Always on the Run (Isaak song) explained

Always on the Run
Cover:Isaak - Always on the Run.png
Type:single
Artist:Isaak
Genre:Pop[1]
Label:Good Kid gmbH
Producer:
  • Lost
  • Leo Jupiter
Prev Title:Postcard
Prev Year:2023
Next Title:Never the Same
Next Year:2024
Misc:
Embed:yes
Song: "Always on the Run"
Year:2024
Country:Germany
Artist:Isaak
Language:English
Place:12th
Points:117
Prev:Blood & Glitter
Prev Year:2023
Prev Link:Blood & Glitter
Next Year:2025

"Always on the Run" is a song by German singer-songwriter Isaak. It was written by Isaak, Kevin Lehr, Leo Jupiter, and Greg Taro, and jointly released on 19 January 2024 between Good Kid Records and Polydor Records. "Always on the Run" represented Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, where it finished in 12th place with 117 points.

Background and composition

"Always on the Run" was written by Isaak Guderian, Kevin Lehr, Leo Jupiter, and Greg Taro.[2] According to Isaak, the song speaks about "running from the problems I never solved" to a location of "salvation".[3] In an analysis by Wiwibloggs' Tom Hendryk, they wrote that it addressed themes of "trapped in a cycle of uncertainty" between one's hopes and doubts. As a result of the battle, they end up "running away", tired of chasing success constantly and admitting a "sense of resignation" when it comes to altering his life.[4]

In interviews, Isaak stated that he did not write the song for the sole purpose of entering the Eurovision Song Contest, but eventually decided to enter the song after he thought about the opportunity.[5] On 19 January, it was released as an official competitor for Eurovision Song Contest – Das deutsche Finale 2024, German: [[Norddeutscher Rundfunk]]|i=no (NDR)'s national final to select Germany's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. On the same day, it was released as a digital download along with seven other songs competing in the competition.

Critical reception

"Always on the Run" has received negative reception. In a Wiwibloggs review containing several reviews from several critics, the song was rated 5.17 out of 10 points,[6] earning 33rd out of 37 songs on the site's annual ranking.[7] Another review by i's Emily Baker remarked the song as "boring", stating that she thought the song lacked uniqueness.[8] Vulture's Jon O'Brien ranked the song 29th overall, sharing the same sentiment as Baker in terms of the song's uniqueness and comparing it negatively to Lewis Capaldi, Rag'n'Bone Man, "or any number of British male vocalists who sound like they desperately need a throat lozenge".[9] ESC Beat's Doron Lahav ranked the song 32nd overall, stating that while they thought the song was "radio-friendly", they doubted if the song could compete for a good finish in the grand final.[10]

Music video and promotion

Along with the song's release, an accompanying music video was released on the same day.[11] To further promote the song, Isaak announced his intents to participate in various Eurovision pre-parties throughout the months of March and April after his victory in Eurovision Song Contest – Das deutsche Finale 2024, including Pre-Party ES 2024 on 30 March,[12] the London Eurovision Party 2024 on 7 April,[13] and Eurovision in Concert 2024 on 13 April.[14]

Eurovision Song Contest

See main article: Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.

Eurovision Song Contest – Das deutsche Finale 2024

Germany's broadcaster for the Eurovision Song Contest, German: [[Norddeutscher Rundfunk]]|i=no (NDR), organized a nine-entry competition, Eurovision Song Contest – Das deutsche Finale 2024 to select its entrant for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. A singular grand final was held on 16 February 2024. Eight songs were automatically chosen by the broadcaster to compete in the grand final, and another wildcard song was chosen via a separate televised competition.[15] [16] The winner of the competition was selected by a 50/50 system of juries and televoting.[17]

"Always on the Run" was announced as a competing song in the competition on 19 January 2024 as an automatic qualifier,[18] where it was later drawn to perform third,[19] In the grand final, it managed to earn first place in both the juries and televoting, earning 24 total points, four points ahead of the runner-up, Max Mutzke's "Forever Strong".[20] [21] As a result of winning the competition, the song won the rights to represent Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.[22]

