The single was released to radio in late August 1993 and was immediately added to airplay rotation, debuting on the US Hot 100 Airplay at #31 the week of September 4, 1993. The physical single was not released until almost two months later, after maximum airplay had been reached, resulting in the failure of the single to peak within the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. In Europe, it debuted and peaked at number 83 in its first week on the Eurochart Hot 100 on 16 October 1993,[1] after charting in the UK, where it peaked at number 36. On the Music Week Dance Singles chart, it was more successful, reaching number ten,[2] as well as peaking at number nine on the Music & MediaEuropean Dance Radio Chart.[3] "Runaway Love" was also a top-30 hit in Canada,[4] a top-50 hit in the Netherlands,[5] and a top-70 hit in Australia.[6]
Failure of the single to chart higher was possibly due to "Runaway Love" initially being available only on the EP. The EP had been released shortly after the single was issued and was considered an album not a single. However, the single manage to peak within the Top 20 on US Pop and US R&B airplay.[7]
Critical reception
Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic complimented the song as "great".[8]Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that here, the group are "stretching out nicely over a cool midtempo groove, juiced with the same quasi-hip-hop/funk flavors that fueled 'Hold On' and 'My Lovin''." He felt that those "warm and distinctive harmonies feel like a welcome visit from an old friend, while multiple lead vocals are appropriately diva-like, without an overload of hype."[9] Troy J. Augusto from Cash Box said it's a "comfortably groovin' song, seemingly familiar the first time you hear it, features all four Vogue'rs doing what they do best—melting hearts." He added, "Super confident vocals, En Vogue's bread and butter, will propel "Runaway Love" to the top of all the appropriate charts and playlists. Don't miss this one."[10]James Earl Hardy from Entertainment Weekly found that the song "prove [that] these divas have more in common with the Emotions and the Sweet Inspirations than with the Supremes."[11]
Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report complimented the writers for continuing to "demonstrate their production genius".[12] Another Gavin Report editor, Kelly Woo, called the song "a masterpiece of harmony and tight production that captures the energy of their earlier works. Their vocal performance is incomparable and uncompromising-perfection!"[13] Push from Melody Maker wrote, "The limp swingbeat swivel of "Runaway Love" [...] is drearier than watching Skelmersdale United take on Glossop Town on a wet Wednesday evening."[14] Pan-European magazine Music & Media remarked that, with "one foot in history and the other one in the swingbeat era, these girls are moving closer to becoming the Pointer Sisters of our time."[15] Ralph Tee from Music Week's RM Dance Update stated that the group "have never sounded sweeter than on this stylish, lilting two stepper with harmonies to send shivers down the spine."[16] Another RM editor, James Hamilton, described it as a "funkily wukka-wukked mumbling and cooing slinky roller".[17] James Hunter from Vibe complimented the groove's "gorgeus skating harmonies".[18]
