Hostage (song)

Last updated

"Hostage"
Song by Billie Eilish
from the EP Don't Smile at Me
ReleasedAugust 11, 2017
Genre Pop
Length3:48
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Finneas
Music video
"Hostage" on YouTube

"Hostage" is a song by American singer Billie Eilish from her debut EP, Don't Smile at Me (2017). The singer and her brother Finneas O'Connell co-wrote the song, while the latter solely handled production. The song is a stripped-down pop track. Lyrically, it is about the intense love and an overwhelming desire to possess that Eilish feels for her romantic partner.

Contents

Upon its release, "Hostage" received positive reviews from music critics, with many liking the lyrics and music. An accompanying music video was released on July 11, 2018, and directed by Henry Scholfield. It takes place in an all-white room, with Eilish and her lover dancing, while wearing all white. The song was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and Music Canada (MC) in the United States and Canada, respectively. It was performed live by Eilish during her 2019 When We All Fall Asleep Tour.

Background and composition

"Hostage" was included as the eighth and final track on Eilish's debut EP Don't Smile at Me, released on August 11, 2017. [1] The song was written by Eilish and her brother Finneas O'Connell, known under his stage name of Finneas. He was also solely responsible for the song's engineering and production. Mixing was done at The Fortress of Amplitude by Rob Kinelski and mastering was handled by John Greenham. [2] According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com, "Hostage" is composed in the key of A minor and has a slow tempo of 65 beats per minute (BPM). Eilish's vocals span a range from E4 to G5. [3] Musically, "Hostage" was described as a stripped-down pop track. [4] Lyrically, it begins with Eilish being in a happy relationship: "I wanna be alone. Alone with you, does that make sense?" she harmonizes with Finneas. [5] Then, in the same melancholy tone, she turns possessive towards her lover, and wants them for herself. [6]

Reception and promotion

Writing for Atwood Magazine, Nicole Almeida described the song as "one of the EP's most stripped back moments", and said that it "balances tenderness and affection with lyrics that display an obsessiveness that borders on dangerous". She further compared the song to the "eeriness" of "Bellyache", and the "vulnerability" of "Idontwannabeyouanymore", both of which are from Don't Smile at Me. [7] Katherine Cusumano, writing for W magazine, said the track "strikes [a] balance between human relatability and a bit of a psychotic edge". [5] NME ranked "Hostage" at number 21 on their 'Every single Billie Eilish song ranked in order of greatness' list. The staff hailed the song as "gradually intensifying" and said it was "raw with emotion and dark sentiment". [8] Insider 's Claudia Willen noted that it "artfully exposes a battle between complete adoration and problematic obsession". She continued, writing that the song shows Eilish's "willingness to be vulnerable in her music". [6] Jules LeFevre, writing for Junkee magazine, placed the song at number 20 on her Every Billie Eilish Song Ranked From Worst To Best list, saying it was "another cloud". [9]

"Hostage" has been certified platinum in the United States and Canada by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and Music Canada (MC), respectively. [10] [11] Eilish performed "Hostage" live during her North American 1 by 1 tour in 2018. [12] The track was included on the setlist of Eilish's When We All Fall Asleep Tour (2019). [13]

Music video

Background

A music video for "Hostage" was produced by Henry Scholfield. [14] It was first released exclusively via Apple Music on July 11, 2018. [15] The video was later uploaded to YouTube on October 8, 2018. [16] It was a collaboration between Scholfield, Belgian musician Stromae, Luc Junior Tam, and Eilish. [14] Eilish asked Scholfield, Stromae and Tam to create a room with equal parts that would feel intimate and suffocating. [14] Eilish explained in a statement that it took a while for them to shoot the visual, as a result of issues with schedules and trouble choosing a location to shoot the video. [15] Eilish explained they were originally going to shoot it in Brussels, where Eilish was touring and where Stromae lived. [15] They eventually figured out a plan that involved Stromae and Tam coming up with the idea, while Scholfield would be the director. The group had to rehearse and shoot in different cities during Eilish's tour, with them rehearsing the choreography in Philadelphia before Eilish would go on show with Peacock. [15] A few days later, the group shot the music video in Toronto. [15] Eilish concluded by saying, "at that point, we had cast Devyck in the video and he was just so amazing. We also had a team of amazing dancers working behind the scenes as well as all of the incredible crew and production staff." [15]

