XOXO (song) explained

XOXO
Type:single
Artist:Jeon Somi
Album:XOXO
Label:
Composer:
Lyricist:
Prev Title:Dumb Dumb
Prev Year:2021
Next Title:Fast Forward
Next Year:2023

"XOXO" is a song recorded by Canadian-Dutch-Korean singer-songwriter Jeon Somi. It was released by The Black Label and Interscope Records on October 29, 2021, as the title track from the singer's debut studio album of the same name. It was written by Teddy, Danny Chung, Vince, Jeon Somi, and Kush, and composed by them alongside Pink Sweats.

Background and release

On October 14, The Black Label announced that Jeon Somi was scheduled to make a comeback with her first full-length album XOXO at the end of the month.[2] In the following week Jeon revealed the release date and shared the tracklist of the album through her social media accounts, which included the lead single entitled "XOXO".[3] The song and its music video were released for digital download and streaming alongside the album on October 29.[4]

Composition

"XOXO" was written by Teddy, Danny Chung, Vince, Jeon Somi, and Kush, and composed by Pink Sweats, Pacific, Teddy, and 24. The song is described as a dance-pop track with a trap beat and a layered chant-like hook. Lyrically, the song is an anthem filled with anger and centers on leaving a cheating partner and no longer letting one's feelings be trivialized.[5] According to Somi, the title of the song is "the goodbye you send to the player who cheated on you" and 'XOXO' are "hugs and kisses that are a bit more evil than sweet”.[6]

Critical reception

NMEs Carmen Chin praised the song as "ridiculously catchy" with "well-placed rap verses and an earworm of a chorus". However, she criticized it as a "foolproof but boring pop anthem" made specifically to appeal to the general audience.[7]

Music video

On October 27, the music video teaser was released.[8] On October 29, the official music video was released. The video takes place after the music video for "Dumb Dumb" and opens with a scene of Jeon Somi discovering she’s been cheated on by her lover. She deals with her heartbreak by embarking on a revenge mission on her ex-boyfriend. She playfully wields a sledgehammer as she skips around a graffiti-covered car in an outdoor parking lot in some scenes, and completely trashes a hallway in others.[9]

Accolades

Awards and nominations
YearOrganizationAwardResult
2021Asian Pop Music AwardsBest Composer – Overseas[10]
Best Music Video – Overseas
Record of the Year – Overseas

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2021)! scope="col"
Peak
positions
Global 200 (Billboard)[11] 185
Malaysia (RIM)[12] 17
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[13] 24
Singapore (RIAS)[14] 6
South Korea (Gaon)[15] 43
South Korea (K-pop 100)[16] 33
US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[17] 9

Monthly charts

Chart (2021)Peak
positions
South Korea (Gaon)[18] 52
South Korea (K-pop 100)[19] 67

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabel
<-- Do not change to "Worldwide", as no music platform is available in every country -->VariousOctober 29, 2021The Black Label
United StatesInterscope

Notes and References

  1. Web site: somi credits on komca.
  2. Web site: https://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=202110141539480010. ko:전소미, 약 3개월만 컴백 "이달 말 첫번째 정규 앨범 발매"(공식입장). Lee. Ha-na. October 14, 2021. Newsen. ko. Jeon So-mi, comeback after about 3 months "First full album release at the end of this month" (official position). October 23, 2021.
  3. Web site: Jeon Somi unveils release date and tracklist for debut album 'XOXO'. Chin. Carmen. October 21, 2021. NME. October 23, 2021.
  4. Web site: Jeon Somi is confident about her first full-length album 'XOXO'. Choi. Ji-won. October 29, 2021. The Korea Herald. October 30, 2021.
  5. Web site: Jeon Somi Talks “XOXO,” Rebellion, and Doing Her Own Thing. Nguyen. Kelly. November 5, 2021. Teen Vogue. November 5, 2021.
  6. Web site: Jeon Somi shares her fashion diary for the “XOXO” music video. Roby. India. October 29, 2021. Nylon. October 29, 2021.
  7. Web site: Jeon Somi – ‘XOXO’ review: an anti-climactic debut album that fails to flesh out her identity. Chin. Carmen. November 3, 2021. NME. November 3, 2021.
  8. News: Yeo. Gladys. Jeon Somi is out for revenge in new ‘XOXO’ teaser. October 26, 2021. NME.
  9. News: Chin. Carmen. Jeon Somi meets heartbreak in music video for new single ‘XOXO’. October 29, 2021. NME.
  10. Web site: 【APMA 2021】亚洲流行音乐大奖2021年度入围名单. [APMA 2021] Asian Pop Music Awards 2021 shortlist. Weibo. November 30, 2021. November 30, 2021. zh. November 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211130105237/https://m.weibo.cn/status/4709218890550319. live.
  11. Web site: Billboard Global 200 – Week of November 13, 2021. subscription. November 9, 2021. November 9, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211109101313/https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-global-200/2021-11-13. live.
  12. Web site: Top 20 Most Streamed International & Domestic Singles In Malaysia. Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. November 12, 2021. November 15, 2020.
  13. Web site: New Zealand Hot 40 Singles. Recorded Music NZ. November 8, 2021. November 6, 2021.
  14. Web site: RIAS International Top Charts – Week of November 4, 2021. November 10, 2021. November 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211110131929/https://www.rias.org.sg/rias-top-charts/#1562208279199-5ec9aa23-80dc. dead.
  15. Web site: 2021년 47주차 Digital Chart. Week 47 of 2021 Digital Chart. Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Association. ko. November 25, 2021.
  16. Web site: Billboard K-pop Hot 100 – Week of November 27, 2021. Billboard. subscription. November 23, 2021. November 23, 2021. December 2, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211202210727/https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-korea-100/2021-11-27/. live.
  17. Web site: World Digital Song Sales Chart – Week of November 13, 2021. subscription. November 11, 2021. November 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211110230344/https://www.billboard.com/charts/world-digital-song-sales/2021-11-13. live.
  18. Web site: 2021년 11월 Digital Chart. November 2021 Digital Chart. Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Association. ko. December 8, 2021. December 9, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211209025614/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=11&hitYear=2021&termGbn=month. live.
  19. Web site: Billboard K-pop Hot – Month of November 2021. Billboard Korea. ko. December 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211203215816/http://billboard.co.kr/chart/month/2021-11. December 3, 2021. dead.