Album: Runaway Love EP (EastWest; 1993)
Songwriters: Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy
R&B Peak Position: #15
"Runaway love/ Feels good without a doubt/...Have to stop before it turns me out"
Rising to the forefront of Pop and R&B popularity with the triple platinum hit nest that was 1992's Funky Divas, En Vogue seemed intent on not being forgotten, dropping the six song EP Runaway Love a year later. The mini-release collected Divas' remixes, their "girl power" Salt N Pepa collabo "Whatta Man" and a brand new song in the title track, a smooth little R&B number that once again highlighted the incredible unity within their supple harmonies.
Having already proven that they could handle whatever songwriting/ production duo Foster and McElroy threw at them (be it hard rock, old-school soul or hard-hitting New Jill funk), En Vogue bear little sweat making "Runaway Love" ooze pussycat sensuality as they struggle against their overwhelming attraction to a no-good fella.
Over a midtempo Southern soul stew that instantly brings to mind sticky-hot summer afternoons, EV emit lustful woes concerning a dangerous obsession that's just too hard to shake. The man is consistently disrespectful, but everytime they muster up the nerve to bounce, they're treated to another dose of top-notch pipe game that brings their exit strategy to a screaming halt. "I can't walk away, fade away/ Everyday my love grows and grows," a defeated Terry admits, comparing herself to a drug addict unable to resist the "high" her abusive man gives her; "It's a sickness/ Or is it a weakness?", she later self-ponders.
Their intricately-arranged performance deftly illustrating a boiling internal conflict of agony and ecstasy and pain and pleasure, it ultimately becomes hard to fault them for remaining in such a Lifetime TV-movie-styled cycle of torture.
A sorely overlooked R&B entry from one of the decade's greatest.
Best Moment: A writhing, gospel-tinged bridge that sees the girls attempting to gather strength from faith to break them of their spell. (2:30)
DL: "Runaway Love" (YFH)
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