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XXXO

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 68.174.102.95 (talk) at 04:35, 13 August 2010 (→‎Music video: Only added what was conclusively obvious (I havent' verified whether any other instances actually spell out her name's pronunciation--I just read that from someone else).). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

"XXXO"
Song

"XXXO" is a song by alternative dance musician M.I.A., and was released as the first official single from her third studio album,[1] /\/\/\Y/\‎ following the digital release of "Born Free". The song was released as a digital download on 11 May 2010.[2] In was released in the UK on June 28, 2010. Jay-Z is featured on the official remix of "XXXO".

Release

The song was premiered on BBC Radio 1 on 10 May 2010 in the UK.[3] It is due for release as a digital download on 11 July 2010 with the physical release of the single the following day. On 18 July, 2010 it reached #26 on the UK Singles Chart.

Remix

The song's remix leaked onto the Internet on 10 June 2010.[4] It features rapper Jay-Z who previously appeared on a remix of the M.I.A. single "Boyz" from the How Many Votes Fix Mix EP. In addition to the Jay Z remix, the single also features the South-African crafted [5] "Mujava & DJ Qness mix" which since leaking on the internet, has received an immensely significant amount of critical acclaim. Remixed by South African producers DJ Qness [6] of "Fugama Unamathe" fame and Mujava of "Township Funk" fame, the mix features some galloping African beats over MIA's pop vocal, which makes an exciting fusion of South African Kwaito, house music and MIA's pop vocal alignment.

Reception

Brad Wete of Entertainment Weekly had concerns about M.I.A.'s third album after listening to previous single "Born Free", but said with "XXXO" his worries had been eased. Wete wrote, "this techno-tinged dance record is what we hoped for from our Sri Lankan anti-pop star. It's an aggressive but friendly love cut dressed up with playful lyrics [...] It's the fun, naughty stuff we like."[1] Rolling Stone's reviewer characterized the song as a "futuristic, tribal jam," revolving around "little more than reverb-dunked marching-band beat and M.I.A.'s tweaked-to-the-max vocals," before concluding "you have to admire her for always pushing her sound and art forward. When M.I.A. sings, "You want me be somebody who I'm really not," she does it with her middle finger raised high, pointing squarely at your face."[7]

Music video

The music video is to be directed by Hype Williams.[8]

She announced on radio that the music video had been completed, and she was now mixing it with footage on her Flip cam.[9]

The official music video was released 11th of August, 2010 on her official VEVO account.

The video features M.I.A. in a number of headshots amongst glittery floral graphics, resembling those found on Blingee.com, and golden Arabic calligraphy, some of which simply spells out her name in an Arabian-style font. This video is made to look like the online gifs and animations that are popular on Arabic-language forums, blogs, and websites. The iconic YouTube screenshots M.I.A. has used throughout /\/\/\Y/\ and on the cover of the album are also used in the video. The video contains some possible political references as M.I.A. is disguised as a leopard during one of the shots.

Track listings

Digital single
  1. "XXXO" (album version) - 2:58
Physical 7" single
  1. "XXXO" (album version) - 2:58
  2. "XXXO" (Blaqstarr dirty mix) - 3:03
The Remixes (EP)
  1. "XXXO" (main mix) featuring Jay-Z - 2:53
  2. "XXXO" (Fulton Yard / WaltBoogie remix) featuring Jay-Z - 3:04
  3. "XXXO" (Fulton Yard / Rieces Pieces remix) featuring Jay-Z - 2:56
The Remixes, Part 2 (EP)
  1. "XXXO" (SBTRKT remix) - 3:33
  2. "XXXO" (Various remix) - 3:01
  3. "XXXO" (Riton ReRub) - 3:48

Chart performance

"XXXO" first debuted on the UK Singles Chart on 18 July 2010 at number 26, following the release of the album "M.A.Y.A.". "XXXO" marks M.I.A.'s second Top 40 single and second most successful single after "Paper Planes" reached number 19 in 2009. The single also debuted at number 2 on the UK Indie Chart behind Example's "Kickstarts" as well as number 12 on the UK R&B Chart.

Chart (2010) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[10] 74
Belgian Tip Chart (Flanders)[11] 13
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[12] 60
Scotland (OCC)[13] 25
UK Singles (OCC)[14] 26
UK Indie (OCC)[15] 2
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[16] 12

References

  1. ^ a b Wete, Brad (11 May 2010). "M.I.A.'s new single, 'XXXO': Now this is more like it". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 12 may 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. ^ "Xxxo: M.I.A." Amazon.com. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
  3. ^ Tom Breihan (2010-05-10). "New M.I.A.: "XXXO"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
  4. ^ http://www.findtheshit.com/2010/06/10/m-i-a-ft-jay-z-xxxo-remix/
  5. ^ {{ cite web | url=http://www.thefader.com/2010/07/26/mia-xxxo-dj-mujava-and-dj-qness-remix-mp3/
  6. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0WTfcXPlis
  7. ^ O'Donnell, Kevin (11 May 2010). "M.I.A. Unveils New Futuristic Tribal Track "XXXO"". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 12 May 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ "M.I.A.'s new album pushed to July, single to premiere this week". Rap-Up. 2010-05-08. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
  9. ^ http://www.rap-up.com/2010/07/07/mia-shoots-xxxo-video-on-flip-cam/
  10. ^ http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20100611-0000/Issue1059.pdf
  11. ^ http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=M.I.A.&titel=XXX0&cat=s
  12. ^ "M.I.A. Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
  13. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  14. ^ "M.I.A.: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  15. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company.
  16. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
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