At Eurovision

The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 took place at the Malmö Arena in Malmö, Sweden, and consisted of two semi-finals held on the respective dates of 7 and 9 May and the final on 11 May 2024. As Germany was a member of the "Big Five", Isaak automatically qualified for the grand final.[23] He was later drawn to perform in the first half of the grand final.[24]

For its Eurovision performance, the song itself was altered, with minor lyrical changes having to be implemented due to the European Broadcasting Union's ban on curse words in the Eurovision Song Contest.[25] Dan Shipton was appointed as the creative director for the performance, with additional assistance coming from Black Skull Creative, Shipton's company.[26] It featured Isaak wearing a black suit in a "stylish, sleek room" surrounded by flames during the beginning of the performance. Nearing the end of the performance, the set is removed for him to sing alone on stage.[27] Along with Isaak, four backing singers accompanied him on stage.[28] The song was performed in third, after Ukraine's duo of Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil and before Luxembourg's Tali.[29] After the results were announced, he finished in 12th with 117 points, with a split score of 99 points from the juries and 18 points from televoting.[30] No country gave the maximum 12 points in either category; Israel gave the highest amount for both sets, allocating 10 jury points and eight televoting points for the entry.[31]

Charts

Chart (2024)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Greece International (IFPI)[32] 47
Lithuania (AGATA)[33] 21
Netherlands (Single Tip)[34] 29
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[35] 4
UK Singles Sales (OCC)[36] 57

