Almost 10 years into the band's original run, Self was hit with nothing but bad luck. They lost their label deal after DreamWorks Records folded, and the band's guitarist, who was also the brother of lead singer Matt Mahaffey, died. Distraught and burnt out, he ended the band in late 2005.
It calls into question, then, how the band gets a second wave, playing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and ranking in Rolling Stone's top 10?
This would be the effect of the single "Runaway," with its bright pop instrumentation and viral video giving Self a much-deserved re-entry into the limelight.
A breakthrough for Self in more ways than one
The track was the turning point of development for Super Fake Nice. Mahaffey had tried since 2007 to write songs for a fifth Self album, but kept hitting a brick wall. In 2010, he culled his old production scraps, subsequently rediscovering a beeping Parliament sample.
The funky '76 riff of "Do That Stuff" became a musical bed for "Runaway," underlining its power pop components. It follows the very formulaic approach of an intro, two verses, three choruses, and a bridge before the last, all running at eight bars each with double-length for the intro and verses.
These clean 80 bars of 97 beats per minute in 4/4 common time give the song a length of three minutes and eighteen seconds. It begins very softly with twinkling xylophones and a left-panned flute, until two kick drums and claps set up an explosion of guitars and synthesizers.
A one-man studio effort with a polished full-band sound
Despite the full-band, studio-polished presentation, Mahaffey played every part by himself in his home studio. The dense yet glossy mix layers the crisp electric guitars well with the rhythmic keyboards and funk-derived bass line, giving it a punchy, retro, radio-friendly pop-rock sound.
"Runaway" continuously switches back and forth in its verses between a single bass guitar and the signature lush composition, as the former gives space for the song's vocals while the latter plays instrumentally. The choruses add backing harmonies to complete the picture, while the bridge nails a guitar solo.
While the driving tempo propels each section forward, transitions are handled with energy: the drums or synths surge at the end of each verse into the chorus, and briefly pull back before the cycle repeats. The structure emphasizes immediacy and catchiness, helping it blend with other pop hits.
Bright rhythms and harmonies driving the mood
Rhythmically, the track is upbeat and danceable, enlivened by arpeggiating synth sequences bouncing over the steady drumbeat. Harmonically, there are no wild modal shifts, staying in a major key throughout. This creates a buoyant and energetic feel that reinforces the lyrics' spirited tone.
Vocally, Mahaffey's lead is supported by multi-tracked backing vocals, creating tight harmonies in the hooks with punchy and compressed drums. The overall emotional subtext is a mix of playful bravado and gentle care. Mahaffey’s delivery, urgent yet smooth, matches the track’s upbeat mood.
Lyrically, "Runaway" centers on a dialogue between the narrator and a free-spirited "runaway" girl. Mahaffey alternates voices: he quotes the girl's adventurous lines ("let's take a ride…let's dance 'til the world explodes") and his own cautious responses ("Be careful, the life you lead could be lonely").
Lyrical tension of running, risk, and emotional fallout
The narrative tone is affectionate and concerned. The chorus directly addresses the girl: "Tell me what you're running from, little runaway." This line underscores the song's theme of escape and consequence. The key lyrical motif is the refrain "that will catch up to you one day."
In most choruses, this is phrased with "pain" as the subject, implying the girl's recklessness will eventually have a price. Crucially, the final chorus reframes that line: instead of pain, the word "love" fills the blank. This pivot transforms the song from cautionary to consoling, suggesting that despite all, love is inevitable.
Metaphorically, the lyrics juggle images of storms and explosions to reflect inner turmoil. In this way, the music’s bright, major-key energy and the catchy chorus lyrics complement each other: the sound is poppy and energetic, while the words flip the mood to cautious as it offers warnings.
A comeback single that reintroduced Self to a wider audience
This song was both a comeback single and a statement of continuity for Self. Their last studio output was 2000's Gizmodgery, so a lot of anticipation was in the air. Self broke the silence when they released "Runaway" on July 11, 2014, as the flagship track of Super Fake Nice.
Despite the time gap, the song still wears Self's signature quirky power-pop style but with updated polish, being the only departure from the purely lo-fi or novelty approach of past work. The single was featured as iTunes' Single of the Week on July 29, 2014, a day before the band's Jimmy Kimmel Live! debut.
Alongside the song. Self released a deliberately charming music video, featuring a band of cats miming the song on toy instruments. This quirky clip introduced Self to a broader audience beyond their cult fanbase, which ranked at number 10 on Rolling Stone's top music videos of 2014 list.
For Self and Mahaffey, "Runaway" represents a successful return to form: it's a bright, tight pop song that both honors their past style and serves as a catchy new anthem. Its reception, from radio attention to fan enthusiasm, shows that Self's combination of hook-driven songwriting and playful creativity still resonates years later.