Xxpensive
{{Infobox song
| name = Xxpen$ive
| cover = Erika Jayne "Xxpensive".jpg
| alt = A cartoon version of Erika Jayne wearing a bikini and a thong while twerking.
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Erika Jayne
| album =
| released = {{Start date|2017|02|14}}
| recorded = 2016
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = {{Duration|m=2|s=44}}
| label = Pretty Mess Records
| writer = * Jesse Saint John
- Ferras
- Sarah Hudson
- Marc Sibley
- Nathan Cunningham
| producer = Space Primates
| chronology = Erika Jayne
| prev_title = How Many Fucks
| prev_year = 2016
| next_title = Cars
| next_year = 2018
}}
"Xxpensive" (stylized as "XXPEN$IVE") is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Erika Jayne for her upcoming second studio album. Released as the album's second single, the song was first distributed digitally on February 14, 2017, accompanied by the simultaneous release of a music video.
Background
The song was written by Jesse Saint John, Ferras, Sarah Hudson, Marc Sibley, and Nathan Cunningham, while Space Primates produced the song.{{Cite web|url=https://www.idolator.com/7657302/erika-jayne-expensive-cover-heavy-metal-t-shirt|title=Erika Jayne's Eye-Popping "XXpen$ive" Cover Art|date=2017-02-10|website=idolator|access-date=2018-10-28}} Lyrically, "Xxpen$ive" is a tongue-in-cheek song about living a luxurious life.{{Cite news|url=https://mic.com/articles/168597/with-xxpen-ive-erika-jayne-proves-she-s-the-truest-real-housewives-pop-star#.qDCIDfoVl|title=With "Xxpen$ive," Erika Jayne proves she's the truest 'Real Housewives' pop star|access-date=2018-10-29|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.eonline.com/uk/news/841791/erika-jayne-reveals-it-costs-40-000-a-month-to-be-her|title=Erika Jayne Reveals It Costs $40,000 a Month to Be Her|date=April 6, 2017|work=E! News|access-date=2018-10-29|language=en-UK}} "I try to make records that people want to dance to and that make you want to smile. I like to escape through music," Jayne told Billboard ahead of the single release.{{Cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7655384/erika-jayne-xxpensive-real-housewives-video-expensive|title=Prepare for Erika Jayne's 'Xxpensive' Video With Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Footage|work=Billboard|access-date=2018-10-28}}
Critical reception
After its release, "Xxpen$ive" received generally favorable reviews from contemporary music critics. Idolator's Mike Wass wrote that "the goddess of glamor unveiled the cover of her new single recently and it wouldn't look out of place on a heavy metal t-shirt circa 1987. I'm obsessed." Wass also commented on the music video by saying: "She rocks as little clothing as possible and channels '80s and '90s icons like Madonna, Pamela Anderson and Cindy Crawford." Wass compared the song to the works of Eartha Kitt and Paris Hilton.{{Cite news|url=https://www.idolator.com/7654532/erika-jayne-xxpensive-wwhl?firefox=1|title=Erika Jayne's "XXpen$ive" Is A Guilty Pleasure|date=2017-01-04|work=idolator|access-date=2018-10-28|language=en-US}} Louis Baragona of CollegeCandy.com described feeling "thrilled, overjoyed and blessed" when the song came out.{{Cite web|url=https://collegecandy.com/2017/04/13/erika-jayne-xxpensive-expensive-music-video-reaction-review-photos/|title=Erika Jayne XXPen$ive: Music Video Reaction, Review & Photos|website=collegecandy.com|language=en|access-date=2018-10-28}} Jordan Appugliesi of Mic.com called the song "smart, catchy and she has her tongue permanently in her cheek, making her more self-aware than her peers."
Music video
A music video for "Xxpen$ive" was released on February 14, 2017 and directed by Mikey Minden.{{cite web|title=Erika Jayne – Xxpen$ive (Official Video)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hL99eTKil8|publisher=YouTube|access-date=February 22, 2017|date=February 14, 2017}} She has described the vibe for the music video as, "'80s Miami Scarface meets '80s Playboy meets strip clubs meets '80s Ferraris meets everything fabulous in the '80s — pink, lilac, baby blue — all of that!"{{Cite news|url=http://people.com/music/erika-girardi-erika-jayne-videos-lookback/|title=RHOBH's Erika Girardi Looks Back at 10 Years of Erika Jayne Videos Including Her Newest Clip 'XXPEN$IVE'|work=PEOPLE.com|access-date=2018-05-08|language=en}} Justin Moran of Out described the music video as "the gayest thing you'll watch all day". Moran stated that "Jayne's music video has the same campy over-the-top quality of Fergie's "M.I.L.F. $" or Gwen Stefani's "The Sweet Escape," as she lounges in a stylized bedroom, soaks in a dreamy bubble bath and works through slick choreo in a white pantsuit and futuristic sunnies. At this point, Ms. Jayne's message is very clear: She's ridiculously rich, absolutely untouchable and gives zero fucks about what you think."{{Cite news|url=https://www.out.com/music/2017/2/14/erika-jaynes-xxpenive-video-gayest-thing-youll-watch-all-day|title=Erika Jayne's 'XXPEN$IVE' Video is the Gayest Thing You'll Watch All Day|date=2017-02-14|access-date=2018-11-19|language=en}}
Usage in media
The song featured in the "Auto Shop" sketch with Chris Pine on the late-night show Saturday Night Live aired on May 6, 2017.{{cite web|url=http://ew.com/tv/2017/05/07/snl-mechanics-rupauls-drag-race-lip-synch-battle/|title=Mechanics love RuPaul's Drag Race in hilarious SNL sketch|work=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=May 8, 2017|date=May 7, 2017|first=C. Molly|last=Smith}} In 2018, the song was featured in ShoeDazzle's "Boot Season" commercial starring Erika Jayne.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ispot.tv/ad/dE63/shoedazzle-com-expensive-featuring-erika-jayne-song-by-erika-jayne|title=Shoedazzle.com TV Commercial, 'Boot Season' Featuring Erika Jayne, Song by Erika Jayne|website=iSpot.tv|language=en|access-date=2018-11-19}} The song can be heard in the German comedy film High Society (2017) and the reality TV show The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
Track listing
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col"| Country
! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col"| Ref. |
|---|
| Worldwide
| February 14, 2017 | Pretty Mess Records |{{cite web|title=Erika Jayne – Xxpen$ive – Single|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/xxpen%24ive-single/1202036157|publisher=iTunes Store (US)|access-date=February 22, 2017|date=February 14, 2017}} |