| XS | |
| Cover: | Rina Sawayama - XS.png |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Rina Sawayama |
| Album: | Sawayama |
| Recorded: | 2019 |
| Released: | 2 March 2020 |
| Length: | 3:21 |
| Label: | Dirty Hit |
| Chronology: | Rina Sawayama |
| Prev Title: | Comme des Garçons (Like the Boys) |
| Prev Year: | 2020 |
| XS | |
| Year: | 2020 |
| Next Title: | Chosen Family |
| Next Year: | 2020 |
"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. It received critical acclaim and was named among the best songs of 2020 by several critics. A remix featuring British artist Bree Runway, was released on 10 July 2020.
Sawayama said in a statement that "XS" is a song that "mocks capitalism in a sinking world":
"XS" is a 2000s-inspired[1] pop,[2] R&B,[3] avant-pop[4] and electropop[5] song with "upbeat bubblegum pop vibes"[6] composed in the key of D minor with a tempo of 117 beats per minute.[7] It begins with an "eerie" buildup of violins,[8] while a "shredding" guitar riff appears before and after the chorus.[2]
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.[9] It currently has over 8 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!".[10]
In the video, Sawayama portrays a "QVC-like" "robotic" saleswoman[11] who attends a shopping channel broadcast to promote a beverage named "RINA Water", which consists 99% of 24-karat gold and 1% of plasma.[12] [13] Later it is revealed that the liquid is extracted from a creature which is chained in an underground factory.[10]
On 26 October 2020, Sawayama gave her first televised performance ever on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where she performed "XS".[14]
"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."[19]
| Publication | Accolade | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard | The 20 Best LGBTQ Songs of 2020 | ||
| The 30 Best Pop Songs of 2020: Staff Picks | |||
| Dazed | The 20 best tracks of 2020 | ||
| DIY | DIY's Tracks of 2020 | ||
| The Guardian | The 20 Best Songs of 2020 | ||
| The Line of Best Fit | The Best Songs of 2020 Ranked | ||
| NME | The 50 best songs of 2020 | ||
| Our Culture Mag | The 25 Best Songs of 2020 | ||
| Slate | The Best Albums of 2020 Plus Best Songs | ||