Synopsis and reception

The music video is set in an all white room, amplifying the empty isolation the characters are stuck in. [4] The visual starts with a choreographed dance between Eilish and her lover, who are both dressed in all white. [4] Her lover is eventually attacked by ghostly extensions of the clothed wall and ceiling. [4] As Eilish turns to her lover, the walls reach out and pull him in all directions. He starts to suffocate beneath the fabric while he is getting pulled up. [4]

Writing for Complex magazine, Graham Corrigan praised the choreography of the video, saying that "[Eilish] proves she's just as skilled a partner on the dancefloor". [14] Noah Levine, writing for Bloody Disgusting, wrote that the video "conveys strong asylum/hospital vibes", while he stated that Eilish and her lover look as "if they are both wearing modifications of a hospital gown". [4] The music video received a nomination for Best Cinematography at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards. [17]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Don't Smile at Me. [2]

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Hostage"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [18] 2× Platinum140,000
Austria (IFPI Austria) [19] Gold15,000
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [20] Platinum60,000
Canada (Music Canada) [11] Platinum80,000
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [21] Gold45,000
Poland (ZPAV) [22] Gold10,000
Portugal (AFP) [23] Gold5,000
United Kingdom (BPI) [24] Gold400,000
United States (RIAA) [10] Platinum1,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bellyache (Billie Eilish song)</span> 2017 single by Billie Eilish

"Bellyache" is a song by American singer Billie Eilish from her debut EP, Don't Smile at Me (2017). The song was released as the EP's second single on February 24, 2017, through Darkroom and Interscope Records. It was written by Eilish and Finneas O'Connell, with production being handled by the latter. A midtempo electropop, R&B, and alternative hip hop song, it has hip hop, deep house and Latin macabre influences. Lyrically, the song is written from the perspective of a psychopathic murderer. A remix by Marian Hill was released on May 5, 2017. The song received mainly positive reviews from music critics, several of whom praised the production and lyrics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ocean Eyes (song)</span> 2017 single by Billie Eilish

"Ocean Eyes" is a single by American singer Billie Eilish and was released as the lead single from her debut EP, Don't Smile at Me, and the soundtrack album to the film Everything, Everything (2018). The song was written and produced by Eilish's older brother, Finneas O'Connell, and was originally written for his band. Finneas gave the song to Eilish for her dance performance after realizing the song suited her vocals. It was originally released on SoundCloud on November 18, 2016, but was later re-released commercially on November 18, 2017, as a single through Darkroom and Interscope Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billie Eilish</span> American singer-songwriter (born 2001)

Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O'Connell is an American singer and songwriter. She first gained public attention in 2015 with her debut single "Ocean Eyes", written and produced by her brother Finneas O'Connell, with whom she collaborates on music and live shows. In 2017, she released her debut extended play (EP), Don't Smile at Me. Commercially successful, it reached the top 15 of record charts in numerous countries, including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Watch (Billie Eilish song)</span> 2017 single by Billie Eilish

"Watch" is a song by American singer Billie Eilish from her debut EP Don't Smile at Me (2017). Written and produced by Eilish's brother Finneas O'Connell, the song was released for digital download and streaming through Darkroom and Interscope Records on June 29, 2017, as the third single from the EP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Copycat (Billie Eilish song)</span> 2017 single by Billie Eilish

"Copycat" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish. It was released by Darkroom and Interscope Records as the fourth single from Eilish's debut studio EP, Don't Smile at Me (2017). Eilish and her brother, Finneas O'Connell, co-wrote the song, with the latter solely handling the production. Musically an electronica and pop track with a hip hop-influenced instrumentation, the song was heavily inspired by someone who kept on copying Eilish and what she did.

