Despite the hype, Beyonce’s latest album has a few legitimate highlights. “XO” is one of them. It’s got that signature big Ryan Tedder sound-as milquetoast as he is, the guy has an identifiable sound and occasionally hits a solid double or triple with his songwriting.
Of all people, John Mayer has taken it upon himself to cover “XO.” His version is significantly less bombastic and emits a warmth that Beyonce’s version is missing. Has someone mashed these two up yet? Virtual duet? Would probably be a pretty big hit.