Running Back To You

Album: The Comfort Zone (1991)
Charted: 18
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The first single from Williams' breakout album The Comfort Zone, this uptempo song is about a woman who's still in love with a man that takes her granted, lies all the time, and perhaps cheats. In spite of that, she's only giving him one more chance, and if things don't change, she's walking out and never coming back. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Mike - Santa Barbara, CA
  • Williams is best known for ballads like "Save The Best For Last" and "Colors Of The Wind," but her first single was "The Right Stuff," a #1 hit on the Dance chart. "Running Back To You" is in this vein.

    What's remarkable about Williams is how she rose to stardom as a singer after becoming Miss America, something very few winners do. Also remarkable, she did it after naked pictures of her surfaced, leading her to relinquish her title. Early on, many in the music industry didn't want to be associated with her, but it quickly became clear that she could succeed on her talent, not on the controversy.
  • The song was written by Trevor Gale and Kenni Hairston, who alo co-produced the track with
    Bob Rosa, DJ L.A. Jay, and Rob Von Arx.
  • The music video is a time capsule of 1991, when dance music visuals included graphic elements, bold colors and lots of camera movement. They were usually shot against a white background to make the various elements pop.

    It's worth noting that while most pop singers in this genre (male and female) showed a lot of skin, Williams was relatively demure, wanting no reminders of the nude photo scandal of her past.

    The video was directed by the South African lensman Ralph Ziman, who also shot the "Save The Best For Last" video.

Comments: 1

  • John from Nashville, TnThis dance track became Vanessa Williams' second #1 r&b hit.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.

Commercials

CommercialsFact or Fiction

Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream?

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Yoko Ono

Yoko OnoSongwriter Interviews

At 80 years old, Yoko has 10 #1 Dance hits. She discusses some of her songs and explains what inspired John Lennon's return to music in 1980.

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennittSongwriter Interviews

The Celtic music maker Loreena McKennitt on finding musical inspiration, the "New Age" label, and working on the movie Tinker Bell.