"The Great Escape" is the second single from Boys Like Girls' eponymous debut album and is their first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at 23. The single has been certified platinum and gold by the RIAA.[2]
| "The Great Escape" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Boys Like Girls | ||||
| from the album Boys Like Girls | ||||
| Released | March 3, 2007 | |||
| Recorded | 2006 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:28 | |||
| Label | Columbia, Red Ink | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Martin Johnson, Sam Hollander, Dave Katz | |||
| Producer(s) | Matt Squire | |||
| Boys Like Girls singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "The Great Escape" on YouTube | ||||
Background
editAccording to the song's writer Martin Johnson in a lyric feature on Euphonia Online, the lyrical content of the song is about his graduating from high school.[3]
This song is about leaving the town I grew up in with my best friends at my side. A graduation-type song with a “we’re up to no good, fuck this town, let’s do it up for one more night” twist. I wrote it as a last hurrah to high school, growing up, and in a sense… the last night of being a kid. It’s the end of one chapter… with an outlook on the future… sort of like a prequel to the rest of the record.
Music video
editThe music video was directed by Alan Ferguson. Released in late February 2007, it was added to MTV playlists and received considerable airplay on those channels along with Fuse TV. The video was #1 on MTV's Total Request Live for 9 days in the summer and fall of 2008. It features the band on the road, as well as in concert, while detailing the journey of a group of their high school aged fans on the way to and during their best concert. It goes back and forth between the band and the high schoolers showing their journey as they both make their way to the concert the band will be playing at.
In popular culture
editThe song has also appeared as a downloadable track for the Xbox 360 karaoke game, Lips, and featured on the soundtrack of 2K Sports' Top Spin 3. The song is featured in the Nintendo DS version of the game by Activision, Band Hero and was made available as a downloadable track for the Rock Band game in June 2010. The song is featured on the soundtrack to the film The House Bunny. It was also used in promotion for the NBC show Life. The song was used in episode 64 and 154 of Running Man, and was used in episode 189 of Dream Team II. The song is also a playable level in the Nintendo Wii-exclusive video game We Cheer, We Cheer 2.
Track listing
editCD single
- "The Great Escape" (Album Version)
- "Heels Over Head" (Tom Lord-Alge Mix)
- "The Great Escape" (Live)
- Bonus Content:
- "The Great Escape" Ringtone
- Wallpaper Image
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
|
Year-end chartsedit
|
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[13] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[14] | Platinum | 1,000,000* |
| United States (RIAA)[14] Mastertone |
Gold | 500,000* |
|
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history
edit| Country | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States[15] | March 3, 2007 | Contemporary hit radio | Columbia Records |
References
edit- ^ "The 10 best songs from the 10 worst emo bands". Louder. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
- ^ RIAA Gold & Platinum Searchable Database - Boys Like Girls - The Great Escape
- ^ "Euphonia Online". Lyric Feature - Boys Like Girls by Boys Like Girls.
- ^ "Boys Like Girls Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Boys Like Girls Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
- ^ "Boys Like Girls Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
- ^ "Boys Like Girls – The Great Escape". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Boys Like Girls Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Boys Like Girls Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Boys Like Girls Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 2007". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
- ^ "British single certifications – Boys Like Girls – The Great Escape". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
- ^ a b "American single certifications – Boys Like Girls – The Great Escape". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
- ^ "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!". www.fmqb.com. Archived from the original on 2005-10-31.