XO (song)

"XO" is a song by the American singer Beyoncé from her fifth studio album, Beyoncé (2013). Columbia Records released it to US pop radio on December 16, 2013. Beyoncé, Ryan Tedder, and Terius "The-Dream" Nash wrote and produced "XO", a mid-tempo pop and electro-rock ballad that is instrumented by synthesizers and drums. It incorporates elements of hip-hop and dancehall and has a call and response chorus. A love song, its lyrics detail a narrator's plea for a lasting and stable romance amidst the ups and downs of life. Music critics generally acclaimed the radio- and stadium-friendly production and the intimate lyricism of "XO". The track's beginning contains an audio sample from the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, which was criticized by the families of the lost crew and NASA. Beyoncé released a statement saying that the sample was meant to be a tribute to the Challenger crew. "XO" charted and received platinum certifications in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK. In the US, the single peaked at number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has been certified double platinum. Terry Richardson directed the music video for "XO", filmed in Coney Island in late August 2013. It was made available on iTunes on December 13, 2013 and released online three days later. On the Mrs. Carter Show World Tour, Beyoncé performed the song during the last stops of the North American leg in December 2013 and the second European leg in early 2014. She also performed the song at the Brit Awards 2014 and the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards. In 2014, Haim covered the song during their several concerts, and John Mayer released his cover version as a single.