Hostage (Billie Eilish song)

"Hostage" is a song by American singer Billie Eilish and is the final track from her debut EP Don't Smile at Me. Written by Eilish and her brother Finneas O'Connell, and produced by the latter. The song was certified Platinum in the United States and Gold in Australia.

"Hostage"
Song by Billie Eilish
from the EP Don't Smile at Me
ReleasedAugust 11, 2017
FormatDigital download
Length3:48
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Finneas O'Connell

Composition and lyrics

"Hostage" was composed in the key of A minor, and has a low tempo.[1][2]

The lyrics of the song deals with Eilish being the abusive one in a relationship. She wants to keep him but pushes him away constantly once he gets too close. In the song she says, "I'll build a wall, give you a ball and chain. It's not like me to be so mean, you're all I wanted. Just let me hold you like a hostage". She loves him but sometimes she becomes overly aggressive with what she does. He still loves her and chooses to stay through the anger and fighting, but it only hurts him at the end and makes him the hostage to her love. She goes on later to express everything about gold. Gold finger tips, gold leaf across your lips, gold chain, and gold shirt he let her wear home. Then she says "Gold's fake and real love hurts". She had never been with someone who truly loved her. She has a past of bad relationships so she treats this one like her last ones: closed, hurt, depressed, and on edge. She feels like she even has to "fight" him when things are going bad. This shows the emotionally abusive side in her.[3]

Music video

A music video was released on July 11, 2018 and was produced by Henry Scholfield.[4][5] In an interview with Eilish, she states: “It was a dream for me to get to work with everyone involved. I was a big fan of Stromae and I was blown away with the treatment and vision he, his brother, Luc Junior Tam, and Henry had for this song, which perfectly matched the thoughts behind the lyrics."[6]

Commercial performance

Although "Hostage" did not chart in any country. It was certified gold in Australia and Platinum in Canada and the United States.

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Don't Smile at Me.[7]

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[8] Gold 35,000
Canada (Music Canada)[9] Platinum 80,000
United States (RIAA)[10] Platinum 1,000,000

sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

References
  1. "Hostage". Musicnotes.com. 2018.
  2. MacDonald, Adams (November 3, 2018). "Billie Eilish – hostage (Lyrics Review and Song Meaning)". Justrandomthings. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  3. MacDonald, Adams (November 3, 2018). "Billie Eilish – hostage (Lyrics Review and Song Meaning)". Justrandomthings. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  4. "Hostage Music Video". YouTube. Billie Eilish. 8 Oct 2018. Retrieved 4 Jan 2020.
  5. Marotta, Michael. "Billie Eilish attempts to escape the room in new video for 'hostage'". vanyaland.com. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  6. Marotta, Michael. "Billie Eilish attempts to escape the room in new video for 'hostage'". vanyaland.com. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  7. Don't Smile at Me (booklet). Billie Eilish. Darkroom/Interscope Records. 2019. B0030752-02.CS1 maint: others (link)
  8. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2019 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  9. "Canadian single certifications – Billie Eilish – Hostage". Music Canada. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  10. "American single certifications – Billie Eilish – Hostage". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 4, 2020. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
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