| "Taken by a Stranger" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Lena | ||||
| from the album Good News | ||||
| B-side | "That Again" (CD single) | |||
| Released | 22 February 2011 | |||
| Genre | Electropop | |||
| Length | 3:25 (single version) 3:02 (Eurovision version) | |||
| Label | We Love Music | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Lena singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
 "Taken by a Stranger" | |
|---|---|
| Eurovision Song Contest 2011 entry | |
| Country | |
| Artist(s) | |
| As | Lena |
| Language | English |
| Finals performance | |
| Final result | 10th |
| Final points | 107 |
| Entry chronology | |
| ◄ "Satellite" (2010) | |
| "Standing Still" (2012) ► | |
"Taken by a Stranger" is a song recorded by German singer Lena for her second studio album Good News (2011), released as a CD single on 22 February 2011 by We Love Music. Gus Seyffert, Nicole Morier and Monica Birkenes wrote the song, while production was handled by Stefan Raab and Reinhard Schaub. Seyffert had originally penned the track for Birkenes to record, but her label rejected it and it was eventually given to Lena. Musically, "Taken by a Stranger" is a 1980s and grufti-influenced electropop song characterized by synthesizer sounds. Lyrically, it revolves around the connection between two strangers. While compared to the works of English band The Cure by one reviewer, other speculated lyrical themes were sadomasochism, psychosexual development, kidnapping and sexual fantasy.
The track was Germany's entry for the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest in Düsseldorf, Germany, after winning the pre-selection show Unser Song für Deutschland. Lena had represented the country at Eurovision one year earlier, winning the contest. In Düsseldorf, the singer finished in tenth place with a total of 107 points. During her show, Lena performed on a dark stage enhanced with light rays. She wore a black outfit and heavy make-up, accompanied by background dancers and backing vocalists sporting silver body suits. Her performance was well-received by publications that noted its sexual elements.
Music critics gave the song mixed reviews, praising its unusual style and picking it as a highlight in the contest, but also criticizing its lack of catchiness. Several publications pointed out that the recording was a departure from Lena's past good girl public image. At the 2011 1Live Krone Awards, "Taken by a Stranger" was nominated in the Best Single category. Commercially the track fared moderately on record charts reaching number two in Germany and peaking within the top 50 in Austria, Switzerland and Ireland. Its promotion consisted of various live performances, as well as the release of an accompanying music video on 24 February 2011. Filmed in Berlin by Wolf Gresenz, it portrays Lena involved in various activities in a hotel room. In 2012, the visual was nominated for an Echo in the Best Video National category. "Taken by a Stranger" has been covered by acts such as German group The BossHoss.