"XS" is the second track and third single from Rina Sawayama's debut studio album, Sawayama (2020). Written by Sawayama with Chris Lyon, Kyle Shearer and Nate Campany, and produced by Shearer, the song was released on 2 March 2020.[1]
It received positive reviews from music critics. A music video for the track was released on 17 April 2020.[2]
Background[]
According to Rina, she wrote "XS" with Nate Campany, Kyle Shearer and Chris Lyon:
It was the first session we ever did together in LA. They were noodling around with guitar riffs and I was like, “I want to write something that’s really abrasive, but also pop that freaks you out.” It’s the good amount of jarring, the good side of jarring that it wakes you up a little bit every four bars or whatever. I told them, "I really love N.E.R.D and I just want to hear those guitars."
— Via Apple Music.[3]
She also 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 Calasbasas 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.[4]
Music video[]
Background[]
XS Music Video Exclusive Behind the Scenes
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.[5] It currently has over 4 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!".[6]
Synopsis[]
In the video, Sawayama portrays a "QVC-like" "robotic" saleswoman[7] who attends a shopping channel broadcast to promote a beverage named "RINA Water", which consists 99% of 24-karat gold and 1% of plasma.[8][9] It is then later revealed that the liquid is extracted from a creature which is chained in an underground factory.[6]
![[1]](/wiki/File:Rina_Sawayama_-_XS_screenshot_011.png "Rina Sawayama - XS screenshot 011.png (807 KB)")
- Rina Sawayama wears a custom Swamp Creature costume made by Natasha Lawes.
Behind the scenes[]
Live performance[]
On 26 October 2020, Rina gave her first televised performance ever on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where she performed "XS".[10] "XS" was also part of the regular set list of the Dynasty Tour, which began on 8 November 2021 in Dublin, Ireland.
| Date | Type | Event | Venue | City | 
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | |||||
| October 26 | TV show | The Tonight Show | The Pickle Factory | London | 
|
| 2021 | |||||
| March 15 | Session | BRITs 2021 Rising Star Session | Abbey Road Studios | London |
|
| April 19 | Session | Tiny Desk (Home) Concert | Unknown | Unknown |
|
| 2022 | |||||
| April 16 | Festival | Coachella | Empire Polo Club | Indio, CA | 
|
| April 19 | Session | KEXP | KEXP Studios | Seattle, WA |
|
| April 23 | Festival | Coachella | Empire Polo Club | Indio, CA |
|
| May 29 | Festival | Radio 1's Big Weekend 2022 | War Memorial Park | Coventry |
|
| June 1 | Festival | Primavera Sound | Poble Espanyol | Barcelona | 
|
| June 2 | Festival | Primavera Sound | Platja del Fòrum | Sant Adrià de Besòs |
|
| June 10 | Festival | NOS Primavera Sound | Parque da Cidade | Oporto | 
|
| August 20 | Festival | SUMMER SONIC Tokyo 2022 | ZOZO Marine Stadium | Chiba | 
|
Track listing and formats[]
Digital releases[]
|
Label: Dirty Hit Format: Digital download, streaming Released: 2 March 2020 Catalog #: N/A Barcode: N/A Photography: Hendrik Schneider (2020) Design: N/A |
|---|
| # | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "XS" | 3:21 |
- Bree Runway Remix
|
Label: Dirty Hit Format: Digital download, streaming Released: 10 July 2020 Catalog #: N/A Barcode: N/A Photography: N/A Design: Parent Company |
|---|
| # | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "XS" (Bree Runway Remix) | 3:22 |
Lyrics[]
Official[]
More
Hey, I want it all, don't have to choose
And when the heart wants what it wants, what can I do?
So I'll take that one, that one, yeah, that one too
Luxury and opulence
Cartier set, Tesla Xs
Calabasas, I deserve it
Call me crazy, call me selfish
I'm the baddest and I'm worth it
Gimme just a little bit (More), little bit of (Excess)
Oh me, oh my
I don't wanna hear (No, no), only want a (Yes, yes)
Oh me, oh my
Gimme just a little bit (XS, XS)
Oh me, oh my
Gimme just a little bit (More), little bit of (Excess)
Gimme just a little bit (More), little bit of (Excess)
Oh me, oh my
I don't wanna hear (No, no), only want a (Yes, yes)
Oh me, oh my
Gimme just a little bit (XS, XS)
Oh me, oh my
Gimme just a little bit (More), little bit of (Excess)
Flex, when all that's left is immaterial
And the price we paid is unbelievable
And I'm taking in as much as I can hold
Well, here are the things you'll never know
Make me less so I want more (More)
Bought a zip code at the mall
Call me crazy, call me selfish
Say I'm neither, would you believe her?
Gimme just a little bit (More), little bit of (Excess)
Oh me, oh my
I don't wanna hear (No, no), only want a (Yes, yes)
Oh me, oh my
Gimme just a little bit (XS, XS)
Oh me, oh my
Gimme just a little bit (More), little bit of (Excess)
Oh me, oh my, where did it go awry?
