Jump to content

Ex's & Oh's

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Ex's and Oh's)
For the song by Atreyu, see Ex's and Oh's (Atreyu song). For other uses, see X's and O's (disambiguation).

"Ex's & Oh's"
Single by Elle King
from the album Love Stuff
ReleasedSeptember 23, 2014 (2014-09-23)
Recorded2014
StudioSun Studio, 706 Union Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee
Genre
Length3:22
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Dave Bassett
Elle King singles chronology
"I Don't Mind"
(2013) 		"Ex's & Oh's"
(2014) 		"Under the Influence"
(2015)

"Ex's & Oh's" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Elle King for her debut studio album, Love Stuff (2015). It was released on September 23, 2014, as King's debut single and the album's lead single via RCA Records.[1] The song was written by King alongside the song's producer, Dave Bassett. "Ex's & Oh's" is primarily an uptempo pop rock, blues rock, and alternative rock song with elements of Southern rock, and a swing beat.

Upon the song's release, "Ex's & Oh's" received critical acclaim from many music critics, with praise given to King's creativity with its lyrics and its catchy upbeat sound. The song achieved success in the rock genre, peaking at number 1 on the Billboard Hot Rock Songs chart, and later crossed over to adult pop radio and become an international hit. "Ex's & Oh's" reached the top of the Alternative Songs chart in September 2015, becoming only the second song by a solo female to reach the top since 1996 after Lorde achieved the feat in 2013 with "Royals".[2] The song also became King's first top-10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 10. In total "Ex's & Oh's" appeared on 36 charts. The song peaked at number one on five charts as well as reaching the top ten on 21 charts including, Australia, Austria, and New Zealand, amongst others.

"Ex's & Oh's" has since been certified platinum or higher in seven nations including in the United States where it has been Certified 4× Platinum for sales of 4,000,000 units. It reached the top ten on year-end charts in both 2015 and 2016, including number 6 on the Hot Rock Songs chart in both 2015 and 2016, Rock Airplay at number 4 in 2015, and Adult Contemporary in 2016. At the 58th Grammy Awards, "Ex's & Oh's" was nominated for Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song.[3]

Composition

[edit]

"Ex's & Oh's" is a blues rock,[4][5] pop rock[4] and alternative rock[6] song with elements of Southern rock, and a swing beat.[7][8] The song was written by Elle King with the song's producer, Dave Bassett, and King credits him with helping her shape the sound of the album.[9] Its instrumentation includes the guitar and drums and is influenced by country music.[10] The song's lyrics describe the narrator's past relationships with needy men and her tendency to "[chew] men up and eat them."[6][7] King describes how her ex-boyfriends are like ghosts; they always want to come back to haunt her. She also explains how her feelings toward her boyfriends quickly shift and her carelessness over the relationship.

Sheet music for the song shows the key of E minor, with the chorus in the key of G major.[11]

Critical reception

[edit]

"Ex's & Oh's" received acclaim from many music critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic labelled the song one of the highlights of Love Stuff, writing, "When King walks a fine line between rock crunch and soul testifying, there's some fire."[12] Entertainment blog Renowned for Sound rated the song 4.5 stars out of 5; reviewer Marcus Floyd praised both King's storytelling ability and the song's catchy production, saying that "it just has this attractive sound that makes you want to hear it again and again".[6] Bradley Stern wrote a very positive review of the song for MuuMuse in which he described the song as "ballsy, brash and profoundly #unapologetic."[10]

Music video

[edit]

Two music videos were released for the song.

The first premiered on October 7, 2014, and features the song's lyrics played out in a carnival shooting gallery attraction. It is a hybrid of animation and live action.[13] King does not appear in the video.

