"Escaping" is the debut solo single of New Zealand singer Margaret Urlich. The song was released in September 1989 by CBS and charted at number one for three weeks in the New Zealand singles chart, later reaching number 17 in Australia. It is the opening track on Urlich's debut album, Safety in Numbers (1989), and also features on her 1994 live album Live.
At the 1989 New Zealand Music Awards, "Escaping" won Single of the Year. At the same awards, Urlich won Best Female Vocalist, and her debut album Safety in Numbers won Album of the Year and Best Cover Design.[1]
British female soul trio Asia Blue released a cover of the song as their debut single in 1992 by A&M. Their version was produced by Barry Blue, who had originally written the song. The single peaked at number 50 in the UK in June 1992, becoming the group's biggest hit. The trio released two more singles, "Connect" and "Boy in the Moon" (another song originally done by Margaret Urlich) in 1992 and 1993 respectively, which failed to chart inside the UK top 75. A 10-track album titled Escaping was recorded and set to be released in early 1993, but due to the singles' lack of success it was shelved by the label.
British singer Dina Carroll released a cover of the song on 16 September 1996 by Mercury and 1st Avenue. For her version, Carroll and producer Nigel Lowis rewrote a good part of the original lyrics, but maintained the same musical structure of the previous versions. The video clip heavily featured a documentary of Balinese people culture and social life.[15][16]
Her first single after a three-year absence, "Escaping" became Carroll's highest charting hit in the UK, peaking at No. 3, equalling the position of her ballad "Don't Be a Stranger". The B-side, "Mind Body & Soul", was released as a single in Japan on 25 December 1996.[17]
Jon O'Brien from AllMusic described "Escaping" as a "joint, worldbeat-inspired" song.[18] Irish Evening Herald stated that Carroll "certainly knows how to make a comeback in style".[19] Ross Jones from The Guardian complimented its chorus as "massive" and noted how the "life-affirming refrain sweeps up to the heavens".[20] Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "...Dina Caroll is already receiving airplay with this cover version of the Asia Blue song. Don't expect R&B: this is a well-produced velvety gospelballad."[14] A reviewer from Music Week rated it three out of five, declaring it "an atmospheric, lushly-arranged ballad, complete with an African feel and touches of Estefan."[21] Another Music Week editor, Alan Jones, noted that this "strong mid-tempo cut with a soaring chorus" is already a radio favourite, "which should give her a triumphant return to the upper echelons of the chart."[22]
^Escaping (Japanese CD single liner notes). Dina Carroll. Mercury Records. 1996. PHCR-8379.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Escaping (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Dina Carroll. Mercury Records, 1st Avenue Records. 1996. DCX 1, 578 469-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Escaping (UK cassette single sleeve). Dina Carroll. Mercury Records, 1st Avenue Records. 1996. DCMC 1, 578 468-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Escaping (European CD single liner notes). Dina Carroll. Mercury Records, 1st Avenue Records. 1996. 578 468-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Mind, Body & Soul (Japanese mini-CD single liner notes). Dina Carroll. Mercury Records. 1996. PHDR-153.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