Release history

Country! scope="col"
DateFormat(s)Label
Various19 January 2024Good Kid Records[37]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bricht ER den Null-Punkte-Fluch?. Gress. Manja. Süddeutsche Zeitung. de. 17 February 2024. 17 February 2024.
  2. Web site: Schulte–Wieschen . Claire . 17 February 2024 . Germany: Isaak to Eurovision 2024 with "Always on the Run" . live . 6 May 2024 . Eurovision World . en-gb . 10 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240310004114/https://eurovisionworld.com/esc/germany-isaak-to-eurovision-2024-with-always-on-the-run .
  3. Isaak (Germany) - "Always on the Run" - Interview . 13 April 2024 . Adams . William Lee . Video . . 7 May 2024 . 2 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240502053817/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXC3L7mH_is&gl=US&hl=en . live .
  4. Web site: Hendryk . Tom . 7 May 2024 . "It's just a game that can't be won" -- ISAAK struggles with his demons in "Always On The Run" lyrics . live . 7 May 2024 . . en-US . 7 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240507152407/https://wiwibloggs.com/2024/05/07/isaak-always-on-the-run-lyrics/281341/ .
  5. INTERVIEW Isaak "Always on the Run" (Germany 2024) - London Eurovision Party . 11 April 2024 . C . Alastair . Video . . 7 May 2024 . 7 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240507152505/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWL3OI4FTn8 . live .
  6. Web site: 19 April 2024 . Wiwi Jury: Germany's ISAAK with "Always On The Run" . live . 6 May 2024 . . en-US . 7 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240507152423/https://wiwibloggs.com/2024/04/19/eurovision-2024-review-germany-isaak-always-on-the-run-wiwi-jury/281133/ .
  7. Web site: Vautrey . Jonathan . 7 April 2024 . Eurovision 2024: Reviews and rankings by the Wiwi Jury . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240501144508/https://wiwibloggs.com/2024/04/08/eurovision-2024-reviews-and-rankings-by-the-wiwi-jury/280997/ . 1 May 2024 . 26 April 2024 . . en-US.
  8. Web site: Baker . Emily . 10 May 2024 . Eurovision 2024 guide: The mad, the bad and the boring . 12 May 2024 . . en.
  9. Web site: O'Brien . Jon . 6 May 2024 . Every 2024 Eurovision Song, Ranked . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240507032323/https://www.vulture.com/article/every-2024-eurovision-song-ranked.html . 7 May 2024 . 7 May 2024 . . en.
  10. Web site: Lahav . Doron . 23 April 2024 . Eurovision 2024 Songs Review – Part 7 (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the UK) . 12 May 2024 . ESC Beat . en-US.
  11. ISAAK - Always on the run (Official Music Video) . 19 January 2024 . Guderian . Isaak . Video . . 7 May 2024 . 5 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240505200357/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BjQPLLxEFQ . live .
  12. Web site: Matthews . Alana . 28 March 2024 . Eurovision 2024: PrePartyES Madrid Pre-party preview . live . 5 May 2024 . Aussievision . en . 28 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240328230638/https://www.aussievision.net/post/eurovision-2024-prepartyes-madrid-pre-party-preview .
  13. Web site: Percy . Lucy . 16 March 2024 . Isaak from Germany will bring massive vocals to the London Eurovision Party . live . 5 May 2024 . . en-US . 7 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240507152505/https://wiwibloggs.com/2024/03/16/isaak-from-germany-london-eurovision-party/280644/ .
  14. Web site: Dibben . Jazzi . 6 March 2024 . Isaak to perform at Eurovision in Concert 2024 . live . 5 May 2024 . That Eurovision Site . en-GB . 1 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240401121032/https://thateurovisionsite.com/2024/03/06/isaak-eurovision-in-concert-2024/ .
  15. Web site: 19 January 2024 . Deutscher ESC-Vorentscheid 2024: Diese Acts sind sicher dabei . German ESC preselection 2024: These acts are confirmed to be there . 19 January 2024 . Eurovision.de . . de . 19 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240119064857/https://www.eurovision.de/news/Deutscher-ESC-Vorentscheid-2024-Diese-Acts-sind-sicher-dabei,acts104.html . live .
  16. Web site: 6 December 2023 . 'Ich will zum ESC!': Neues Format mit Conchita und Rea Garvey . "Ich will zum ESC!": The new format with Conchita and Rea Garvey . live . 6 December 2023 . Eurovision.de . . de-DE . 15 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240315215435/https://www.eurovision.de/news/Alle-Infos-zu-Ich-will-zum-ESC,vorentscheid1106.html .
  17. Web site: 9 January 2024 . Das deutsche Finale 2024: So wird Deutschlands ESC-Beitrag ausgewählt – Tickets wohl ab 19. Januar . Das deutsche Finale 2024: This is how Germany's ESC entry will be selected – tickets probably from 19 January . live . 9 January 2024 . ESC kompakt . de . 9 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240109133133/https://esc-kompakt.de/das-deutsche-finale-2024-so-wird-deutschlands-esc-beitrag-ausgewaehlt-tickets-wohl-ab-19-januar/ .
