Runaway (Nuyorican Soul song)

"Runaway" is a 1996 song by Nuyorican Soul, a project by the house-garage production and remix team of "Little" Louie Vega and Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez. It features Puerto Rican singer and songwriter India and was released as the first and lead single from their album, "Nuyorican Soul". The song is a cover of The Salsoul Orchestra's recording "Run Away", featuring American singer Loleatta Holloway from 1977. The new version was very successful in clubs and reached number-one on the "Billboard" Hot Dance Club Play chart in the US. In Europe, it peaked at number 24 on the UK Singles Chart, but was even more successful on the UK Dance Chart, where it hit number-one. Additionally, it was a Top 30 hit in Iceland, and a Top 40 hit in Germany. On the Eurochart Hot 100, the song reached number 75 in February 1997. 
American singer Janet Jackson once told MTV News that her inspiration to write her 1997 hit "Together Again" came from "Runaway" by Nuyorican Soul, as the song reminded her of being in Studio 54 in New York when she was a child. It gave Jackson a kind of New York feel of disco and she wanted to do something like this.
Critical reception.
Scottish newspaper "Aberdeen Press and Journal" said the song is "sensational". Daryl Easlea for BBC wrote that "taking the Salsoul Orchestra's Runaway – first sung by Loleatta Holloway, but here by India – again reflected the past projected into the future." He added, "A full hands-in the-air anthem, it brought a stately majesty to the original." Larry Flick from "Billboard" stated that "as clubland continues to salivate for the onset of the full-length debut from Nuyorican Soul, the act offers this wonderfully faithful rendition of the Loleatta Holloway disco classic with fierce Latin/dance diva India in the vocal seat." "Music & Media" declared it "a perfect drivetime record, with Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez and Louie Vega packing in every gramme of sunshine they've soaked up during years of fusing latino beats and New York club vibes. Soaring vocals from salsa diva India make this the most accessible track from their self titled album..." "People Magazine" commented that the current queen of salsa, India, "tears into the disco standard "Runaway"." Judson Kilpatrick from "Vibe" deemed it a "soaring remake".
Music video.
The music video for "Runaway" takes place in a cramped apartment where there is a house party. India performs the song amidst the crowd of dancing people. Occasionally, the story of three different women are being told; one comes home and finds her boyfriend with another woman. The second woman is tired of cleaning up after her lazy boyfriend, and the third one has had enough of her boyfriend playing nights with the guys. Towards the end while India sings, all three women are packing their cases and running away from their boyfriends. 
Impact and legacy.
"DJ Magazine" ranked the song at number 51 in their list of "Top 100 Club Tunes" in 1998.
"Disc Over Music" main man and UK mainstay Tim Green said that "Runaway" was the first song he remember hearing, and liking, that could be classified as dance music.
Cover versions, samples and remixes.
American DJ Armand Van Helden and German DJ Mousse T. has made remixes of "Runaway". The Armand Van Helden Remix Became a Speed Garage club hit.
British singer-songwriter Nate James covered "Runaway" on his 2009 album Revival. 
A Hundred Birds covered "Runaway" in 2016. 
References.
 