Song by Song: "Runaway" Trivia Quiz

Answer: The 2010 MTV Video Music Awards

The song was premiered at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards and released on October 4, 2010 as a single from Kanye West's fifth studio album, "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy." Songwriting credit went to Kanye along with Emile Haynie, Jeff Bhasker, Terrence Thornton, Mike Dean, Malik Jones, and Ryan Breen.

Answer: Pusha T

Born May 13, 1977 in New York City, Terrence LeVarr Thornton took the stage name of Pusha T and released his first studio album, "My Name is My Name," in 2013. He is a member of the hip hop duo Clipse. Kanye was so impressed with Pusha T's verse in "Runaway," reports Rolling Stone Magazine, that "he signed him to his GOOD Music label and eventually made [him] president of the label."

Answer: false

Despite receiving much critical acclaim, "Runaway" only peaked at number 12 on the Hot 100 and did not stay long on the charts. It reached number nine on the US Hot Rap Songs chart and number 30 on US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. In the UK, it peaked at number 11 on the R&B (OCC) Chart. The record was, however, certified two times platinum by the RIAA in the U.S.

Answer: wrong

"And I always find, yeah I always find somethin' wrong [. . . ]
I'm so gifted at findin' what I don't like the most
So I think it's time for us to have a toast."

"Runaway" was recorded at Avex Studio in Honolulu on the Roc-A Fella and Def Jam labels. Rolling Stone magazine named "Runaway" the best song of 2010 and the 25th greatest song of all time on its 2021 list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. Acclaimed Music website ranked it the 91st greatest song of all time.

Answer: mai tais

"Let's talk over mai tais, waitress, top it off."

A mai tai is a cocktail consisting of white rum, dark rum, orange curaco, lime juice, and oregat syrup.

Kanye West's debut album was "The College Dropout" in 2004.

Answer: crazy

"Runaway
When it starts to get crazy
Why can't she just runaway?
Baby, I got a plan
Run away fast as you can."

Kanye West, as quoted in Rolling Stone magazine, said that while this song sounds like it's talking about a girl, it "could also be talking about my relationship with society or my relationship with the fans or anyone who I let down or people who had to defend me that really love me."

Kanye West was born in Atlanta, Georgia on June 8, 1977.

Answer: Ichabod Crane

"Now pick your best move / You could leave or live wit' it / Ichabod Crane [. . .] Split and go where?"

The song also mentions the store Neiman Marcus: "Back to wearin' knockoffs, ha ha / Knock it off, Neiman's, shop it off."

"Runaway" has been covered by Page Three Girls, Sam Brown, Wonder Bear, Vanaprasta, and Mikey Chuck Rivers, among others.

Answer: Calvin Klein

The advertisement was titled "Meet Our Women" and featured actresses Saoirse Ronan and Lupita Nyong'o. The song was also used in a Super Bowl commercial for Bud Light Platinum and in the trailer for the American comedy film "The Hangover Part II."

Answer: A ballerina

George Condo is a contemporary artist in New York City known for his photography, painting, drawing, sculpture, and printmaking. Newer cover art for the album also contained a ballerina, but was a painting rather than a photograph.

Answer: Taylor Swift

Kanye interrupted Swift's acceptance speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, taking the award and saying, "I'mma let you finish, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time! One of the best videos of all time!" According to Rolling Stone magazine, after that public interruption, Kanye's "public image was at an all-time low. So he took off for a self-imposed exile in Hawaii and recorded his nine-minute masterpiece [. . . ] an unguarded reflection on his image and intimacy issues."