"Who Can I Run To?" is a song originally recorded by American girl group The Jones Girls, for their eponymous album released in 1979. The song was covered and made popular by American girl group Xscape, who recorded the song for their second album '' Off the Hook'' (1995). The song was released as the album's second single on October 3, 1995, in the United States, by So So Def Recordings. The song features lead vocals by LaTocha Scott and Tamika Scott. "Who Can I Run To?" became Xscape's third top-ten single on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 as well as third single number-one single on the

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by '' Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...

. Internationally, it charted in New Zealand, Scotland, and the United Kingdom. The accompanying

music video A music video is a video that integrates a song or an album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device intended to ...

for "Who Can I Run To?", directed by Allan Grip Smith, was filmed in a restaurant. ''Billboard'' named the song number 58 on their list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time.

Background and composition

During the recording of the group's second album ''Off the Hook'', Jermaine Dupri and Xscape member LaTocha Scott heard "Who Can I Run To?" by The Jones Girls.Xscape Remade This Hit Song By a 1970s Girl Group
TV One. Retrieved on June 1, 2024 She later suggested to the group that they record their own version for the album. Initially rejecting the idea, the group recorded the song at Scott's insistence. Her younger sister and fellow group member Tamika Scott shared lead vocals with LaTocha on the song. Xscape's version was produced by Jermaine Dupri.

Commercial performance

In the United States, "Who Can I Run To?" debuted at number 27 ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart on October 14, 1995.Xscape Billboard Chart History
Billboard. Retrieved on May 24, 2024 After a total of six weeks, it peaked at number eight on November 18, 1995. The song held that position for one week before dropping to number twelve. In its final week, "Who Can I Run To?" fell to number 78 before falling off the chart after a total of twenty weeks. On the

, the song peaked at number one on November 11, 1995, and held the top position for one week. The single sold over one million copies in the United States, earning a platinum-certification by the

Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...

(RIAA).Xscape Gold & Platinum Certifications
Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved on May 24, 2024 In the United Kingdom, "Who Can I Run To?" spent a total of three week on the UK Singles Chart, ultimately peaking at number 31.Xscape Official Chart History
Official Charts Company. Retrieved on June 1, 2024 The single was more successful on the UK's Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart, where it spent nine weeks on the chart and peaked at number six. On UK's Dance Singles Chart, the song peaked at number eleven, only spending two weeks on the chart.

Track listing

US CD and cassette single # "Who Can I Run To?" # " Feels So Good" (UNtouchables Flava Smoothed Out Remix) Australian CD single and Australian maxi-CD # "Who Can I Run To?" # "Who Can I Run To?" (Mr. Dupri Mix) # "Feels So Good" (Uno Clio Vocal Mix) # "Feels So Good" (Trunk Bumpin' Extended Mix) European cassette single # "Who Can I Run To?" (LP Version) # "Do You Want To" (Remix With Rap) # "Who Can I Run To?" (LP Version Instrumental) # "Do You Want To" (Remix With Rap Instrumental) European CD single # "Who Can I Run To?" # "Who Can I Run To?" (Mr. Dupri Mix) # "Do You Want To" (Remix With Rap) # "Do You Want To" (Quiet Storm) European 12-inch single and European maxi-CD # "Who Can I Run To?" # "Feels So Good (20/20 12" Edit)" # "Feels So Good" (Uno Clio Vocal Mix) # "Feels So Good" (Uno Clio Instrumental) UK 12-inch promo single # "Who Can I Run To?" (Mr. Dupri Mix) # "Who Can I Run To?" (Mr Dupri Extended Mix) # "Who Can I Run To?" (LP Version) # "Do You Want To" (Remix With Rap) # "Do You Want To" (Remix Instrumental) # "Do You Want To" (Acapella) UK 12-inch single # "Who Can I Run To?" (Mr Dupri Extended Mix) # "Do You Want To" (Smoothed Out Remix) # "Love On My Mind" (JD Extended Street Mix) # "Love On My Mind" (Allstar Remix)

Sampling

* American singer and rapper Anderson .Paak sampled the Xscape version for his song "Might Be" from the album ''

Venice Venice ( ; ; , formerly ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 islands that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals; portions of the city are li ...

'' (2014). * DJ Luke Nasty also sampled Xscape's version for the song "Might Be" (2015), a cover version of Anderson .Paak's song. * American rapper

Joyner Lucas Gary Maurice "Joyner" Lucas Jr. (born August 17, 1988) is an American rapper, actor and entrepreneur. Lucas first received exposure after the release of his single "Ross Capicchioni" in 2015. In June 2017, he released his fourth mixtape, ''508-5 ...

samples the record on track 8 "When I Need Love" of his sophomore album, " Not Now I'm Busy". * In 2021, Shirley Jones did an alternate version of the song in the form of "I Won't Tell (Who Can I Run To)" with a recreated instrumental and different lyrics.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Other versions

*In 1995, R&B group Sista sampled the original version on "Good Thang" on their album

4 All the Sistas Around da World ''4 All the Sistas Around da World'' is the debut and sole studio album recorded by American R&B group Sista, released September 20, 1994, on Elektra Records. One of the group's members was future rap star and producer Missy Elliott; her future c ...

. *In 1996, Ricky Dillard and the New Generation Chorale released the album, ''Worked It Out''. It included a version of "Who Can I Run To?" that answered the question with "I need the Lord." *At the end of 2008, this song was reworked into a

house music House is a genre of electronic dance music characterized by a repetitive Four on the floor (music), four-on-the-floor beat and a typical tempo of 115–130 beats per minute. It was created by DJs and music producers from Chicago's underground ...

track with vocals from Dawn Tallman, released on Thick Recordings. * Juvenile sampled the original version of the song in 2007 for a song also called "Who Can I Run To?" featuring Mannie Fresh and

Soulja Slim James Adarryl Tapp Jr. (September 9, 1977 – November 26, 2003), better known by his stage name Soulja Slim, was an American rapper from New Orleans, Louisiana. He is best known for writing Juvenile (rapper), Juvenile's 2004 single "Slow Motion ...

. It was on an album entitled "Diary of a Soulja" that was never released.

References

{{Authority control 1970s ballads 1979 songs 1995 singles Columbia Records singles Contemporary R&B ballads Song recordings produced by Jermaine Dupri Soul ballads Xscape (group) songs