'' Under the Radar '' s Ryan E.C. Hamm argued that " XO " made " a strong case " for being included as song of the year on several year-end lists ; however he noted that this was not possible as the lists had already been compiled and published when the song was released . However , Rob Sheffield of '' Rolling Stone '' placed " XO " at number 8 in his year-end list of the 25 best songs of 2013 . The song was further ranked at number 72 in the annual Pazz and Jop mass critics poll of the year 's best in music . In 2014 , Vultures writer Jody Rosen listed the song at number 52 on his list of " The 150 Greatest Schlock Songs Ever " calling it " an instant classic " : " The grand , sparkly production screams 2013 ; the theme — how love bears out to the edge of doom and all that — is timeless . " The same year , he further included the song in his list of the best songs by Beyoncé published in '' The New York Times '' . " XO " is nominated in the category for Best Song at the 2014 World Music Awards
2014 World Music Awards
2014 World Music Awards
XO (song)