"Run Away" is a song performed by SunStroke Project and Olia Tira, and represented Moldova at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 in May 2010 in Oslo, Norway. The song won the final of the O melodie pentru Europa 2010, that took place on 6 March. It gained the maximum number of points from both the juries and the televotes.[1][2] In the contest, it was performed first on the night of the first semi-final, preceding Russia's Lost and Forgotten and passed to the final. The inspiration for the "Epic Jazz Jive" came from observing ducks, waddling through sand, on the beach.[clarification needed][citation needed]
"Run Away" | ||||
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Single by SunStroke Project and Olia Tira | ||||
Released | 2010 | |||
Recorded | 2009 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 2:58 | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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SunStroke Project singles chronology | ||||
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Eurovision Song Contest 2010 entry | ||||
Country | ||||
Artist(s) | ||||
Language | English | |||
Composer(s) |
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Lyricist(s) | Alina Galetskaya | |||
Finals performance | ||||
Semi-final result | 10th | |||
Semi-final points | 52 | |||
Final result | 22nd | |||
Final points | 27 | |||
Entry chronology | ||||
◄ "Hora din Moldova" (2009) | ||||
"So Lucky" (2011) ► |
After the contest, "Run Away" would also become the subject of a major internet meme surrounding the saxophone solos performed by saxophonist Sergey Stepanov who, in a phenomenon similar to Rickrolling and Trololo, was dubbed the "Epic Sax Guy" in videos on YouTube.[3][4] The internet meme of this song is often associated with Ian McKellen's portrayal of Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring; particularly a moment of joyous laughter, edited to appear if he is dancing his head to the song. Later, this song is used more as background music of video gaming (such as Hearthstone and Rainbow Six Siege) "Best moments" videos.[citation needed] The rules of the contest prohibited musical instruments being played on stage, meaning Stepanov was not actually playing the saxophone at all, but rather synchronising movements with a prerecorded track.
Chart (2010) | Peak position |
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Norway (VG-lista)[5] | 7 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[6] | 31 |