"XXX 88" is a song by the Danish singer-songwriter featuring the American producer Diplo. The two decided to collaborate after MØ mentioned in an interview that she wanted to work with Major Lazer, and fans implored Diplo on Twitter to accept her request. A dark pop and electropop song, "XXX 88" was first premiered on BBC Radio 1 on August 29, 2013, and was officially released as the first single of her debut extended play Bikini Daze on October 20. The song was also included as part of No Mythologies to Follow, MØ's debut studio album released on March 7, 2014. The song received positive reviews from music critics, who praised how well the collaboration worked. The song's release was accompanied by a music video released on September 9, 2013, featuring MØ as a daydreaming teenager. The song charted in Belgium and in the United Kingdom.

"XXX 88"
Single by featuring Diplo
from the EP Bikini Daze
ReleasedOctober 20, 2013 (2013-10-20)
Genre
Length3:39
Label
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)Karen Marie Ørsted
Producer(s)
  • Diplo
  • Ronni Vindahl
singles chronology
"Waste of Time"
(2013)
"XXX 88"
(2013)
"Don't Wanna Dance"
(2014)
Diplo singles chronology
"Elastic Heart"
(2013)
"XXX 88"
(2013)
"Take Ü There"
(2014)
Music video
"XXX 88" on YouTube

Background and composition

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In 2012, MØ released her first single, "Maiden". This song caught the attention of Ronni Vindahl, who would go on to become a long-time collaborator with MØ, and began her rise to stardom.[1][2][3] Later, in a 2013 interview with The Fader, MØ commented that the artist she would most like to work with was electronic group Major Lazer.[3] This caused fans to message Major Lazer member Diplo on Twitter to "please make this happen", leading to the two artists meeting up in Amsterdam and collaborating.[4][5]

"XXX 88" is a "punchy" song[6][7] which has been described as being dark pop,[8] aggro-pop,[9] and electropop,[10] with influences from trap[7] and hip-hop.[11] Instrumentally, the song consists primarily of layered synthesizers and brass stabs,[7][12] alongside a "marching band" beat consisting of trap drums, claps, and "slick" hi-hats.[12][13][14] MØ also chants 'hey!' repeatedly during the song's chorus,[7] and at one point "hollers" Diplo's name.[12] Dan Carson of The Line of Best Fit stylistically compared "XXX 88" to songs by the Canadian singer-songwriter Grimes,[14] while Robin Murray of Clash noted that MØ's vocal performance was reminiscent of R&B singers like Brandy and Aaliyah.[11]

Release

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"XXX 88" first premiered on BBC Radio 1 on August 29, 2013,[15] and was released for digital download and streaming the next day.[16] The song was later released on October 20, 2013 as part of the EP Bikini Daze, and was officially released as a single the same day.[15][17] "XXX 88" was later re-released on March 7, 2014 as part of MØ's debut studio album No Mythologies to Follow, alongside other songs first released on Bikini Daze.[18] On November 1, 2019, the song was included on Walshy Fire Presents: MMMMØ – The Mix, a remix album by MØ and Major Lazer member Walshy Fire.[19] "XXX 88" also appeared on the deluxe re-issue of No Mythologies to Follow on March 15, 2024, in honor of the album's tenth anniversary.[20]

Music video

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An accompanying music video for "XXX 88", directed by Tim Erem, was released on September 9, 2013 to MØ's YouTube channel.[21][22] The video, recorded in Los Angeles over the course of two days, stars MØ as a "suburban teenager who imagines herself as some sort of world-traveling glam-pop superhero".[1][22] Over the course of the video, MØ, wearing a long ponytail, a gold chain, and a "petite red-striped top",[23] daydreams in her bedroom, dances in an open desert, and rides on a gold motorcycle.[24] Diplo also makes a cameo in the video, appearing "oiled-up naked-except-for-tightie-whities" on a magazine cover read by MØ.[22][24] The video received over 800,000 views in the first five months after its release,[1] and holds over 31 millions views on YouTube as of December 2024.[21]

Reception

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"XXX 88" received positive reviews from music critics, with Nick Levine of NME quipping that the song is "snappier than its title".[25] Michelle Geslani of Consequence wrote that the song "works on so many levels", particularly praising its "sweet yet pulverizing" and "hypnotic yet volatile" nature.[26] Laurence Day of The Line of Best Fit similarly called "XXX 88" "equal measures dancefloor catnip... and jagged future-R&B".[12] Various critics particularly praised how the sounds of MØ and Diplo worked well together on the song. Jamie Milton of DIY commented that the combination of Diplo's electronic sound and MØ's "signature old-school synths" rendered the song a "bonafide triumph".[13] Similarly, in their ranking of Diplo's 15 Best Songs, Billboard placed "XXX 88" in the fifteenth spot due to MØ's "breezy" vocal performance combined with a display of "how far Diplo's creative range can really go".[10]

In Belgium, "XXX 88" charted on the Ultratip Bubbling Under at a peak position of 42.[27] The song also appeared on the UK Official Physical Singles Chart at number 53.[28]