The second (fully live action) video premiered on May 1, 2015.[14] Directed by Michael Maxxis, it begins with King's character kicking her boyfriend, played by Thom Glant, out of their car in the middle of a desert, and then focuses largely on a barbecue party and other recreational activities at King's trailer campsite in the desert. The video occasionally cuts back to King's boyfriend trying to find her, which he eventually does. Featuring many scantily clad male characters and scenes with clear sexual innuendos, the video inverts the objectification of women common in contemporary music videos, and has been praised by critics for this role reversal.[7][15]

Live performances

[edit]

Chart performance

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[75] 3× Platinum 210,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria)[76] Gold 15,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[77] 5× Platinum 400,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[78] Platinum 90,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[79] Platinum 400,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[80] Gold 25,000‡
Mexico (AMPROFON)[81] Platinum+Gold 90,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[82] Platinum 15,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[83] Gold 30,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[84] Gold 20,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[85] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[86] 4× Platinum 4,000,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Country Date Format Label Ref.
United States September 23, 2014 Digital download RCA [1]
October 7, 2014 Adult album alternative [87]
May 11, 2015 Modern rock radio [88]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Amazon.com: Ex's & Oh's: Elle King: MP3 Downloads". Amazon Music. Amazon.com. September 23, 2014. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  2. ^ White, Emily (September 8, 2015). "Elle King Is Just Second Woman to Top Alternative Songs Chart in Two Decades". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  3. ^ "Grammy Nominations 2016: See the Full List of Nominees". Billboard. December 7, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
  4. ^ a b Rutherford, Kevin (October 20, 2015). "Elle King Crowned No. 1 on Hot Rock Songs With 'Ex's & Oh's'". Billboard. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  5. ^ ""Ex's & Oh's": Elle King Breaks Hearts With Her Blues Rock Anthem". MuuMuse. September 24, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c Floyd, Marcus (January 30, 2015). "Single Review: Elle King – 'Ex's & Oh's'". Renowned for Sound. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  7. ^ a b c Kinos-Goodin, Jesse. "Elle King throws a beefcake barbecue in new video for 'Ex's and Oh's'". CBC Music. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on November 23, 2015. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  8. ^ "Rock singer-songwriter Elle King lets her guard down". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  9. ^ Daniel, Danica (February 23, 2015). "Elle King Talks 'Love Stuff,' Sex Shops & Self-Confidence: "If Someone Wants To Make Fun Of Me They Can Go F---k Themselves." [Exclusive Interview]". Music Times. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  10. ^ a b Stern, Bradley (September 24, 2014). ""Ex's & Oh's": Elle King Breaks Hearts With Her Blues Rock Anthem". MuuMuse. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  11. ^ "Elle King "Ex's and Oh's" Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. June 19, 2015.
  12. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Love Stuff - Elle King". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  13. ^ Bowman, Lisa Marie (January 13, 2018). "Music Video of the Day: Ex's & Oh's by Elle King (2014, dir by ????)". Unobtainium. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  14. ^ ElleKingVEVO (May 1, 2015). "Elle King - Ex's & Oh's (Official Video)". YouTube. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  15. ^ Wass, Mike (May 1, 2015). "Elle King Turns The Tables In Raunchy "Ex's & Oh's" Video: Watch". Idolator. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  16. ^ YouTube - Elle King - Ex's And Oh's - 10/22/2014 - the Living Room, Brooklyn NY
  17. ^ "PasteMagazine - Song Premiere Elle King - Ex's & Oh's". Archived from the original on February 23, 2016. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  18. ^ "Elle King performs 'Ex's & Oh's' on TODAY". TODAY. NBC. February 15, 2015. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  19. ^ Stern, Bradley (April 6, 2015). "Elle King Performs "Ex's & Oh's" On 'Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon': Watch". Idolator. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  20. ^ "Guy Garvey, Elle King and the Choir of Angels". BBC Radio. December 19, 2015.
  21. ^ "Episode 15, Series 18, The Graham Norton Show - BBC One". BBC. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  22. ^ "Elle King – Ex's & Oh's". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  23. ^ "Elle King – Ex's & Oh's" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  24. ^ "Elle King – Ex's & Oh's" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
  25. ^ "Elle King – Ex's & Oh's" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  26. ^ "Elle King Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  27. ^ "Elle King Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  28. ^ "Elle King Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  29. ^ "Elle King Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  30. ^ "Elle King Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  31. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 50. týden 2015 in the date selector.
