Caileigh Winslade 
Pop queen Ariana Grande recently dropped her new single, “yes, and?”. She hopes the new music will get hype built for her upcoming album. Although we don’t know much about the new project, we do know it will likely be released this year and many fans are looking forward to it.
“yes, and?” has gained a lot (and I mean a LOT) of mixed reactions from fans and casual listeners alike. Some people love it, some people hate it. But there’s one thing everyone can agree on: it’s definitely catchy, and maybe even a bit addictive.
Some fans have criticized it for its early 2010’s pop vibe, saying it feels generic. “It sounds like a Macy’s ad,” one comment on TikTok said, comparing the song to music that’s been dubbed “corporate pop”: songs with simple beats that are repetitive, catchy, and are often played in the background of shopping malls and stores.
ariana grande’s “yes, and?” is #1 on global spotify for a 4th consecutive day, with 7.269 million streams 💋 pic.twitter.com/zmmge400PP
— Ariana Grande Today ☀️ (@ArianaToday) January 16, 2024
Others have pointed out the clear House genre inspiration. Grande sampled Madonna’s “Vogue,” giving the original track her own vocals and spin.
Even though some fans have been unimpressed with “yes, and?”, others love it.
One fan joked on X, “How is “yes, and?” getting better with every listen… what drug she put in it?” Others agreed, saying they couldn’t stop listening to it on repeat.
The music video received 7.9 million views on YouTube within its 24 hours. Billboard predicted that the single will debut at #2 on their January 27 Hot 100 list, with just points away from the #1 spot.
ariana has surpassed 300 million streams on spotify this year ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/yUjPIxBVVs
— Ariana Grande Today ☀️ (@ArianaToday) January 15, 2024
Personally, I’m on the “addictingly fun” side of the “yes, and?” debate. I do agree that it’s a very simple, safe song, but there’s nothing wrong with that! It’s catchy, it’s fun to dance to, and it definitely gets better with every listen. It might not be added to my all time favorites playlist, but it will for sure get some more streams from me.
You can listen to “yes, and?” today on all your favorite music services.
By Caileigh Winslade, Freshman, DePaul University
Instagram @fairytwist / Twitter @fairytwist_
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