Track listing

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Digital download[16]
No.TitleLength
1."XXX 88" (featuring Diplo)3:40
XXX 88 (feat. Diplo) Remixes 1 track listing[29]
No.TitleLength
1."XXX 88" (Faustix & Imanos Remix)4:21
2."XXX 88" (Joe Hertz Remix)4:07
3."XXX 88" (Oceaan Remix)4:17
Total length:12:45
XXX 88 (feat. Diplo) [Remixes 2] track listing[30]
No.TitleLength
1."XXX 88" (Kilter Remix)4:54
2."XXX 88" (Dreamtrak Remix)6:10
3."XXX 88" (Nonsens Remix)3:40
Total length:14:44

Credits and personnel

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Credits are adapted from iTunes.[16]

Charts

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Chart performance for "XXX 88"
Chart (2013) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[27] 42
UK Physical Singles Sales (OCC)[28] 53

References

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  1. ^ a b c Bradley, Tyler (February 11, 2014). "MØ Wants To Dance: Danish Singer Talks Debut Album, Working With Diplo". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 30, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  2. ^ Myers, Owen (May 13, 2016). "How Mø Finessed Anarchist Punk Life Into Global Pop Stardom". The Fader. Archived from the original on November 30, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Zeichner, Naomi (August 29, 2013). "Stream: MØ f. Diplo, "XXX 88"". The Fader. Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  4. ^ "ELLE meets MØ". Elle Australia. November 14, 2013. Archived from the original on June 12, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  5. ^ Payne, Lauren (October 14, 2013). "Interview: MO". The Music. Archived from the original on December 6, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  6. ^ Milton, Jamie (March 11, 2014). "MØ: 'No-One Can Be Perfect'". DIY. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d Murray, Sean (July 19, 2024). "MØ - Bikini Daze". DIY. Archived from the original on December 6, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  8. ^ Lobenfeld, Claire (August 29, 2013). "MØ – "XXX 88" (Prod. Diplo)". Stereogum. Archived from the original on December 6, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  9. ^ Zoladz, Lindsay (August 29, 2013). ""XXX 88" [ft. Diplo]". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on December 6, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Cirisano, Tatiana (July 17, 2017). "Diplo's 15 Best Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 6, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Murray, Robin (August 30, 2013). "MØ Pairs Up With Diplo". Clash. Archived from the original on April 3, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  12. ^ a b c d Day, Laurence (October 16, 2013). "MØ — "Bikini Daze EP"". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on December 6, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Milton, Jamie (August 29, 2013). "Listen: MØ Streams New 'XXX 88 Feat. Diplo' Single". DIY. Archived from the original on December 1, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  14. ^ a b Carson, Dan (August 30, 2013). "Listen: MØ – XXX 88 ft. Diplo". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  15. ^ a b "House Playlist: Karen O, Paul McCartney, Arctic Monkeys, Frankie Rose, & MØ featuring Diplo". Slant. August 30, 2013. Archived from the original on December 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  16. ^ a b c "XXX 88 (feat. Diplo) — Single by MØ — Apple Music". Archived from the original on December 4, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  17. ^ Geslani, Michelle (September 24, 2013). "Listen to MØ's sweeping new pop song, "Never Wanna Know"". Consequence. Archived from the original on December 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  18. ^ Terry, Josh (March 10, 2014). "Album Review: MØ – No Mythologies To Follow". Consequence. Archived from the original on December 6, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  19. ^ Strauss, Matthew (October 23, 2019). "MØ Covers Smashing Pumpkins' "Bullet With Butterfly Wings": Listen". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on December 6, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  20. ^ Jamieson, Sarah (January 24, 2024). "MØ to celebrate tenth anniversary of 'No Mythologies to Follow', set to play London's XOYO". DIY. Archived from the original on March 3, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  21. ^ a b MØ - XXX 88 ft. Diplo (Video). September 9, 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2024 – via YouTube.
  22. ^ a b c Breihan, Tom (September 9, 2013). "MØ – "XXX 88" Video". Stereogum. Archived from the original on December 6, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  23. ^ Bloodgood, Sarina (June 16, 2014). "The Styling of MØ's New Video for "Walk This Way"". Vice. Archived from the original on November 30, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  24. ^ a b Pelly, Jenn (September 9, 2013). "Video: MØ: "XXX 88" Featuring Diplo". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on January 23, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  25. ^ Levine, Nick (October 28, 2013). "MØ – 'Bikini Daze' EP". NME. Archived from the original on December 7, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  26. ^ Geslani, Michelle (August 29, 2013). "Listen to MØ's pulverizing new song, "XXX 88" featuring Diplo". Consequence. Archived from the original on December 7, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  27. ^ a b "MØ feat. Diplo – XXX 88" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  28. ^ a b "Official Physical Singles Chart". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on December 4, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  29. ^ "XXX 88 (feat. Diplo) [Remixes 1] — Single by MØ — Apple Music". Archived from the original on December 4, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  30. ^ "XXX 88 (feat. Diplo) [Remixes 2] — Single by MØ — Apple Music". Archived from the original on December 4, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2024.