazoo and Erasure.[6] PopMatters, however, stated that the song fell short and was more appropriate for "some Britney clone".[7] Stylus Magazine agreed, calling Running sophomoric, and commented that "this is the kind of song that makes Gwen so popular with the pre-teen girlies."[8] Slant Magazine described the song as a "super-polished Saturn leftover",[9] and Entertainment Weekly portrayed the song as a paean in which No Doubt performed inside a music box, remarking that "it could be a contender for the coolest wedding song ever."[10]
[edit] Commercial
Running was commercially unsuccessful in the United States, while the previous singles from the album reached the top fifteen on the Billboard Hot 100,[11] The song debuted at number sixty-two and stayed there for two weeks and was unable to reach a higher position, becoming the band's lowest charting single on the chart.[12] It dropped off of the chart after six weeks. The single was more successful in mainstream and adult contemporary markets, reaching number twenty on the Adult Top 40 and Top 40 Mainstream charts.[11] It followed a similar charting pattern on the German Singles Chart where is debuted as well as peaked at number fifty-five before falling off the chart after seven weeks. The song charted on the United World Chart for only a week, peaking at number thirty-eight.[12]
[edit] Music video
The song was accompanied by a music video which was directed by Chris Hafner.[13] The video opens with a scene of the band members walking on the beach in which Stefani is seen wearing a polka-dot gown and the other member are seen in casual clothes. The scene is interrupted by various pictures of the band members in their early years with old pictures of Stefani in which she has her original brunette hair. The scene then again shifts to the beach where the band members are shown playing frisbee and are shown having fun while burying drummist Adrian Young in the beach sand. Later Stefani is shown sitting on a rock by the sea and singing to the camera. There are many other pictures of the band holding platinum and gold records and Adrian shown playing the guitar nude. There are also several clippings of the band making music in the recording studio and performing on stage during the Rock Steady Live Tour. The video ends with the band members running into the sea water.
[edit] Formats and track listing
These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of Running.
- German/U.S. CD single
- Running (album version) – 4:02
- "Hella Good" (live) – 5:41
- "Underneath It All" (live) – 4:40
- "Hey Baby" (live) – 3:44
[edit] Charts
| Chart (2003)[11][12] | Peak position |
|---|---|
| German Singles Chart | 55 |
| United World Chart | 38 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 62 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Top 40 | 20 |
| U.S. Billboard Top 40 Mainstream | 20 |
[edit] References
- ^ "Running (No Doubt single), Release date and Track listing" Billboard Retrieved on April 20, 2008
- ^ a b Montoya, Paris and Lanham, Tom. "Running". The Singles 1992-2003 (liner notes). November 25, 2003.
- ^ Edwards, Gavin. "No Doubt Make Party Music". Rolling Stone. October 16, 2001. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
- ^ Vineyard, Jennifer"Gwen Stefani Turns To Bandmate For Aid After Freak-Out" MTV Retrieved on April 19, 2008
- ^ Howe, Rupert. "No Doubt : Rock Steady Review". Blender. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
- ^ Sheffield, Rob. "Rock Steady : No Doubt : Review". Rolling Stone, issue 887. January 2, 2002. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
- ^ Miller, Eden. "No Doubt: Rock Steady". PopMatters. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
- ^ Delaney, Colleen. "No Doubt - Rock Steady - Review". Stylus Magazine. September 1, 2003. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
- ^ Cinquemani, Sal. "Music Review: No Doubt: Rock Steady". Slant Magazine. 2004. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
- ^ Browne, David. "Rock Steady (Music - No Doubt) | Music Review". Entertainment Weekly. December 10, 2001. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
- ^ a b c "Rock Steady". All Music Guide. Retrieved January 8, 2007.
- ^ a b c "No Doubt - Running - Music Charts". αCharts.us. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
- ^ "No Doubt-The Videos-1992-2003" eil Retrieved on April 20, 2008
[edit] External links
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