"X" is a song by American singer
Poppy
A poppy is a flowering plant in the subfamily Papaveroideae of the family Papaveraceae. Poppies are herbaceous plants, often grown for their colourful flowers. One species of poppy, ''Papaver somniferum'', is the source of the narcotic drug o ...
, released as a single on October 25, 2018. It is the fifth single from her second studio album ''
Am I a Girl?'' and its fourteenth and final track. The music video was released on November 5.
It was the official theme song for
NXT TakeOver: Phoenix the following January.
Release
"X" was released on digital streaming platforms as the fifth and final single from Poppy's second studio album ''
Am I a Girl?'' and was picked as the theme song for
WWE's
NXT TakeOver: Phoenix event in 2019. The song's acoustic version was released on January 8, 2019.
Music video
The music video for "X" was released on November 5, 2018.
This video was inspired by the 1976 film ''
Carrie''.
An acoustic version of "X" was released on Poppy's YouTube channel on January 8, 2019 and as a single for download on January 17, 2019.
Composition
"X" explores heavier territory similar to "Play Destroy", her collaboration with
Grimes, with Poppy describing both tracks as a new genre called "Poppymetal". "X" features "contradicting verses and melodies", with heavy metal parts in which the singer "begs to be made bloody" and peaceful sections with harmonies where she sings about wanting to "love everyone".
The song is in the key of F# minor with a BPM of 114.
Reception
Andy Hill from ''
Gigwise'' states: "It's a masterpiece. So much packed in – the legit
death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs heavily distorted and low-tuned guitars, played with techniques such as palm muting and tremolo picking; deep growling vocals; aggressive, powerful drumming, fe ...
, the retro-horror shoutouts, the note-perfect peace and love hippy interludes. It's her '
Bohemian Rhapsody
"Bohemian Rhapsody" is a song by the British rock band Queen, released as the lead single from their fourth album, '' A Night at the Opera'' (1975). Written by lead singer Freddie Mercury, the song is a six-minute suite, notable for its lack ...
'. High art for the Ritalin generation."
Anna Fair from ''
Alternative Press'' states: "While the peaceful verses are accompanied by delightful harmonies and a scene right out of the '60s, the immediate scene following is dark. Heavy metal guitars back Poppy's vocals, and she gets her wish
please get me bloody'
''Please'' is a word used in the English language to indicate politeness and respect while making a request. Derived from shortening the phrase "if you please" or "if it please(s) you", the term has taken on substantial nuance based on its int ...
"
Track listings
Digital download and streaming
# "X" – 2:54
Digital download and streaming (acoustic)
# "X" (acoustic) – 2:08
Release history
References
{{Poppy
2018 singles
2018 songs
Poppy (entertainer) songs
Songs written by Titanic Sinclair