XXX's and OOO's (An American Girl)

Last updated
"XXX's and OOO's (An American Girl)"
Xxxandooostrisha.jpg
Single by Trisha Yearwood
from the album Thinkin' About You
B-side "One in a Row"
ReleasedJune 28, 1994
Genre Country
Length2:49
Label MCA
Songwriter(s) Matraca Berg, Alice Randall
Producer(s) Garth Fundis
Trisha Yearwood singles chronology
"Better Your Heart Than Mine"
(1994)
"XXX's and OOO's (An American Girl)"
(1994)
"Thinkin' About You"
(1995)

"XXX's and OOO's (An American Girl)" is a song written by Matraca Berg and Alice Randall, and recorded by American country music singer Trisha Yearwood. It was released in June 1994 as the lead single from her album Thinkin' About You . The song became her second number-one hit on the US country chart [1] and her first since "She's in Love with the Boy" in 1991. The single also peaked at number 14 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart and number one on the Canadian Country singles chart. It is the theme song to her Food Network show Trisha's Southern Kitchen .

Contents

In co-writing the song with Berg, Alice Randall became the second African-American woman to write a number-one country hit. [2]

Content

The song is narrated by Yearwood and tells the story of a young woman who has dreams and ambitions, but also discusses how she works hard and is a simple American girl who "signs her letters with XXX's and OOO's". She dreams of becoming successful in a man's world, citing her father as an example. The chorus verifies how the woman is a simple American girl.

In the song, there are references to R&B/soul singer Aretha Franklin and country singer Patsy Cline.

The song was also the theme to a television pilot titled XXX's and OOO's, which was pitched to CBS in late 1994. [3]

Critical reception

Deborah Evans Price, of Billboard magazine reviewed the song unfavorably, saying that the song is obviously supposed to mean something, "with its rapid-fire scheme and assertive-woman references." She goes on to say that the song ends up "sounding like exactly what it is - the theme to a bad television show." [4]

Charts

"XXX's and OOO's (An American Girl)" debuted at number 73 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart for the week of July 9, 1994.

Chart (1994)Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks ( RPM ) [5] 1
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles ( Billboard ) [6] 14
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [7] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1994)Position
Canada Country Tracks ( RPM ) [8] 70
US Country Songs ( Billboard ) [9] 6

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trisha Yearwood</span> American country singer

Patricia Lynn Yearwood is an American country singer. She rose to fame with her 1991 debut single "She's in Love with the Boy", which became a number one hit on the Billboard country singles chart. Its corresponding self-titled debut album would sell over two million copies. Yearwood continued with a series of major country hits during the early to mid-1990s, including "Walkaway Joe" (1992), "The Song Remembers When" (1993), "XXX's and OOO's " (1994), and "Believe Me Baby " (1996).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alice Randall</span> American author and songwriter (born 1959)

Alice Randall is an American author, songwriter, producer, and lecturer. She is best known for her contributions to country music, in addition to her novel and New York Times bestseller The Wind Done Gone, which is a reinterpretation and parody of the 1936 novel Gone with the Wind.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">He Thinks He'll Keep Her</span> 1993 single by Mary-Chapin Carpenter

"He Thinks He'll Keep Her" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Mary Chapin Carpenter. It was released in December 1993 as the sixth single from the album Come On Come On. The song peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It was written by Carpenter and Don Schlitz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Fall to Pieces</span> 1961 single by Patsy Cline

"I Fall to Pieces" is a song written by Hank Cochran and Harlan Howard that was originally recorded by Patsy Cline. Released as a single in 1961 via Decca Records, it topped the country charts, crossed over onto the pop charts and became among Cline's biggest hits. Cline was initially reluctant to record "I Fall to Pieces" and believed its production lacked enough country instrumentation for her liking. Eventually, Cline recorded the song upon the encouragement of her producer.

<i>The Song Remembers When</i> 1993 studio album by Trisha Yearwood

The Song Remembers When is the third studio album by American country music artist Trisha Yearwood. The album was released October 26, 1993, on MCA Nashville Records and was produced by Garth Fundis. It was Yearwood's third collaboration with Fundis, who also produced her 1992 album, Hearts in Armor which received wide critical acclaim, as well as her platinum-selling eponymous debut. The title track was the album's lead single, becoming a major hit, peaking at #2 on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 1993.

<i>Thinkin About You</i> 1995 studio album by Trisha Yearwood

Thinkin' About You is the fifth studio album by American country music singer Trisha Yearwood. The album reached #3 on the Billboard country albums chart.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Trisha Yearwood album) 2007 greatest hits album by Trisha Yearwood

Greatest Hits is the twelfth album by country singer Trisha Yearwood. The album is the final album released during Yearwood's association with the record company MCA, after she signed to Big Machine Records in early 2007. The album is composed of hits from her 16-year tenure with MCA, and features two previously unreleased tracks, "Just a Cup of Coffee" and "Nothin' to Lose." Both of these songs were recorded for Yearwood's 2005 album, Jasper County, but were not included on the album and are, as such, represented here as unfinished studio cuts. "Nothin' to Lose" was eventually recorded by fellow artist and former MCA labelmate, Reba McEntire, for her 2009 album Keep on Loving You.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love (song)</span> 2007 single by Trisha Yearwood

"Heaven, Heartache, and the Power of Love" is a song written by Tia Sillers and Clay Mills, and recorded by American country music singer Trisha Yearwood. It was released in July 2007 as the first single and title track from her album also titled Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love. The song reached its peak positions at the end of the year in 2007. The song became Yearwood's first single in nearly three years to become a major hit on the Billboard Country Chart since 2005's "Georgia Rain" from her album, Jasper County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trisha Yearwood discography</span>