<i>Dont Smile at Me</i> 2017 EP by Billie Eilish

Don't Smile at Me is the debut extended play by American singer Billie Eilish, released on August 11, 2017, via Darkroom and Interscope Records. Eilish and her brother Finneas O'Connell wrote most of the material on the EP and were solely responsible for its production. It is an electropop and bedroom pop record with elements of R&B and jazz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Finneas O'Connell</span> American musician and actor (born 1997)

Finneas Baird O'Connell, also known mononymously as Finneas, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actor. The recipient of numerous accolades, he has written and produced music for various artists, most notably his younger sister, Billie Eilish. He has won 10 Grammy Awards among 18 total nominations, including nominations for the Big Four categories. He has made history as the youngest act to win the Producer of the Year, Non-Classical category. For his work with Eilish, he has won Record of the Year twice in a row, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical. He was also nominated for Best New Artist for his solo work. Their song "No Time to Die" from the film of the same name earned him an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and another Grammy. Two years later, for their song "What Was I Made For?", they won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year, along with the Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Golden Globe for Best Original Song. They became the youngest 2-time Academy Awards winners ever.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lovely (Billie Eilish and Khalid song)</span> 2018 single by Billie Eilish and Khalid

"Lovely" is a song by American singers Billie Eilish and Khalid. Darkroom and Interscope Records released it as the lead single from the Netflix drama series 13 Reasons Why's second season soundtrack. The artists wrote the song with Eilish's brother and producer Finneas O'Connell. The song has been described as a chamber pop ballad whose lyrics recount Eilish and Khalid trying to overcome serious depression together. The song also appears on the expanded version of Eilish's EP Don't Smile at Me.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idontwannabeyouanymore</span> 2017 single by Billie Eilish

"Idontwannabeyouanymore" is a song by American singer Billie Eilish from her debut EP, Don't Smile at Me (2017). Eilish and her brother, Finneas O'Connell, co-wrote the song, with the latter solely handling the production. It was released through Darkroom and Interscope Records on July 21, 2017, as the fifth single from the EP. Musically, the song is pop and R&B track with a jazz and neo soul-influenced melody, that was heavily inspired by Eilish being depressed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Boy (Billie Eilish song)</span> 2017 single by Billie Eilish

"My Boy" is a song by American singer Billie Eilish. It was released by Darkroom and Interscope Records as the sixth single from Eilish's debut extended play (EP), Don't Smile at Me (2017). Eilish and her brother, Finneas O'Connell, co-wrote the song, with the latter solely handling the production. A pop track with jazz-influenced instrumentation, the song was heavily inspired by boys who broke Eilish's heart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Party Favor (song)</span> 2018 single by Billie Eilish

"Party Favor" is a song by American singer Billie Eilish from her debut studio EP, Don't Smile at Me (2017). The song was released by Darkroom and Interscope Records on a 7-inch vinyl as the seventh and final single from the EP on Record Store Day, along with a cover of "Hotline Bling". It was written by Eilish and her brother Finneas O'Connell, with the latter solely handling the song's production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">&Burn</span> 2017 single by Billie Eilish

"&Burn" is a song by American singer Billie Eilish and American rapper Vince Staples. It was released for digital download and streaming as a single on December 15, 2017, through Darkroom and Interscope Records, and was later included on a reissue of Eilish's debut EP, Don't Smile at Me, in December of that year. Staples and Finneas O'Connell co-wrote the song, with the latter solely handling production. A hip hop-influenced track, the song is an alternate version of Eilish's single "Watch".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bitches Broken Hearts</span> 2018 single by Billie Eilish

"Bitches Broken Hearts" is a song recorded by American singer Billie Eilish. The song was written by Eilish, and its producers: Emmit Fenn and Finneas O'Connell. Originally released via SoundCloud on November 10, 2017, it was released as a single on all digital platforms on March 30, 2018. The song was released on a 7-inch vinyl as the B-Side to her single "You Should See Me in a Crown".

"I Love You" is a song by American singer Billie Eilish from her debut studio album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019). Eilish co-wrote the song with her brother Finneas O'Connell, who also handled production. As the 13th track on the album, "I Love You" is an acoustic guitar-based ballad accompanied by various plane-related noises, where Eilish's lyrics describe the resistance to falling in love with someone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bored (song)</span> 2017 song by Billie Eilish

"Bored" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish from the soundtrack album, 13 Reasons Why (2017). The song was written by Eilish, her brother Finneas O'Connell, Aron Forbes, and Tim Anderson. Production was solely handled by Finneas. It was released by Darkroom and Interscope Records for digital download and streaming on March 30, 2017, as the lead single from the soundtrack. A mid-tempo pop ballad, the song's lyrics see Eilish sing about finally discovering her former lover's mistakes. The song has received generally mixed reviews from music critics, with a number of them deeming it as forgettable.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All the Good Girls Go to Hell</span> 2019 single by Billie Eilish

"All the Good Girls Go to Hell" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish and the sixth single from her debut studio album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019). It was released on September 6, 2019, through Darkroom and Interscope Records. A pop track, "All the Good Girls Go to Hell" sees Eilish sing about climate change. She wrote the song with its producer, Finneas O'Connell.

