Aurora Celebrates Ten Years of “Runaway”
Aurora marks the tenth anniversary of her breakout single “Runaway” with the release of a new documentary, Portrait of the Song.
- Read more: Aurora says: “What happened to the heart?”: “Apathy is the biggest enemy for progress”
In the documentary, she returns to Norway, the backdrop for the original “Runaway” video, where the then 18-year-old was filmed running through the snow on the Bergen mountains. Revisiting this iconic location with director Kenny McCherken, Aurora shares insights into the places that influenced her music during her formative years.
New Orchestral Version and Personal Reflections
To commemorate a decade of “Runaway,” she has also released a newly arranged orchestral version of the track.
Check it out below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luwu0x7aedq
“The song was written when I was just 11 years old; I poured my heart and soul into it, and now it dances with strangers,” she mentioned in a press release. “It’s as if it has found souls across the world to uplift it. Like most things, it’s up to us whether we let it thrive or fade away. Now, I want to embody the same spirit as my song and dance with others.”
The track, which comes from her acclaimed debut album of 2016, “All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend,” has propelled the Norwegian singer-songwriter to remarkable heights, accumulating over 3 billion streams across platforms. Billie Eilish has cited Aurora as one of her primary inspirations when she first delved into music.
“When I was 12, I watched Aurora’s music video for ‘Runaway,’” Eilish revealed to Vanity Fair. “Something inside me clicked—it was like this is what I wanted to do, no matter where it led me.”
Aurora’s Philosophical Insights
In a 2019 interview with NME, Aurora elaborated on the inspiration behind “Runaway.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcu5EVILEDQ
“I wrote ‘Runaway’ when I was 11,” she explained to NME. “It’s amusing because the older I became, the more it resonated with me. It touched my heart and now reminds me of everything that has transpired since its creation. It felt like a gift to myself.”
“It’s strange; my inspiration for the lyrics came from nowhere. A few years later, everything changed for me (and for all of Norway), and then the lyrics suddenly held immense meaning. I remember sitting at my ordinary piano, which I always used to compose, and in about an hour, I had it.”
Recalling the moment, she added: “It was completely quiet outside—it was one of those moments where time seemed to stand still.”
Aurora’s most recent album, “What Happened to the Heart?” was released last year. Discussing the philosophy behind its title, she shared with NME: “The world has grown accustomed to apathy. Truth has never been easier to spread, yet it has never been easier to manipulate. We created AI without our consent; no one asked us if we were ready for such a vast change.”
“There’s another form of power—manipulating and misleading people. There’s so much danger in that, especially since people often turn to celebrities for political insights instead of seeking out real experts.”
Aurora is set to embark on a British and European tour, which includes a major show at London’s Wembley Arena. Visit here for tickets and more information.
Aurora’s 2025 UK and European Tour Dates
April
28 – Stockholm, Frichuzet
29 – Copenhagen, K.B. Hullen
May
1 – Amsterdam, Ziggo Dome
3 – London, Wembley Arena
5 – Paris, Le Zenith
7 – Madrid, Movistar Arena
9 – Lisbon, Sagre Camp
She will also perform at the Wilderness Festival in Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire, later this summer.
https://www.nme.com/news/music/aurora-celebrates-10-years-of-runaway-with-new-portrait-of-a-song-documentary-3842355?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=aurora-celebrates-10-years-of-runaway-with-new-portrait-of-a-song-documentary