American country music artist Trisha Yearwood has released 15 studio albums, nine compilation albums, 43 music videos, 56 singles, 29 other charted songs and appeared on 30 albums. Yearwood's self-titled debut album was released in 1991, peaking at number 2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number 31 on the Billboard 200. It became the first debut female country album to sell one million copies, later certifying double platinum by the RIAA. The album would spawn an additional three singles, including "The Woman Before Me". Her second studio album was the critically acclaimed Hearts in Armor (1992). It spawned the top five country hits "Wrong Side of Memphis" and "Walkaway Joe". Her third studio record The Song Remembers When (1993) enjoyed similar success and the lead single reached number two on the Billboard country chart. A holiday album appeared before her platinum-selling fourth studio album Thinkin' About You (1995). Reaching the number 3 on the country albums chart and number 28 on the Billboard 200, its first two singles topped the Hot Country Singles chart. Her sixth studio album Everybody Knows (1996) spawned Yearwood's fourth number one single, "Believe Me Baby ".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrong Side of Memphis</span> 1992 single by Trisha Yearwood

"Wrong Side of Memphis" is a song written by Matraca Berg and Gary Harrison. First recorded by John Berry on his 1990 independent album Saddle the Wind, it was later released by American country music singer, Trisha Yearwood in August 1992. It was the first single released off her second studio album, Hearts in Armor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Song Remembers When (song)</span> 1993 single by Trisha Yearwood

"The Song Remembers When" is a song written by Hugh Prestwood and recorded by American country music singer Trisha Yearwood. It was released in October 1993 as the lead single and title track from her album The Song Remembers When. The song was covered by Kristin Chenoweth for her 2005 album As I Am.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Believe Me Baby (I Lied)</span> 1996 single by Trisha Yearwood

"Believe Me Baby " is a song recorded by American country music artist Trisha Yearwood. It was released in July 1996 as the lead single from her album, Everybody Knows. It was Yearwood's fourth single out of five during the course of her career to reach number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">There Goes My Baby (Trisha Yearwood song)</span> 1998 single by Trisha Yearwood

"There Goes My Baby" is a song written by Annie Roboff and Arnie Roman, and recorded by American country music singer Trisha Yearwood. It was released in April 1998 as the lead single from her studio album, Where Your Road Leads. The song was the first single in which Yearwood acted as a co-producer, along with Tony Brown. The entire album the song came from was also produced by Yearwood and Brown together.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thinkin' About You (Trisha Yearwood song)</span> 1995 single by Trisha Yearwood

"Thinkin' About You" is a song written by Tom Shapiro and Bob Regan, and recorded by American country music artist Trisha Yearwood. It was released in January 1995 as the second single and title track from her album Thinkin' About You. The song became Yearwood's third number-one country hit in April 1995. Lee Roy Parnell plays slide guitar on the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walkaway Joe</span> 1992 single by Trisha Yearwood featuring Don Henley

"Walkaway Joe" is a song written by Vince Melamed and Greg Barnhill, and recorded by American country music singer Trisha Yearwood, with background vocals from Don Henley of the Eagles. It was released in November 1992 as the second single from her album Hearts in Armor. The song reached number 2 on the U.S. Billboard country charts. Matthew McConaughey appears as the male lead in the music video.

"Powerful Thing" is a song written by Al Anderson and Sharon Vaughn, and recorded by American country music artist Trisha Yearwood. It was released in November 1998 as the third single from her album Where Your Road Leads. The song reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in March 1999 and number 1 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada.

<i>PrizeFighter: Hit After Hit</i> 2014 studio album (re-recording) by Trisha Yearwood

PrizeFighter: Hit After Hit is a re-recorded studio album by American country artist Trisha Yearwood. It was released on November 17, 2014, via Gwendolyn Records and RCA Records Nashville. The album marked Yearwood's first release of new material since 2007's Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love.PrizeFighter contained six new songs as well as ten re-recorded versions of her hits. Two singles were released to radio, including the title track, which became a charting single on the Billboard country chart. The album received mixed reviews from critics upon its release.

<i>Icon</i> (Trisha Yearwood album) 2010 compilation album by Trisha Yearwood

Icon is a compilation album by American country artist Trisha Yearwood. It was released on August 31, 2010 via MCA Nashville Records and charted on the Billboard country albums chart. It was one of several compilations released by MCA following Yearwood's departure from the label in 2007. It contained a series of Yearwood's biggest hits from her years at the label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You're Where I Belong</span> 1999 single by Trisha Yearwood

"You're Where I Belong" is a song written by American songwriter Diane Warren that was originally recorded by American country music singer Trisha Yearwood. The song was released on the soundtrack for the 1999 film, Stuart Little and was released as a single the same year. The song reach multiple Billboard charts following its release. It was included as a bonus track on the Australian release of Yearwood's eighth album, Real Live Woman.

References

  1. "Trisha Yearwood biography". allmusic . Retrieved 2008-08-17.
  2. "Tracy Chapman Now First Black Woman to Hit No. 1 on Country Airplay as Sole Writer — Who Is the Only Black Male Writer to Have Achieved the Same?" Billboard, July 3, 2023, accessed March 24, 2024
  3. Vincent Terrace. Encyclopedia of Television Pilots: 2,470 Films Broadcast 1937-2019, 2d ed. p. 275.
  4. Billboard , July 9, 1994: Vol. 106 Iss. 28 - p. 69
  5. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 2604." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. September 26, 1994. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
  6. "Trisha Yearwood Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard.
  7. "Trisha Yearwood Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  8. "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1994". RPM . December 12, 1994. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
  9. "Best of 1994: Country Songs". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media. 1994. Retrieved August 4, 2013.