"Shelter" is a song by American singer-songwriter Finneas from his debut EP, Blood Harmony (2019). The song was released by OYOY as the third single from the EP on August 22, 2019. Finneas had heard that Avicii was looking for songs to produce. Afterwards, he wrote the song and sent it to Avicii's team. Lyrically, the song is about a lover that brings Finneas peace, but also trouble.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everything I Wanted</span> 2019 single by Billie Eilish

"Everything I Wanted" is a song by American singer and songwriter Billie Eilish, and co-written by Eilish and her brother Finneas O'Connell, who also produced it. Darkroom and Interscope Records released the track as a standalone single on November 13, 2019, and later added it to the deluxe edition of Eilish's debut studio album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019) in December that year. It is a house and electronica-influenced pop and alternative pop track with minimal piano and downtempo bass guitar instrumentation. Inspired by a nightmare she experienced, the song is about Eilish's strong relationship with O'Connell and his protectiveness of her from harm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Where's My Mind Tour</span> 2018 concert tour by Billie Eilish

The Where's My Mind Tour was the second headlining concert tour by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish. It was in support of her debut EP Don't Smile at Me (2017), and consisted of concerts in North America and Europe. The tour was announced in November 2017, with dates being released at the same time. The set list featured a majority of the songs from Don't Smile at Me. The tour was positively received by critics.

References

  1. Monger, Timothy. "Billie Eilish – Don't Smile at Me". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  2. 1 2 Don't Smile at Me (booklet). Billie Eilish. Santa Monica, California: Darkroom/Interscope Records. 2019. B0030752-02.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. "Billie Eilish 'Hostage' Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. 25 January 2019. Archived from the original on May 15, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Levine, Noah (February 28, 2020). "'When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?': Billie Eilish Conjures Up Nightmares With Her Art". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  5. 1 2 Cusumano, Katherine (August 14, 2017). "Meet Billie Eilish, Pop's Terrifying 15-Year-Old Prodigy". W . Archived from the original on January 28, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  6. 1 2 Ahlgrim, Callie; Torres, Libby; Willen, Claudia (March 18, 2020). "Every Billie Eilish song, ranked". Insider . Archived from the original on September 16, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  7. Almedia, Nicole (February 16, 2018). "Music You Should Know: Confidence & Boldness on Billie Eilish's Debut EP 'Don't Smile at Me'". Atwood Magazine. Archived from the original on March 13, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  8. "Every single Billie Eilish song ranked in order of greatness". NME . July 31, 2020. Archived from the original on May 8, 2019. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  9. LeFevre, Jules (July 28, 2020). "Every Billie Eilish Song Ranked From Worst To Best". Junkee. Archived from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  10. 1 2 "American single certifications – Billie Eilish – Hostage". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  11. 1 2 "Canadian single certifications – Billie Eilish – Hostage". Music Canada . Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  12. "Billie Eilish Announces North American 1 By 1 Tour". Universal Music Group. Archived from the original on September 16, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  13. Trendell, Andrew (February 12, 2019). "Watch Billie Eilish perform 'Bury A Friend' and 'When I Was Older' live for the first time". NME. Archived from the original on October 1, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Corrigan, Graham (July 12, 2018). "Watch Billie Eilish's Dramatic Dance Video for 'Hostage'". Complex . Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Billie Eilish Reveals Captivating New Music Video For 'Hostage' Shot In Toronto". Universal Music Group. July 11, 2018. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  16. "Billie Eilish – hostage". YouTube. Archived from the original on May 15, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  17. Schulman, Alissa (August 26, 2020). "2019 MTV Vma Winners: See The Full List". MTV. Archived from the original on July 30, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  18. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  19. "Austrian single certifications – Billie Eilish – Hostage" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  20. "Brazilian single certifications – Billie Eilish – Hostage" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil . Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  21. "Danish single certifications – Billie Eilish – Hostage". IFPI Danmark . Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  22. "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2020 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry . Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  23. "Portuguese single certifications – Billie Eilish – Hostage" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa . Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  24. "British single certifications – Billie Eilish – Hostage". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved January 19, 2024.