The Hostage (song)

"The Hostage"
Single picture sleeve in the Netherlands
Single by Donna Summer
from the album Lady of the Night
B-side	"Let's Work Together Now"
Released	June 22, 1974 (1974-06-22)
Genre	Symphonic rock[1] R&B[1]
Length	4:16
Label	Groovy
Songwriter(s)	Giorgio Moroder Pete Bellotte
Producer(s)	Pete Bellotte
Donna Summer singles chronology
"Denver Dream" (1974) "The Hostage" (1974) "Lady of the Night" (1974)

"The Hostage" is a song by American singer Donna Summer from her debut studio album, Lady of the Night (1974), which was released exclusively in the Netherlands.^[2] The track was written by Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte, with the latter also serving as producer. It was issued as a 7-inch single in Europe and Asia in 1974,^[3] later being included in the German and French versions of Summer's 1975 album Love to Love You Baby.^[4] In the lyrics, Summer plays a wife whose husband is kidnapped.^[5][6] By 1978, The Hostage has sold 500,000 copies.^[7]

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "The Hostage"

Chart (1974)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8]	3
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[9]	8
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[10]	2
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11]	2
Spanish Singles Chart[12]	2

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "The Hostage"

Chart (1974)	Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[13]	34
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[14]	32
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15]	33

References

1. Molanphy, Chris (November 27, 2017). "Queen of Disco Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
2. Lady of the Night at Discogs (list of releases). Retrieved April 8, 2020.
3. "The Hostage" at Discogs (list of releases). Retrieved April 8, 2020.
4. Love to Love You Baby at Discogs (list of releases). Retrieved April 8, 2020.
5. "DONNA SUMMER: People 115 - THE HOSTAGE/LET'S GET WORK TOGETHER". Blues & Soul (186). March 30, 1976.
6. "From Rock's Backpages: Donna Summer & The Story Of 'Love To Love You Baby'". The Quietus. May 18, 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
7. Kahn, Henry (12 August 1978). "France 1978: The Future has Never Been Brighter". Billboard. p. F-3. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 14 December 2022 – via Google Books.
8. "Donna Summer – The Hostage" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
9. "Donna Summer – The Hostage" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
10. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Donna Summer" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
11. "Donna Summer – The Hostage" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
12. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
13. "Jaaroverzichten 1974" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
14. "Bijzondere lijst: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1974" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
15. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1974" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 24, 2023.