When all this time, heaven was in our eyes
So, say goodnight, forget about it 'til the end of time
Yeah, I want more, more, more, more, more
More, more, more, more, more
Gimme just a little bit (More), little bit of (Excess)
Oh me, oh my
I don't wanna hear (No, no), only want a (Yes, yes)
Oh me, oh my
Gimme just a little bit
Oh me, oh my
Gimme just a little bit (More), little bit of (Excess)
(I need it now)
Gimme just a little bit, little bit of (Give me just a little more)
Oh me, oh my
I don't wanna hear (No, no), only want a (Yes, yes) (I don't wanna hear no, woah)
Oh me, oh my
Gimme just a little bit (Give me just a little more)
Oh me, oh my
Gimme just a little bit, little bit of (Give me just a little)
Bit more (XS, XS)
A little bit more (XS, XS)
A little bit more (XS, XS)
More, yeah, yeah
Bree Runway remix[]
Rina Sawayama
More
Hey, I want it all, don't have to choose
And when the heart wants what it wants, what can I do?
So I'll take that one, that one, yeah, that one too
Luxury and opulence
Cartier set, Tesla Xs
Calabasas, I deserve it
Call me crazy, call me selfish
I'm the baddest and I'm worth it
Gimme just a little bit (More), little bit of (Excess)
Oh me, oh my
I don't wanna hear (No, no), only want a (Yes, yes)
Oh me, oh my
Gimme just a little bit (XS, XS)
Oh me, oh my
Gimme just a little bit (More), little bit of (Excess)
Gimme just a little bit (More), little bit of (Excess)
Oh me, oh my
I don't wanna hear (No, no), only want a (Yes, yes)
Oh me, oh my
Gimme just a little bit (XS, XS)
Oh me, oh my
Gimme just a little bit (More), little bit of (Excess)
Bree Runway
Excess, yes, I need more and more
Gimme the biggest Birkin bag and Dior Couture
I see why everybody mad at me and all of ya'll
I mean all of ya'll (I mean all of ya'll)
I’m the best and I put that on the Bible
Gyal shook when I step out of arrivals
Ain’t no tie bitch, you could be my rival
(You could be my rival)
Skin so rich, it look like gold
Ain't no Fenty but I glow
They say Rina look like gold
Your wifey hate us 'cause she know
Money, power, excess, and more
But they can’t never snatch my soul
It's a ring on my finger, of course I said yes
I ain't married to no man, I'm married to success
Rina Sawayama, Bree Runway
Gimme just a little bit (More), little bit of (Excess)
Oh me, oh my
I don't wanna hear (No, no), only want a (Yes, yes)
Oh me, oh my (A little bit more)
Gimme just a little bit (XS, XS) (Just a little)
Oh me, oh my (Just a little)
Gimme just a little bit (More), little bit of (Excess)
Rina Sawayama, Both
Oh me, oh my, where did it go awry?
When all this time, heaven was in our eyes
So, say goodnight, forget about it 'til the end of time
Yeah, I want more, more, more, more, more
More, more, more, more, more
Rina Sawayama, Bree Runway
Gimme just a little bit (More), little bit of (Excess)
Oh me, oh my
I don't wanna hear (No, no), only want a (Yes, yes)
Oh me, oh my
Gimme just a little bit
Oh me, oh my
Gimme just a little bit (More), little bit of (Excess)
(Just a little)
Gimme just a little bit, little bit of (Give me just a little more)
Oh me, oh my (I don't wanna hear)
I don't wanna hear (No, no), only want a (Yes, yes)
Oh me, oh my
Gimme just a little bit (Give me just a little more)
Oh me, oh my
Gimme just a little bit, little bit of (Give me just a little)
Just a little bit more (XS, XS)
A little bit more (XS, XS)
A little bit more (XS, XS) (Haha, excess)
More, yeah, yeah
It's Rina and Bree, give us excess, it's just what we need
References[]
- ↑ Twitter - SURPRISE my BRAND NEW SINGLE "XS" will be premiered on @BBCR1 as their HOTTEST RECORD in the WORLD at 7PM GMT tonight by @AnnieMac
- ↑ YouTube - Rina Sawayama - XS (Official Video)
- ↑ SAWAYAMA by Rina Sawayama on Apple Music
- ↑ Pitchfork - Listen to Rina Sawayama’s New Song “XS”
- ↑ Rina Sawayama - XS (Official Video)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Rina Sawayama shares tongue-in-cheek 'XS' video
- ↑ Rina Sawayama takes on capitalism in style with her XS music video
- ↑ Tune into the shopping channel in Rina Sawayama's new 'XS' video
- ↑ Rina Sawayama Hawks 24k Gold Beverage in "XS" Video: Watch
- ↑ Pitchfork. Watch Rina Sawayama Perform “XS” on Fallon
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| Dirty Hit • 2020 |