"XS"
Single by Rina Sawayama
from the album Sawayama
Released2 March 2020
Recorded2019
Genre
Length3:21
LabelDirty Hit
Songwriter(s)
  • Kyle Shearer
  • Chris Lyon
  • Nate Campany
  • Rina Sawayama
Producer(s)
  • Kyle Shearer
  • Chris Lyon
  • Valley Girl
Rina Sawayama singles chronology
"Comme des Garçons (Like the Boys)"
(2020)		 "XS"
(2020)		 "Chosen Family"
(2020)
Bree Runway singles chronology
"Damn Daniel"
(2020)		 "XS"
(2020)		 "Gucci"
(2020)
Music video
"XS" on YouTube

"XS" is a song by Japanese-British singer-songwriter Rina Sawayama, released on 2 March 2020, as the third single off of her debut studio album, Sawayama, via the label Dirty Hit. The song criticises capitalism in the face of climate change over a pop, R&B, avant-pop and electropop backing. A remix featuring British artist Bree Runway, was released on 10 July 2020.

Background, themes and composition

Sawayama said in a statement that "XS" is a song that "mocks capitalism in a sinking world":

"Given that we all know global climate change is accelerating and human extinction is a very real possibility within our lifetime it seemed hilarious to me that brands were still coming out with new makeup palettes every month and public figures were doing a gigantic house tour of their gated property in Calabasas in the same week as doing a ‘sad about Australian wild fires’ Instagram post. I mean I’m guilty of turning a blind eye too, because otherwise it makes me depressed. We’re all hypocrites because we are all capitalists, and it’s a trap that I don’t see us getting out of. I wanted to reflect the chaos of this post-truth climate change denying world in the metal guitar stabs that flare up like an underlying zit between the 2000s R&B beat that reminds you of a time when everything was alright."[1]

"XS" is a 2000s-inspired[2] pop,[3] R&B,[4] avant-pop[5] and electropop[6] song with "upbeat bubblegum pop vibes"[7] composed in the key of D minor with a tempo of 117 beats per minute.[8] It begins with an "eerie" buildup of violins,[9] while a "shredding" guitar riff appears before and after the chorus.[3]

Music video

The music video for "XS" was uploaded on YouTube on 17 April 2020, the same day as Sawayama's self-titled debut album was released.[10] It currently has over 11 million views, making it the most-viewed video on Sawayama's channel. It was directed by Ali Kurr, who had also previously directed the music video for her other single, "STFU!".[11]

In the video, Sawayama portrays a "QVC-like" "robotic" saleswoman[12] who attends a shopping channel broadcast to promote a beverage named "RINA Water", which consists 99% of 24-karat gold and 1% of plasma.[13][14] Later it is revealed that the liquid is extracted from a creature which is chained in an underground factory.[11]

Live performance

On 26 October 2020, Sawayama gave her first televised performance ever on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where she performed "XS".[15]

Track listing

  1. "XS" – 3:21
  • Digital download/streaming – Bree Runway Remix[18][19]
  1. "XS" (Bree Runway Remix) – 3:22

Reception

Critical response

"XS" was well-received. While reviewing Sawayama's second album Hold the Girl, Cat Zhang of Pitchfork named "XS" her debut album's best song, commenting that "[the song] was intended as arch anti-capitalist critique in an age of climate crisis, but its luxe vision was a better sell for being the rich, not eating them; Sawayama whispered "excess" as if it were the name of a designer perfume, the scent of “more” intoxicating."[20]

Accolades

Critics' rankings for "XS"
Publication Accolade Rank Ref.
Billboard The 20 Best LGBTQ Songs of 2020 —
The 30 Best Pop Songs of 2020: Staff Picks —
The Guardian The 20 Best Songs of 2020
10
Slate The Best Albums of 2020 Plus Best Songs —

References

  1. ↑ Hussey, Alison (2 March 2020). "Listen to Rina Sawayama's New Song "XS"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  2. ↑ Damshenas, Sam (2 March 2020). "Rina Sawayama unveils 2000s R&B-inspired new single XS". GAYTIMES. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  3. 1 2 Kaye, Ben (3 March 2020). "Rina Sawayama Takes on Capitalist Hypocrisy on New Single "XS": Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  4. ↑ Bray, Elisa (16 April 2020). "Rina Sawayama – SAWAYAMA review: An audacious album from one of the boldest voices in pop". The Independent. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  5. ↑ Spanos, Brittany (17 April 2020). "Rina Sawayama Is the Pop Moment on Her Debut Album, 'Sawayama'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  6. ↑ Droke, Carolyn (29 June 2020). "Rina Sawayama Celebrates Pride With A Cover Of Lady Gaga's 'Dance In The Dark'". UPROXX. Retrieved 15 August 2020. Throughout her record, Sawayama honed her bold electro-pop sound through opulent hits like "XS"...
  7. ↑ Ingvaldsen, Torsten (3 March 2020). "Rina Sawayama Lambastes Consumerism on New Single "XS"". Hypebeast. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  8. ↑ "Key & BPM for XS by Rina Sawayama". Tunebat. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  9. ↑ Myers, Sophia (5 March 2020). "Track review: Rina Sawayama drops new single "XS"". EUPHORIA. Magazine. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  10. ↑ Rina Sawayama (17 April 2020). "Rina Sawayama - XS (Official Video)". YouTube. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  11. 1 2 "Rina Sawayama shares tongue-in-cheek 'XS' video". DIY. 17 April 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  12. ↑ Megarry, Daniel (17 April 2020). "Rina Sawayama takes on capitalism in style with her XS music video". GAYTIMES. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  13. ↑ Richards, Will (18 April 2020). "Tune into the shopping channel in Rina Sawayama's new 'XS' video". NME. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  14. ↑ Kaye, Ben (17 April 2020). "Rina Sawayama Hawks 24k Gold Beverage in "XS" Video: Watch". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  15. ↑ Minsker, Evan (2 March 2020). "Watch Rina Sawayama Perform "XS" on Fallon". Pitchfork. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  16. ↑ "Rina Sawayama: XS - Music on Google Play". Google Play. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  17. ↑ "XS by Rina Sawayama on Spotify". Spotify. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  18. ↑ "XS (Bree Runway Remix) [feat. Bree Runway] – Single by Rina Sawayama on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  19. ↑ "XS (feat. Bree Runway Remix) by Rina Sawayama, Bree Runway on Spotify". Spotify. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  20. ↑ Zhang, Cat. "Rina Sawayama: Hold the Girl Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  21. ↑ Billboard Staff (10 December 2020). "The 25 Best LGBTQ Songs of 2020: Staff Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  22. ↑ Billboard Staff (11 December 2020). "The 30 Best Pop Songs of 2020: Staff Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  23. ↑ "The Best Albums of 2020 Plus Best Songs". Slate. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  24. ↑ "The Best Albums of 2020 Plus Best Songs". Slate. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
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