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"I Ran (So Far Away)" by A Flock of Seagulls was a 1982 hit single in the United States. The song's lyrics address the anxiety associated with getting to know a person one may feel attracted to. 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 (with his unique hairstyle) and bandmates performing in a room covered with aluminium foil. The song features an intro that runs 1:33.
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 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 popular culture
The song is the de facto theme song of the 2002 video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and was used in the majority of its advertisements; within the game, it is featured on the fictional radio station Wave 103. The song gained a renewed popularity after advertisements were played on television.
In 2002, The Furnace covered the song on their album Beyond What's Become giving the song a shorter intro and a heavier guitar track.
Bowling for Soup covered the song on the 2003 re-release of their album Drunk Enough to Dance. 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.
The video concept of filming with a multitude of mirrors in the background was later used in Ophelie Winter's "Shame On You."
On VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 80's, when they got to "I Ran" (which is on the list) Mike Score said (near the end of the part that was about the song) "Everyone just wants to hear 'I Ran,' and I'm sick of it."
As shown in the picture, Mike Score does not have his hairstyle that often defines the band in 1980s pop culture.
This song is featured as a playable track on the video game Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s as a master track.
The song was used in a Hogan Knows Best episode
| 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 |