Tags
1990s, Depression, Gold single, Grammy Award, Grave Dancers Union, local missing persons cases, missing people, Music, One Hit Wonder, power ballad, regional variations, Rock, Runaway Train, several convictions, several music videos, Soul Asylum, top five hit
Runaway Train (Columbia, 1992)
Runaway Train is a power ballad by American rock band Soul Asylum. Its music video is notable for featuring images of missing people, most of them involving young children and adolescent teenagers. Several versions of the video were made. Each region has their own video and featured local missing persons. According to music director Tony Kaye, 26 missing children were found after being featured in the video. Unfortunately, some of the cases ended in tragedy, with some of the cases resulting in convictions. Lead singer Dave Pirner has stated that the lyrics originally described his experience of depression.
Runaway Train was released in June 1993 as the fourth single from the band’s 1992 album, Grave Dancers Union, and became a success around the world. It reached number five on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and climbed to the top position on the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart, earning a gold sales certification from the Recording Industry Association of America and selling 600,000 copies in the U.S. 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. The song helped bring their album, Grave Dancers Union, to a multi-platinum level and won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 1994.