X Marks the Spot: Exploring the Best Songs with “X” in the Title

The letter X is one of the rarest letters in the English language, making up only a tiny fraction of everyday words. But when it comes to music, “X” punches way above its weight class.

Whether it’s used as an abbreviation for kisses and hugs, a symbol for an unknown variable, or just an edgy graphic choice by artists wanting to stand out, song titles featuring “X” span nearly every genre imaginable. Take a quick spin through the alphabet of audio as we look at some of the most iconic, surprising, and catchy tracks featuring the letter X.

1. The Heavy Hitters: High-Energy Anthems

When artists want to grab your attention instantly, putting an “X” right at the front of the track is a proven strategy.

• “X Gon’ Give It To Ya” by DMX: Easily one of the most explosive hype tracks of the 2000s. Driven by an aggressive beat and DMX’s unmistakable, gravelly intensity, this song is the ultimate workout or pre-game anthem.
• “XO TOUR Llif3” by Lil Uzi Vert: Melancholic yet wildly catchy, this massive trap-pop hit became a defining generational track. Even though “XO” acts as an acronym, its presence gives the song an unmistakable stamp.
• “XO” by Beyoncé: Queen Bey dropped this gorgeous, synth-soaked love song as a surprise track on her self-titled visual album. It’s an emotional stadium-filler that proves an abbreviation can carry immense emotional weight.

2. Pop Culture and Gen-Z Anthems

Modern pop and indie music have fully embraced the letter X for tracks that deal with modern anxieties, relationships, and digital-age slang.

• “xanny” by Billie Eilish: Spelled in lowercase, this minimalist pop track serves as an anti-drug anthem. Billie famously called out the widespread normalization of prescription drug use among her peers, pairing her soft vocals with a warped, bass-heavy beat that mimics feeling out of it.
• “XS” by Rina Sawayama: A glittering, Y2K-inspired pop/R&B track that critiques hyper-consumerism and late-stage capitalism. Wrapped in a shiny pop production, the song cleverly uses “XS” as a homophone for “excess.”

3. Rock, Alternative, and Retro Flashbacks

Rock and alternative bands love the sharp, graphic look of an “X” in a title, often using it to signify edge, mystery, or heartbreak.

• “X-Kid” by Green Day: A driving, fast-paced punk-rock track that tackles heavy themes of growing up, loss, and watching friends lose their way.
• “Xanadu” by Olivia Newton-John (and Electric Light Orchestra): Taking us way back to 1980, this roller-disco fever dream blends soaring vocals with ELO’s signature glittering orchestral rock. (Bonus points: It shares its name with a famous Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem!)
• “X Offender” by Blondie: Released in 1976, this punk-new-wave classic was Debbie Harry’s gritty storytelling at its finest, capturing the raw energy of early CBGB-era New York.

Why Does “X” Work So Well in Music?

In the music world, X is a shape of contradictions. It can represent a mystery (the unknown variable), a finality (X marks the spot or a signature), or a connection (XOXO). Because it visually pops on a tracklist, artists use it to signal that a song is going to be a little bit different, a little bolder, or completely experimental.