  32. ^ "Hitlisten.NU - Danmarks officielle hitlister". Archived from the original on July 4, 2014. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  33. ^ "Elle King: Ex's And Oh's" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  34. ^ "Elle King – Ex's & Oh's" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  35. ^ "Elle King – Ex's & Oh's" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  36. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  37. ^ "Elle King Chart History". RÚV. April 11, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  38. ^ "Chart Track: Week 5, 2016". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  39. ^ "Media Forest Week 51, 2015". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
  40. ^ "Tutti i successi del 2015" (in Italian). Hit Parade Italia. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  41. ^ "Luxembourg Digital Songs chart History - Elle King". Billboard. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  42. ^ "Mexico Ingles Airplay". Billboard.
  43. ^ "Top 20 México Inglés" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  44. ^ "Elle King – Ex's & Oh's". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  45. ^ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  46. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  47. ^ "SloTop50: Slovenian Official Singles Chart". SloTop50. Archived from the original on December 4, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  48. ^ "Elle King – Ex's & Oh's" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
  49. ^ "Elle King – Ex's & Oh's". Singles Top 100. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  50. ^ "Elle King – Ex's & Oh's". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  51. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  52. ^ "Elle King Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  53. ^ "Elle King Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  54. ^ "Elle King Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  55. ^ "Elle King Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  56. ^ "Elle King Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  57. ^ "Elle King Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  58. ^ "Canadian Hot 100: Year End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  59. ^ "Hot 100: Year End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  60. ^ "Adult Pop Songs: Year End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  61. ^ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  62. ^ "Rock Airplay Songs: Year End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  63. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles 2016". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
  64. ^ "Ö3 Austria Top 40 - Single-Charts 2016". oe3.orf.at. Archived from the original on December 28, 2016. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
  65. ^ "Canadian Hot 100: Year End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  66. ^ "Top 100 Jahrescharts 2016". GfK Entertainment (in German). viva.tv. Archived from the original on January 26, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  67. ^ "SloTop50: Slovenian official year end singles chart". slotop50.si. Archived from the original on December 31, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  68. ^ "Hot 100 Songs - Year-End 2016". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  69. ^ "Adult Contemporary Songs: Year End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  70. ^ "Adult Pop Songs: Year End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  71. ^ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  72. ^ "Rock Airplay Songs: Year End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  73. ^ "Decade-End Charts: Hot Rock Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 16, 2019. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  74. ^ "Greatest of All Time Adult Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  75. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2016 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  76. ^ "Austrian single certifications – Elle King – Ex's & Oh's" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  77. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Elle King – Ex's & Oh's". Music Canada.
  78. ^ "Danish single certifications – Elle King – Ex's & Oh's". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  79. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Elle King; 'Ex's & Oh's')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  80. ^ "Italian single certifications – Elle King – Ex's & Oh's" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  81. ^ "Certificados Musicales Amprofon (in Spanish)". Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  82. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Elle King – Ex's and Oh's". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  83. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Elle King – Ex's & Oh's". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  84. ^ "Sverigetopplistan – Elle King" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  85. ^ "British single certifications – Elle King – Ex's & Oh's". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  86. ^ "American single certifications – Elle King – Ex's & Oh's". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  87. ^ "R&R :: Going For Adds :: Triple A" (Week Of: October 7, 2014). Radio & Records. Retrieved May 21, 2015.[permanent dead link‍]
  88. ^ "R&R :: Going For Adds :: Alternative" (Week Of: May 11, 2015). Radio & Records. Retrieved May 21, 2015.[permanent dead link‍]
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ex%27s_%26_Oh%27s&oldid=1258650101"