Runner in the Night
Encyclopedia
"Runner in the Night", written by Maureen Darbyshire and composed by Brian Wade, was the United Kingdom's entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1986
, performed by the sextet Ryder
, led by Maynard Williams.
Ryder won the right to perform at Bergen
by winning the UK national final, A Song for Europe
, where they were the sixth act to perform. At Bergen, the song was performed fifth on the night, after Norway
's Ketil Stokkan
with "Romeo", and before Iceland
's debut effort, "Gleðibankinn
", by ICY
. At the end of judging that evening, "Runner in the Night" took the seventh-place slot with 72 points.
The song was a contemporary rock offering, departing from the norm at the time in that the sextet played instruments themselves (including a set of electronic drum
s and keyboard
s) and did not use an orchestra. The song itself was about a man "running in the night" to a woman he had previously left, hoping he was not too late and that his former lover would forgive him and take him back.
The song placed at #98, not charting on the UK Singles Chart
(the Top 75 songs) but as an addenda on the "Next 25" version of the charts. This was the worst commercial showing for a UK Eurovision entry since 1964, in which the entry that year didn't chart on the Singles Chart at all.
Eurovision Song Contest 1986
The Eurovision Song Contest 1986 was the 31st Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 3 May 1986 in the Grieg Hall in Bergen, Norway. It was the first occasion on which Norway played host to the contest...
, performed by the sextet Ryder
Ryder (band)
Ryder was a purpose-made pop group led by Maynard Williams whose primary purpose was to represent the United Kingdom at the 1986 Eurovision Song Contest in Bergen, Norway. Ryder performed the song "Runner in the Night" which was placed 7th. They were criticised in the media for being a particularly...
, led by Maynard Williams.
Ryder won the right to perform at Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
by winning the UK national final, A Song for Europe
A Song for Europe
A Song for Europe may refer to:*A Song for Europe, former name of British pre-selection competition for the Eurovision Song Contest, now known as Eurovision: Your Country Needs You...
, where they were the sixth act to perform. At Bergen, the song was performed fifth on the night, after Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
's Ketil Stokkan
Ketil Stokkan
Ketil Stokkan is a Norwegian pop artist who has performed as solo artist as well as the singer in the Norwegian band Zoo. 1983 saw him participate in the Norwegian qualifying heat for Eurovision with the song "Samme charmeur" which was placed second...
with "Romeo", and before Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
's debut effort, "Gleðibankinn
Gleðibankinn
"Gleðibankinn" was the Icelandic entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1986, performed in Icelandic by ICY, where singers Eiríkur Hauksson, Helga Möller and Pálmi Gunnarsson joined their efforts...
", by ICY
ICY
ICY was a vocal trio consisting of Pálmi Gunnarson, Helga Möller and Eiríkur Hauksson. They were the first Icelandic entrants to the Eurovision Song Contest, appearing at the 1986 final in Bergen...
. At the end of judging that evening, "Runner in the Night" took the seventh-place slot with 72 points.
The song was a contemporary rock offering, departing from the norm at the time in that the sextet played instruments themselves (including a set of electronic drum
Electronic drum
An electronic drum is an electronic synthesizer which mimics an acoustic drum kit.The electronic drum usually consists of a set of pads mounted on a stand in a disposition similar to an acoustic drum kit. The pads are discs with a rubber or cloth-like coating. Each pad has a sensor which generates...
s and keyboard
Electronic keyboard
An electronic keyboard is an electronic or digital keyboard instrument.The major components of a typical modern electronic keyboard are:...
s) and did not use an orchestra. The song itself was about a man "running in the night" to a woman he had previously left, hoping he was not too late and that his former lover would forgive him and take him back.
The song placed at #98, not charting on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
(the Top 75 songs) but as an addenda on the "Next 25" version of the charts. This was the worst commercial showing for a UK Eurovision entry since 1964, in which the entry that year didn't chart on the Singles Chart at all.