  18. Web site: Adams . William Lee . 19 January 2024 . Germany reveals eight confirmed acts for Das Deutsche Finale 2024 Eurovision selection . live . 7 May 2024 . . en-US . 7 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240507152518/https://wiwibloggs.com/2024/01/19/germany-reveals-eight-confirmed-acts-for-das-deutsche-finale-2024-eurovision-selection/279257/ .
  19. Web site: Davies . Meg . 13 February 2024 . Germany: More Das Deutsche Finale 2024 Details Revealed . live . 6 May 2024 . Eurovoix . en-GB . 13 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240213200446/https://eurovoix.com/2024/02/13/germany-more-das-deutsche-finale-2024-details/ .
  20. Web site: Mancheño . José Miguel . 17 February 2024 . Isaak gana el Das Deutsche Finale y representará a Alemania en el Festival de Eurovisión 2024 . Isaak wins Das Deutsche Finale and will represent Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 . 17 February 2024 . ESCplus España . es-ES . 16 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240216235545/https://www.escplus.es/eurovision/2024/isaak-gana-el-das-deutsche-finale-y-representara-a-alemania-en-el-festival-de-eurovision-2024/ . live .
  21. Web site: Punkteverteilung im Voting beim ESC-Vorentscheid 2024 . Distribution of points in the voting for the ESC preliminary selection 2024 . live . 19 February 2024 . Eurovision.de . . de . 19 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240219161037/https://www.eurovision.de/news/Punkteverteilung-im-Voting-beim-ESC-Vorentscheid-2024,voting1486.html .
  22. Web site: Percy . Lucy . 16 February 2024 . Isaak wins Das Deutsche Finale 2024, and will represent Germany at Eurovision 2024 . live . 6 May 2024 . . en-US . 7 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240507152500/https://wiwibloggs.com/2024/02/16/live-discussion-das-deutsche-finale-2024/279990/ .
  23. Web site: Grand Final of Malmö 2024 . 15 February 2024 . Eurovision.tv . EBU . 30 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240130185816/https://eurovision.tv/event/malmo-2024/grand-final . live .
  24. Web site: Bird . Lisa . 5 May 2024 . Big Five draw Grand Final running order slots . 5 May 2024 . ESC Xtra . en-GB . 5 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240505124912/https://escxtra.com/2024/05/05/big-five-draw-grand-final-running-order-slots/ . live .
  25. Web site: Van Waarden . Franciska . 2024-02-27 . Germany: 'Always On The Run' Undergoing Small Lyric Change . 2024-02-28 . Eurovoix . 27 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240227233948/https://eurovoix.com/2024/02/27/germany-minor-lyric-change/ . live .
  26. Web site: Rowe . Callum . 23 February 2024 . Dan Shipton to stage Austria, Germany and Cyprus Eurovision entries . live . 5 May 2024 . The Euro Trip Podcast . 6 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240506123743/https://eurotrippodcast.com/2024/02/23/dan-shipton-to-stage-austria-germany-and-cyprus-eurovision-entries/ .
  27. Web site: Garnett . Georgia . 2 May 2024 . That Eurovision Review: Stylish and Impactful for Isaak in his first rehearsal . live . 6 May 2024 . That Eurovision Site . en-GB . 3 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240503044214/https://thateurovisionsite.com/2024/05/02/isaak-germany-first-rehearsal/ .
  28. Web site: Lahav . Doron . 10 May 2024 . Eurovision 2024 Grand Final Dress/Jury Rehearsal Live Commentary . 12 May 2024 . ESC Beat . en-US.
  29. Web site: Vautrey . Jonathan . 10 May 2024 . Eurovision 2024 grand final running order: Ukraine in second, Austria closes . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240510011747/https://wiwibloggs.com/2024/05/10/eurovision-2024-grand-final-running-order/281608/ . 10 May 2024 . 10 May 2024 . . en-US.
  30. News: Bayer . Felix . Boeselager . Matern von . Ehlebracht . Anna . Frank . Arno . Kalisch . Muriel . Petter . Jan . Rützel . Anja . 12 May 2024 . Der ESC-Abend im Minutenprotokoll: Platz zwölf für Isaak – so lief das Finale in Malmö . Twelfth place for Isaak – that’s how the final in Malmö went . 2024-05-12 . . de . 2195-1349.
  31. Web site: Grand Final of Malmö 2024 - Germany Grand Final Results Allocation . 12 May 2024 . . European Broadcasting Union.
  32. Web site: Official IFPI Charts − Digital Singles Chart (International) − Εβδομάδα: 20/2024. IFPI Greece. 22 May 2024. el. https://web.archive.org/web/20240522063137/https://www.ifpi.gr/digital_iel.html. 22 May 2024. live.
  33. Web site: 2024 20-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100). lt. AGATA. 17 May 2024. 17 May 2024.
  34. Web site: Dutch Single Tip 18/05/2024. MegaCharts. nl. 18 May 2024.
  35. Web site: Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 20. Sverigetopplistan. 17 May 2024.
  36. Web site: Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100. Official Charts Company. 18 May 2024.
  37. Web site: 5 May 2024 . Always on the Run - Single by Isaak . 2 May 2024 . Apple Music (US) . en-US . live . 7 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240507152453/https://music.apple.com/us/song/always-on-the-run/1724173769 .